Gladiator fans came out in droves tonight, probably even more than we are accustomed to seeing at home JV games, outnumbering the Lee fans at least 6 or 8 to 1. Turns out the team needed every one of those "Go Big Red" cheers to finally subdue the home team 22-0 in a game that was much closer than the score might sound.
RHS moved ahead 14-0 on a pair of Cole Burton TDs, one in each of the first two quarters, but then spent the rest of the game fending off one Lee surge after another. The Leemen had a 65 yard TD called back in the third quarter by a penalty and possibly another in the fourth quarter. I say "possibly" because a pass was caught along the back of the end zone, but it was never really clear whether the receiver was in bounds. We never saw a clear TD signal, although it was a moot point because everyone knew the play was coming back anyway.
Speaking of the officiating, let's just say there was a LOT of laundry on the field tonight and by the end of the game, it had fans on both sides howling. In one especially puzzling sequence late in the game, the Gladiators were driving for their third TD, a play had been completed, and each team was in its huddle at least 20 yards away from each other.
A ref threw a dead-ball flag right in the middle of the Leemen, who were huddled near the goal line. The assumption at the time was that someone was frustrated at the loss and probably used a bad word. All the stripes then met for a confab and after a couple of minutes a call was made.......are you ready......offsetting penalties! (Perhaps they assumed the Gladiators had studied ventriloquism?)
Mercifully the game ended soon thereafter as Aiden Miller punched in the insurance TD for the Big Red. With the win, the Gladiators remain unbeaten with one final road trip next Wednesday to Woodstock Central. The Big Red also got a solid running game tonight out of Isaac Hartless.
The Leemen, who only dressed out 18 tonight, are to be commended for not giving up. Next up the varsity teams will meet in Greenville Friday night.
RHS moved ahead 14-0 on a pair of Cole Burton TDs, one in each of the first two quarters, but then spent the rest of the game fending off one Lee surge after another. The Leemen had a 65 yard TD called back in the third quarter by a penalty and possibly another in the fourth quarter. I say "possibly" because a pass was caught along the back of the end zone, but it was never really clear whether the receiver was in bounds. We never saw a clear TD signal, although it was a moot point because everyone knew the play was coming back anyway.
Speaking of the officiating, let's just say there was a LOT of laundry on the field tonight and by the end of the game, it had fans on both sides howling. In one especially puzzling sequence late in the game, the Gladiators were driving for their third TD, a play had been completed, and each team was in its huddle at least 20 yards away from each other.
A ref threw a dead-ball flag right in the middle of the Leemen, who were huddled near the goal line. The assumption at the time was that someone was frustrated at the loss and probably used a bad word. All the stripes then met for a confab and after a couple of minutes a call was made.......are you ready......offsetting penalties! (Perhaps they assumed the Gladiators had studied ventriloquism?)
Mercifully the game ended soon thereafter as Aiden Miller punched in the insurance TD for the Big Red. With the win, the Gladiators remain unbeaten with one final road trip next Wednesday to Woodstock Central. The Big Red also got a solid running game tonight out of Isaac Hartless.
The Leemen, who only dressed out 18 tonight, are to be commended for not giving up. Next up the varsity teams will meet in Greenville Friday night.
