RH-WC. 14-14 half.
- Thread starter shendistrictsportsfan
- Start date
William Campbell not capitalizing on Riverheads first half of no focus and going in tied up at half was ballgame .
No doubt about that. When I good team gives you a chance to hang around, you must capitalize.
That is a better WC team than the score showed. Rosser and Reid were the real deal. The thing I noticed was that there were 4-5 more athletes outside of those two as well.
Reid appeared to be a little dinged up but has the heart of a champion. Tons of respect for that team and those two specifically.
I know this wasn’t the outcome they wanted but it was a good season for WC and I look forward to a few more matchups during this cycle.
Reid appeared to be a little dinged up but has the heart of a champion. Tons of respect for that team and those two specifically.
I know this wasn’t the outcome they wanted but it was a good season for WC and I look forward to a few more matchups during this cycle.
I appreciate that man. I have been impressed with the way this team has played all year long. Rosser and Reid will always be remember for bringing this program back to life. I was a 3 year varsity starter for WC and actually almost won more playoff games than regular season games believe it or not. I’m glad to see the program headed in the right direction.
Sorry to be late guys, but when I got home last night I had to double the DVR duty, thanks to somebody's smart idea to schedule UVa football and basketball on the same night as each other, not to mention the same night as THIS important game. So here is the report I would normally have given you late last night.
To put it mildly the Gladiators were in big trouble late in the first half and even the most devoted Big Red fans (this one included) were worried. WC had a 14-7 lead and the ball deep in Riverheads territory primed to go up by two scores at the half. But the Gladiators somehow managed to wiggle out of that jam, and within about six minutes of clock time (straddling the third quarter) they scored three TDs and took complete charge of the game. It was one of the wildest momentum swings I have ever seen.
Each team went three and out on its first possession, but RHS then took the lead on its second drive.The key play was a rare pass out in the right flat that Moose Lee BARELY scraped off the turf to put the Big Red in the red zone. From there, they kept pushing and finally freshman Zac Smiley squeezed in over the left side from about three yards out. Ever-dependable Peyton Skillman kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead.
WC then started its first TD drive, which carried over into the second quarter. They marched into scoring position and just when it looked like RHS might be able to hold them off, they connected on a 4th and 10 pass right along the back end of the endzone. (Sorry I can't name names today, because I did not see a program last night.) The PAT tied it at 7-7.
Riverheads then fumbled to give them another quick chance to score. This time the Generals were operating around the RHS 40 when the QB dropped the ball. He scooped it up and by that time the entire Riverheads defense had swooped in on him hoping for the recovery. But he alertly picked up the loose ball and fired it into the end zone to a wide open receiver for a 14-7 WC lead.
On the next possession, the Gladiators fumbled twice on the same play, as the ball-carrier scooped up his first drop on a hop and turned into the line, only to be hit hard and fumble again. At that time the Generals still had six or seven minutes to move into scoring position again. The Gladiator D stiffened just enough to force a field goal attempt, which came up short and turned the ball over just inside the 20.
RHS then committed a holding penalty and found themselves backed up to the 8 yard line with just under four minutes to go. Then came what could have been the most important play of the game. QB Tyler Smith found Forrest Shuey out in the left flat for about a 30 yard gain to get them out of the shadow of the goal line. From there the Gladiators kicked their normally slow and deliberate offense into high gear and marched the rest of the way to tie the score in the final minute of the quarter. Fullback Dalton Jordan had some nice runs on that drive. Smiley pushed it across for his second TD of the game and the teams went into the locker room tied at 14.
Everyone in the stadium knew that the Generals would receive the second half kickoff and that the key would be whether they could re-establish control of the game. But instead they fumbled the kickoff, Thomas Hepstall recovered for RHS, and although we didn't know it quite yet, the rout was on. It took just over a minute for the fantastic freshman Smiley to give the home team the lead for good as he appeared to be stopped around the five, but broke away, maintained his balance and scooted in for his third TD of the night.
Moments later, the Gladiators were right back in business as the one of the three extremely short WC punts gave them excellent field position. Leading 21-14, the Gladiator coaching staff made a brilliant decision and threw someone at the Generals that they had not yet seen if they scouted RHS within the last few weeks. It was a little 140 pound dynamo named Jackson Shover, who arguably is the fast runner on the team. After giving the Gladiators some offensive punch early in the season, he had been moved primarily to kickoff and defensive duties for the past several weeks, which might have caused the Generals to be unprepared for what he could do. So when he was inserted into the line-up at the tailback slot, he made up for lost time as he scooted around right end from about 30 yards out with no Generals anywhere in sight and the Gladiators had their third score in about 6 minutes, including the one to close out the half.
That took the wind out of the visitors' sails and RHS padded the lead before the quarter ended when Lee, subbing for Jordan at the fullback slot, dragged about four tacklers with him for a hard-earned 15 yard score. The Gladiators then added yet another sweep from Shover, identical to the first one, in the fourth quarter to account for the final score. As someone mentioned, the Big Red actually could have scored again, and put the running clock into effect, if they had wanted to, as they spent the last two minutes of the game taking knees at the WC one.
So all in all an amazing comeback from what could have been a disastrous second quarter. Usually when a team fumbles twice and gives up two open TD passes in the same stanza, you are in for a big disappointment, but the Gladiators kept their focus and got the job done. Hats off to the coaches for the adjustments they made along the way.
Now we wait and by about 4:00 today, we will know whether or not the Big Red will FINALLY get to host a state semi-final game. RHS has advanced to the semis an amazing six times since 2000, and in every case they have traveled. Granted, they have done well on those road trips, winning at Surry, Sussex, Franklin, George Wythe, and Galax; and losing only at Giles. But it would sure be nice to host one for a change. So come on Tigers!!!
To put it mildly the Gladiators were in big trouble late in the first half and even the most devoted Big Red fans (this one included) were worried. WC had a 14-7 lead and the ball deep in Riverheads territory primed to go up by two scores at the half. But the Gladiators somehow managed to wiggle out of that jam, and within about six minutes of clock time (straddling the third quarter) they scored three TDs and took complete charge of the game. It was one of the wildest momentum swings I have ever seen.
Each team went three and out on its first possession, but RHS then took the lead on its second drive.The key play was a rare pass out in the right flat that Moose Lee BARELY scraped off the turf to put the Big Red in the red zone. From there, they kept pushing and finally freshman Zac Smiley squeezed in over the left side from about three yards out. Ever-dependable Peyton Skillman kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead.
WC then started its first TD drive, which carried over into the second quarter. They marched into scoring position and just when it looked like RHS might be able to hold them off, they connected on a 4th and 10 pass right along the back end of the endzone. (Sorry I can't name names today, because I did not see a program last night.) The PAT tied it at 7-7.
Riverheads then fumbled to give them another quick chance to score. This time the Generals were operating around the RHS 40 when the QB dropped the ball. He scooped it up and by that time the entire Riverheads defense had swooped in on him hoping for the recovery. But he alertly picked up the loose ball and fired it into the end zone to a wide open receiver for a 14-7 WC lead.
On the next possession, the Gladiators fumbled twice on the same play, as the ball-carrier scooped up his first drop on a hop and turned into the line, only to be hit hard and fumble again. At that time the Generals still had six or seven minutes to move into scoring position again. The Gladiator D stiffened just enough to force a field goal attempt, which came up short and turned the ball over just inside the 20.
RHS then committed a holding penalty and found themselves backed up to the 8 yard line with just under four minutes to go. Then came what could have been the most important play of the game. QB Tyler Smith found Forrest Shuey out in the left flat for about a 30 yard gain to get them out of the shadow of the goal line. From there the Gladiators kicked their normally slow and deliberate offense into high gear and marched the rest of the way to tie the score in the final minute of the quarter. Fullback Dalton Jordan had some nice runs on that drive. Smiley pushed it across for his second TD of the game and the teams went into the locker room tied at 14.
Everyone in the stadium knew that the Generals would receive the second half kickoff and that the key would be whether they could re-establish control of the game. But instead they fumbled the kickoff, Thomas Hepstall recovered for RHS, and although we didn't know it quite yet, the rout was on. It took just over a minute for the fantastic freshman Smiley to give the home team the lead for good as he appeared to be stopped around the five, but broke away, maintained his balance and scooted in for his third TD of the night.
Moments later, the Gladiators were right back in business as the one of the three extremely short WC punts gave them excellent field position. Leading 21-14, the Gladiator coaching staff made a brilliant decision and threw someone at the Generals that they had not yet seen if they scouted RHS within the last few weeks. It was a little 140 pound dynamo named Jackson Shover, who arguably is the fast runner on the team. After giving the Gladiators some offensive punch early in the season, he had been moved primarily to kickoff and defensive duties for the past several weeks, which might have caused the Generals to be unprepared for what he could do. So when he was inserted into the line-up at the tailback slot, he made up for lost time as he scooted around right end from about 30 yards out with no Generals anywhere in sight and the Gladiators had their third score in about 6 minutes, including the one to close out the half.
That took the wind out of the visitors' sails and RHS padded the lead before the quarter ended when Lee, subbing for Jordan at the fullback slot, dragged about four tacklers with him for a hard-earned 15 yard score. The Gladiators then added yet another sweep from Shover, identical to the first one, in the fourth quarter to account for the final score. As someone mentioned, the Big Red actually could have scored again, and put the running clock into effect, if they had wanted to, as they spent the last two minutes of the game taking knees at the WC one.
So all in all an amazing comeback from what could have been a disastrous second quarter. Usually when a team fumbles twice and gives up two open TD passes in the same stanza, you are in for a big disappointment, but the Gladiators kept their focus and got the job done. Hats off to the coaches for the adjustments they made along the way.
Now we wait and by about 4:00 today, we will know whether or not the Big Red will FINALLY get to host a state semi-final game. RHS has advanced to the semis an amazing six times since 2000, and in every case they have traveled. Granted, they have done well on those road trips, winning at Surry, Sussex, Franklin, George Wythe, and Galax; and losing only at Giles. But it would sure be nice to host one for a change. So come on Tigers!!!
