Tonight the visiting Leemen scored the first and last points of the game, but unfortunately for them seven different Gladiators crossed the goal line in between those scores as Riverheads rolled over the Leemen 49-10.
Lee enjoyed only about 2 1/2 minutes of optimism and celebration when the Gladiators uncharacteristically fumbled the ball on their own 24 yard line on their first possession of the game. Despite the golden scoring opportunity, Lee failed to move the ball effectively and had to settle for a 29 yard Marcos Sasia field goal to grab a 3-0 lead at the 9:30 mark.
On the ensuing kickoff the all-district kicker sent it sailing out of the end zone, as he had done the first time, and once again the Gladiators were forced to start at their own 20. This time however a 32-yard run by sophomore Zac Smiley got the Big Red out of the shadow of its own goal line and from there it was pretty much all Riverheads.
Smiley got the honors several plays later with a 7 yard sweep around right end, but little did we know that it would be the only TD of the evening for the Gladiators' leading scorer. Placekicker Peyton Skillman converted the first of his 7 extra points to stake RHS to a 7-3 lead.
Riverheads had a shorter field to work with next time as they drove 68 yards with Devin Morris taking it in from 15 yards out on the last play of the first quarter.
The Gladiators then put it away with a three-touchdown outburst in the second quarter. Sophomore Cy Cox came in to the game for the first time midway through the second quarter and immediately contributed, scoring from about six yards out on his second carry.
Moments later came the play that probably broke the spirit of the Leemen for good. Trailing 21-3 and quite likely thinking that a TD before halftime would get them back in the game, the visitors went to the air.
QB William Dod lofted one down the near sideline in front of his own bench but overshot his receiver. Riverheads' Drew Bond was Johnny on the Spot for his second pick six of the season, as he first pushed one of his own teammates out of the way to clear a path and then took it 60 yards untouched for the Big Red's fourth TD of the game.
The Gladiators got the ball back one more time before the break and drove about 50 yards with fullback Jaden Phillips toting the pigskin in from about 8 yards out to send the teams to the locker room with the scoreboard registering 35-3.
Lee received the second half kickoff and took four minutes off the clock before having to punt. A short punt put the Big Red back in business around its own 40. This time senior running back Avery Schaefer, who was seeing action for only the third or fourth game of the year due to an early-season injury, swept left from about 7 yards out to make the score 42-3 after the PAT. More importantly that TD started the running clock that would eventually get us all out of the stadium before the clock struck nine.
The final Gladiator TD of the night was certainly not the most exciting play of the game but it may have been the most satisfying. Back up running back D'ante Gray pushed it across from one yard out for his first career touchdown. He had scored a couple of weeks ago against Wilson but had it wiped out by a penalty, so now he is officially in the record books.
The Leemen finally got a TD from their stud Garrett Lawler with less than two minutes remaining to account for the final score. At times the Big Red had trouble adjusting to his speed, durability, and spin moves, but they adapted well enough to hold the Leemen to a total of 119 yards of offense, according to the radio wrap-up.
Lee definitely has some athletes on the team but they seem to have timing and organizational issues going on. For one thing they had a terrible time all night with their center snaps, especially when they were in the shotgun formation. Other times they appeared to be confused about the play call and barely beat the clock. Finally Sasia's place-kicking prowess did not translate to the punting game as several of his boots were short tonight, giving the Big Red advantageous field position.
So the Gladiators got their revenge for last year's Williams-whipping in Gypsy Hill Park. They will now see if they can accomplish Red Pride Revenge Part Two when unbeaten Central Woodstock rolls into Greenville next Friday night. The Leemen will have two chances to go out on winning notes and solidify their probably-secure playoff spot as they play Page next week and Stuarts Draft the final night. I would think they would have to lose both of those to drop out of contention.
Lee enjoyed only about 2 1/2 minutes of optimism and celebration when the Gladiators uncharacteristically fumbled the ball on their own 24 yard line on their first possession of the game. Despite the golden scoring opportunity, Lee failed to move the ball effectively and had to settle for a 29 yard Marcos Sasia field goal to grab a 3-0 lead at the 9:30 mark.
On the ensuing kickoff the all-district kicker sent it sailing out of the end zone, as he had done the first time, and once again the Gladiators were forced to start at their own 20. This time however a 32-yard run by sophomore Zac Smiley got the Big Red out of the shadow of its own goal line and from there it was pretty much all Riverheads.
Smiley got the honors several plays later with a 7 yard sweep around right end, but little did we know that it would be the only TD of the evening for the Gladiators' leading scorer. Placekicker Peyton Skillman converted the first of his 7 extra points to stake RHS to a 7-3 lead.
Riverheads had a shorter field to work with next time as they drove 68 yards with Devin Morris taking it in from 15 yards out on the last play of the first quarter.
The Gladiators then put it away with a three-touchdown outburst in the second quarter. Sophomore Cy Cox came in to the game for the first time midway through the second quarter and immediately contributed, scoring from about six yards out on his second carry.
Moments later came the play that probably broke the spirit of the Leemen for good. Trailing 21-3 and quite likely thinking that a TD before halftime would get them back in the game, the visitors went to the air.
QB William Dod lofted one down the near sideline in front of his own bench but overshot his receiver. Riverheads' Drew Bond was Johnny on the Spot for his second pick six of the season, as he first pushed one of his own teammates out of the way to clear a path and then took it 60 yards untouched for the Big Red's fourth TD of the game.
The Gladiators got the ball back one more time before the break and drove about 50 yards with fullback Jaden Phillips toting the pigskin in from about 8 yards out to send the teams to the locker room with the scoreboard registering 35-3.
Lee received the second half kickoff and took four minutes off the clock before having to punt. A short punt put the Big Red back in business around its own 40. This time senior running back Avery Schaefer, who was seeing action for only the third or fourth game of the year due to an early-season injury, swept left from about 7 yards out to make the score 42-3 after the PAT. More importantly that TD started the running clock that would eventually get us all out of the stadium before the clock struck nine.
The final Gladiator TD of the night was certainly not the most exciting play of the game but it may have been the most satisfying. Back up running back D'ante Gray pushed it across from one yard out for his first career touchdown. He had scored a couple of weeks ago against Wilson but had it wiped out by a penalty, so now he is officially in the record books.
The Leemen finally got a TD from their stud Garrett Lawler with less than two minutes remaining to account for the final score. At times the Big Red had trouble adjusting to his speed, durability, and spin moves, but they adapted well enough to hold the Leemen to a total of 119 yards of offense, according to the radio wrap-up.
Lee definitely has some athletes on the team but they seem to have timing and organizational issues going on. For one thing they had a terrible time all night with their center snaps, especially when they were in the shotgun formation. Other times they appeared to be confused about the play call and barely beat the clock. Finally Sasia's place-kicking prowess did not translate to the punting game as several of his boots were short tonight, giving the Big Red advantageous field position.
So the Gladiators got their revenge for last year's Williams-whipping in Gypsy Hill Park. They will now see if they can accomplish Red Pride Revenge Part Two when unbeaten Central Woodstock rolls into Greenville next Friday night. The Leemen will have two chances to go out on winning notes and solidify their probably-secure playoff spot as they play Page next week and Stuarts Draft the final night. I would think they would have to lose both of those to drop out of contention.
