The Junior Gladiators got the win they needed tonight to stay in contention for the JV title game at the end of the season, but it was not easy as they had to cover an onside kick with less than a minute to go to preserve a 20-14 victory over the Little Giants, whom I believe were winless coming into the game.
Waynesboro scored first and last in the game, but RHS put together three touchdowns in between to earn the victory. In fact, when Joel Maybush zipped across the goal line from about 10 yards out with under two minutes left in the game to make it 20-6, Gladiator fans thought they could finally relax. But the feisty Little Giants came down the field and scored on a touchdown pass with around 35 seconds left to close to within one score. Riverheads was then able to fall on the final kick.
The Gladiators got their usual strong rushing game from Rylan Payne, whom I believe scored the first two touchdowns. Maybush and Sean Miller contributed to the rushing attack with Maybush adding the Big Red's two-point conversion after their second TD.
Waynesboro took the opening kickoff and scored on just half a dozen plays as Number 10 (did not catch the name) exploded up the middle to score from about 38 yards out. Riverheads then stopped them on the two point conversion.
The Gladiators then calmly drove for about 70 yards for their first TD. The Maybush conversion put them ahead for good at 8-6. If there was a turning point it came early in the second quarter. WHS had marched into Riverheads territory in an effort to re-take the lead. They were inside or close to the red zone when an errant snap on fourth down sailed into the backfield and Riverheads recovered it.
The Gladiators then used up most of the remainder of the second quarter to score their second TD, which came with about 2:40 left before the break. The Big Red had a golden opportunity to pad the lead when Waynesboro fumbled the kickoff and Riverheads recovered. However the Gladiators were not able to manage the clock well enough to score again.
The defenses took over in the second half and for a while it appeared that the 14-6 halftime score might be the final. Waynesboro had several chances to get back in the game, but had some trouble with penalties, especially during one bizarre sequence in which they were flagged for delay of game on two consecutive plays. That chain of events gave RHS the chance it needed to drive for the clinching touchdown.
After Riverheads made it 20-6, Waynesboro put on a show to get back in it. The Gladiators had experienced trouble all night long with the Giants quarterback (Lopez maybe?) He had completed a pass here and there but he proved to be quite the elusive runner and the Gladiators were almost never able to sack him.
On that final drive, he ran all over the backfield and completed a couple of desperation passes. The home team's final score was not exactly a Commanders-style Hail Mary, but it was an impressive enough play for this level, and showed that the Giants never quit. He also passed for the two-point conversion and if they had managed to recover the onside kick, those final few seconds could have been interesting.
With the win, the Gladiators will wait and see how their season ends. They had a rained-out game with Wilson back in late September, which may or may not be re-scheduled. As for the JV title game, my understanding is that the Gladiators will play Buffalo Gap for the title, if the Bison knock off Fort Defiance next week. But with Riverheads having only one loss in district play, it may be that the pairing is already set.
Whatever happens and whoever ends up playing in it, that championship game will be on Monday the 11th and will be played on the Waynesboro field. Meanwhile the RHS varsity team will host Waynesboro Friday night and then have a much-needed bye to heal up some wounded warriors before the Region 2-B playoffs begin on the 15th.
Waynesboro scored first and last in the game, but RHS put together three touchdowns in between to earn the victory. In fact, when Joel Maybush zipped across the goal line from about 10 yards out with under two minutes left in the game to make it 20-6, Gladiator fans thought they could finally relax. But the feisty Little Giants came down the field and scored on a touchdown pass with around 35 seconds left to close to within one score. Riverheads was then able to fall on the final kick.
The Gladiators got their usual strong rushing game from Rylan Payne, whom I believe scored the first two touchdowns. Maybush and Sean Miller contributed to the rushing attack with Maybush adding the Big Red's two-point conversion after their second TD.
Waynesboro took the opening kickoff and scored on just half a dozen plays as Number 10 (did not catch the name) exploded up the middle to score from about 38 yards out. Riverheads then stopped them on the two point conversion.
The Gladiators then calmly drove for about 70 yards for their first TD. The Maybush conversion put them ahead for good at 8-6. If there was a turning point it came early in the second quarter. WHS had marched into Riverheads territory in an effort to re-take the lead. They were inside or close to the red zone when an errant snap on fourth down sailed into the backfield and Riverheads recovered it.
The Gladiators then used up most of the remainder of the second quarter to score their second TD, which came with about 2:40 left before the break. The Big Red had a golden opportunity to pad the lead when Waynesboro fumbled the kickoff and Riverheads recovered. However the Gladiators were not able to manage the clock well enough to score again.
The defenses took over in the second half and for a while it appeared that the 14-6 halftime score might be the final. Waynesboro had several chances to get back in the game, but had some trouble with penalties, especially during one bizarre sequence in which they were flagged for delay of game on two consecutive plays. That chain of events gave RHS the chance it needed to drive for the clinching touchdown.
After Riverheads made it 20-6, Waynesboro put on a show to get back in it. The Gladiators had experienced trouble all night long with the Giants quarterback (Lopez maybe?) He had completed a pass here and there but he proved to be quite the elusive runner and the Gladiators were almost never able to sack him.
On that final drive, he ran all over the backfield and completed a couple of desperation passes. The home team's final score was not exactly a Commanders-style Hail Mary, but it was an impressive enough play for this level, and showed that the Giants never quit. He also passed for the two-point conversion and if they had managed to recover the onside kick, those final few seconds could have been interesting.
With the win, the Gladiators will wait and see how their season ends. They had a rained-out game with Wilson back in late September, which may or may not be re-scheduled. As for the JV title game, my understanding is that the Gladiators will play Buffalo Gap for the title, if the Bison knock off Fort Defiance next week. But with Riverheads having only one loss in district play, it may be that the pairing is already set.
Whatever happens and whoever ends up playing in it, that championship game will be on Monday the 11th and will be played on the Waynesboro field. Meanwhile the RHS varsity team will host Waynesboro Friday night and then have a much-needed bye to heal up some wounded warriors before the Region 2-B playoffs begin on the 15th.
