In a ragged game that just got kind of absurd after a while due to so many flags, the visiting Gladiators somehow managed enough plays from scrimmage to knock off the Hornets tonight and remain unbeaten. They are now 7-0 on the season and have games only with Luray and R E Lee left on the schedule.
An early miscue from each team, maybe caused by the warm evening, kind of set the tone for the game as the teams had serious trouble getting into any kind of rhythm. First the Hornets managed to botch the same punt attempt twice on their first possession, and the Gladiators took over on the Wilson 16. But instead of taking advantage of that golden opportunity, the Big Red instead fumbled the ball right back to Wilson inside the 5.
Wilson then moved the ball consistently for most of the rest of the first quarter and made it out near midfield before turning it over on downs, reluctant to try the punt again. In fact, just about any time tonight that someone tried to have toe meet leather, it did not go well.
Taking over at midfield, the Gladiators took to the air on the first play and Bennett Dunlap connected with his usual go-to guy, Landon Lightner, who took the ball down into the red zone. A few plays later, Isaac Hartless put the Gladiators on the board from about 10 yards out with just six seconds left in the quarter. RHS managed a follow-up TD in the second quarter to take a 16-0 halftime advantage, with Cole Burton doing the honors on a short run.
Then came a totally ridiculous third quarter that featured an endless parade of flags, and in some cases, it seemed as if the refs were a little shaky on how to assess the penalty. Riverheads seemed to catch a break on one of those occasions when a two-point conversion was allowed to stand even though they were called for an illegal block on the play and the penalty was instead assessed on the kickoff. "Might have been" the correct call but it sure looked odd at the time.....
By that time, the game had dragged on so long and there had been some injury stops as well, so everyone just wanted to get it over with. The Gladiator running game kept clicking, despite all the interruptions, and they were able to pad the lead to 40-0 before Wilson got on the board late with about a 35 yard run around left end. Sorry but I did not catch the player's name.
It was a nice Indian Summer night for football and it was just a shame that the game could not have gone a bit smoother. To the teams' credit, they continued to play hard and I don't recall anyone really losing their composure. Next up of course are the varsity teams taking center stage for Homecoming in Greenville Friday night. Meanwhile, it is Homecoming next week at the Hive, with Page County providing the Friday night opposition in what could be a crucial game for both teams.
An early miscue from each team, maybe caused by the warm evening, kind of set the tone for the game as the teams had serious trouble getting into any kind of rhythm. First the Hornets managed to botch the same punt attempt twice on their first possession, and the Gladiators took over on the Wilson 16. But instead of taking advantage of that golden opportunity, the Big Red instead fumbled the ball right back to Wilson inside the 5.
Wilson then moved the ball consistently for most of the rest of the first quarter and made it out near midfield before turning it over on downs, reluctant to try the punt again. In fact, just about any time tonight that someone tried to have toe meet leather, it did not go well.
Taking over at midfield, the Gladiators took to the air on the first play and Bennett Dunlap connected with his usual go-to guy, Landon Lightner, who took the ball down into the red zone. A few plays later, Isaac Hartless put the Gladiators on the board from about 10 yards out with just six seconds left in the quarter. RHS managed a follow-up TD in the second quarter to take a 16-0 halftime advantage, with Cole Burton doing the honors on a short run.
Then came a totally ridiculous third quarter that featured an endless parade of flags, and in some cases, it seemed as if the refs were a little shaky on how to assess the penalty. Riverheads seemed to catch a break on one of those occasions when a two-point conversion was allowed to stand even though they were called for an illegal block on the play and the penalty was instead assessed on the kickoff. "Might have been" the correct call but it sure looked odd at the time.....
By that time, the game had dragged on so long and there had been some injury stops as well, so everyone just wanted to get it over with. The Gladiator running game kept clicking, despite all the interruptions, and they were able to pad the lead to 40-0 before Wilson got on the board late with about a 35 yard run around left end. Sorry but I did not catch the player's name.
It was a nice Indian Summer night for football and it was just a shame that the game could not have gone a bit smoother. To the teams' credit, they continued to play hard and I don't recall anyone really losing their composure. Next up of course are the varsity teams taking center stage for Homecoming in Greenville Friday night. Meanwhile, it is Homecoming next week at the Hive, with Page County providing the Friday night opposition in what could be a crucial game for both teams.
