Last week the Junior Gmen threw us all a curve by unveiling an unexpectedly potent passing game in a season-opening win over Page County. Tonight it was back to the basics as they never even attempted a pass during a 32-0 win over visiting Bath County.
To be blunt, the Gladiators sensed early that the Chargers' 17-18 man roster would not be able to compete on an even level, so the Big Red just kind of went through the motions and treated this as more of a scrimmage than a game. They substituted early and often, and the goal appeared to be to get the game out of the way and avoid any injuries going into the meat of their schedule, which begins next Wednesday night with a trip to Stuarts Draft.
With the score reaching 24-0 by the first minute of the second quarter, the Gladiators could have really poured it on if they wanted to but instead they let everyone into the game, which should help down the road. Kudos go out to Bath as a school for even fielding a JV team. Their low enrollment and location certainly makes life difficult, which is why I am sure they still treasure memories of their state championship year back in the early 2000s.
The best score of the night for the Big Red came late in the first quarter when freshman running back Aiden Miller fielded a punt, cut to his right in front of the Bath bench, then weaved his way all the way back across the field to eventually score in the left corner, completing about a 58 yard return essentially untouched.
The Gladiators' huge lineman, eighth-grader John Wood, also had a highlight-reel moment when he dropped the Bath quarterback for a huge loss, jarred the ball loose and pounced on the fumble all in one smooth continuous motion. He will be a GREAT one for the Big Red.
To be blunt, the Gladiators sensed early that the Chargers' 17-18 man roster would not be able to compete on an even level, so the Big Red just kind of went through the motions and treated this as more of a scrimmage than a game. They substituted early and often, and the goal appeared to be to get the game out of the way and avoid any injuries going into the meat of their schedule, which begins next Wednesday night with a trip to Stuarts Draft.
With the score reaching 24-0 by the first minute of the second quarter, the Gladiators could have really poured it on if they wanted to but instead they let everyone into the game, which should help down the road. Kudos go out to Bath as a school for even fielding a JV team. Their low enrollment and location certainly makes life difficult, which is why I am sure they still treasure memories of their state championship year back in the early 2000s.
The best score of the night for the Big Red came late in the first quarter when freshman running back Aiden Miller fielded a punt, cut to his right in front of the Bath bench, then weaved his way all the way back across the field to eventually score in the left corner, completing about a 58 yard return essentially untouched.
The Gladiators' huge lineman, eighth-grader John Wood, also had a highlight-reel moment when he dropped the Bath quarterback for a huge loss, jarred the ball loose and pounced on the fumble all in one smooth continuous motion. He will be a GREAT one for the Big Red.
