RICHLANDS ENDS ABINGDON’S UNBEATEN STREAK WITH 56-21 WIN
Big games call for lots of hype, a large crowd, and big plays from big time players. That’s exactly what went down in Richlands Friday night when the Blue Tornados (8-1) defeated the previously unbeaten Falcons (7-1) at Ernie Hicks Stadium.
GAME STATISTICS:
Richlands 56, Abingdon 21
Abingdon 0 14 7 0-21
Richlands 7 20 29 0-56
Scoring Summary
RIC-Collins 20 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
RIC-Ball 34 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
RIC-Howie 9 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
AHS-Sturgill 1 run (Dick kick)
AHS-Sturgill 1 run (Dick kick)
RIC-Atkinson 10 pass from Asbury (kick failed)
RIC-Blankenship 6 run (Barrett kick)
AHS-D. Yates 45 pass from Sturgill (Dick kick)
RIC-Howie 48 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
RIC-Blankenship 34 run (Barrett kick)
RIC-Blankenship 97 run (Ball pass fro Asbury)
Team Stats
First Downs: AHS 19, RIC 26; Rushes-Yards: AHS 17-12, RIC 32-360; Passing Yards: AHS 272, RIC 208; Comp.-Att.-Int: AHS 28-45-1, RIC 14-21-1; Fumbles-Lost: AHS 0-0, RIC 2-2; Penalties-Yards: AHS 5-60, RIC 10-95; Punts-Average: AHS 6-40, RIC 1-28.
Abingdon opened the game facing a defense that was aggressive and ready to play. The first series for the Falcons was 3 and out. The Falcons would punt and Richlands took over inside their own 20-yard line. The Tornado’s first play on offense would set the tone, it was a handoff to senior running back Nick Blankenship who cut and slashed his way down the home field sidelines for a touchdown, only to have it called back for a holding penalty.
Blankenship would go on to set a Richlands High School rushing record of 342 yards on 29 carries.
Richlands went to work late in the first quarter when junior quarterback John-Luke Asbury hit a receiver at the five-yard line and put Richlands up 7 to nothing. Richlands would open up a 21-point lead in the second quarter until Abingdon junior quarterback Jake Sturgill ran a pair of 1 yard touchdowns to bring Abingdon to within 21-14. Richlands went down the field and Asbury hit Atkinson with a 10-yard touchdown pass with 5 second remaining before half-time for a 27-14 lead.
Blankenship went to work in the second half as Richlands attempted to keep the ball away from the Falcons by keeping the ball on the ground. Blankenship took a handoff up the right tackle and ran for a six-yard score on the first series of the second half.
The Falcons answered by Sturgill hitting a wide open Derrick Yates for a 45-yard touchdown catch and run in front of the home sidelines.
That would be the end of the scoring for the Falcons, when Richlands controlled the clock and the game. Richlands defense kept forcing Abingdon off the field with 3 plays and a punt, putting the Falcon’s defense against the Tornado offense for most of the third quarter.
Blankenship put the game out of reach following a Falcon punt down to the Richlands 3-yard line. Just trying to get the ball away from the goal line, Blankenship found his hole on the right side and took off for a 97-yard score that sealed the game. Richlands went for two points to put the game 35 points and a running clock for the remainder of the game.
Asbury was 14 of 21 in passing for 208 yards passing while Sturgill passed for 272 yards on a 28 completions on 45 attempts. Abingdon had 17 yards rushing compared to Richlands 360.
Big games call for lots of hype, a large crowd, and big plays from big time players. That’s exactly what went down in Richlands Friday night when the Blue Tornados (8-1) defeated the previously unbeaten Falcons (7-1) at Ernie Hicks Stadium.
GAME STATISTICS:
Richlands 56, Abingdon 21
Abingdon 0 14 7 0-21
Richlands 7 20 29 0-56
Scoring Summary
RIC-Collins 20 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
RIC-Ball 34 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
RIC-Howie 9 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
AHS-Sturgill 1 run (Dick kick)
AHS-Sturgill 1 run (Dick kick)
RIC-Atkinson 10 pass from Asbury (kick failed)
RIC-Blankenship 6 run (Barrett kick)
AHS-D. Yates 45 pass from Sturgill (Dick kick)
RIC-Howie 48 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
RIC-Blankenship 34 run (Barrett kick)
RIC-Blankenship 97 run (Ball pass fro Asbury)
Team Stats
First Downs: AHS 19, RIC 26; Rushes-Yards: AHS 17-12, RIC 32-360; Passing Yards: AHS 272, RIC 208; Comp.-Att.-Int: AHS 28-45-1, RIC 14-21-1; Fumbles-Lost: AHS 0-0, RIC 2-2; Penalties-Yards: AHS 5-60, RIC 10-95; Punts-Average: AHS 6-40, RIC 1-28.
Abingdon opened the game facing a defense that was aggressive and ready to play. The first series for the Falcons was 3 and out. The Falcons would punt and Richlands took over inside their own 20-yard line. The Tornado’s first play on offense would set the tone, it was a handoff to senior running back Nick Blankenship who cut and slashed his way down the home field sidelines for a touchdown, only to have it called back for a holding penalty.
Blankenship would go on to set a Richlands High School rushing record of 342 yards on 29 carries.
Richlands went to work late in the first quarter when junior quarterback John-Luke Asbury hit a receiver at the five-yard line and put Richlands up 7 to nothing. Richlands would open up a 21-point lead in the second quarter until Abingdon junior quarterback Jake Sturgill ran a pair of 1 yard touchdowns to bring Abingdon to within 21-14. Richlands went down the field and Asbury hit Atkinson with a 10-yard touchdown pass with 5 second remaining before half-time for a 27-14 lead.
Blankenship went to work in the second half as Richlands attempted to keep the ball away from the Falcons by keeping the ball on the ground. Blankenship took a handoff up the right tackle and ran for a six-yard score on the first series of the second half.
The Falcons answered by Sturgill hitting a wide open Derrick Yates for a 45-yard touchdown catch and run in front of the home sidelines.
That would be the end of the scoring for the Falcons, when Richlands controlled the clock and the game. Richlands defense kept forcing Abingdon off the field with 3 plays and a punt, putting the Falcon’s defense against the Tornado offense for most of the third quarter.
Blankenship put the game out of reach following a Falcon punt down to the Richlands 3-yard line. Just trying to get the ball away from the goal line, Blankenship found his hole on the right side and took off for a 97-yard score that sealed the game. Richlands went for two points to put the game 35 points and a running clock for the remainder of the game.
Asbury was 14 of 21 in passing for 208 yards passing while Sturgill passed for 272 yards on a 28 completions on 45 attempts. Abingdon had 17 yards rushing compared to Richlands 360.
Last edited:
