As I promised my friend Longtimerhsfan here is recap of tonight’s Riverheads/Stuarts Draft game.
The Gladiators’ defense was the story in the 51-6 victory over the Cougars. Riverheads held Draft to 46 total yards and only two first downs, both in the fourth quarter. In the meantime, the Gladiators racked up 574 yards.
Riverheads opened up the scoring on their first possession of the game. Set up by a 55-yard pass from Justin McWhorter to Forrest Shuey to the Draft’s 17. A few plays later Blake Smith ran it in from 3 yards out and Peyton Skillman’s PAT made it 7-0 with 7:54 left in the 1st quarter. The Gladiators drove 67 yards on their next possession, topped off by Moose Lee’s 3-yard scoring run. A missed handle on the snap cost the Gladiators on the extra point attempt but Riverheads held a 13-0 lead. It looked like the Hladiators were going to score their third straight touchdown as they drove deep into Draft’s territory early in the second quarter. However, a holding penalty pushed The Gladiators back to the 20 and Peyton Skillman came in to kick a 37-yard field goal to make it a 16-0 lead.
Zac Smiley scored twice before halftime, one from 29-yards out where he broke three tackles and the other from eight yards out to give Riverheads a 30-0 halftime lead.
Devin Morris got in the end zone to cap the Gladiators 85-yard drive to start the second half and the 37-0 lead went into the fourth quarter. Riverheads committed its first mistake of the night muffing a punt and Draft recovered at the Gladiators 20. Riverheads defense made a stop and the offense proceeded to go 84 yards, topped off by a 26-yard TD run by sophomores Cy Cox.
Draft recovered a second muffed punt by the home team and finally got on the scoreboard when Blake Rosch ran it in from 15 yards out. The PAT was blocked and shortly after the kickoff fullback Trevor Roberts rumbled 62 yards to finish the scoring.
Now this sets up next weeks big match up as Riverheads travels to take on East Rockingham.
Other than the outcome of the game, the highlight of tonight’s festivities came at halftime when the 2018 Red Pride Hall of Fame was announced. Going in will be Ali Painter Engelman, a 2007 graduate; Marsha Carwell Smith, a 2001 graduate; and Mary Hemp Hubbard, a 1984 graduate. Also going in is Gene Wassick who has been the JV Head Coach for 21 years, Assistant Coach Mike Hemp who has been on the coaching staff since 1998, Defensive Coordinator Ray Norcross who has held that post since 1996, and Head Coach Robert Casto who had led the Gladiators to 5 State Championships and is coaching in his 23rd year. Also going in will be 2013 graduate Logan Moore. Logan is Riverheads all-time leading rusher with 5,358 yards and 89 touchdowns. With those accomplishments, Logan’s number 22 was retired in a pre-game ceremony. Moore is only the second Riverheads football player to have his jersey retired. The other is 1976 graduate Bernard Stewart’s #32.
The Gladiators’ defense was the story in the 51-6 victory over the Cougars. Riverheads held Draft to 46 total yards and only two first downs, both in the fourth quarter. In the meantime, the Gladiators racked up 574 yards.
Riverheads opened up the scoring on their first possession of the game. Set up by a 55-yard pass from Justin McWhorter to Forrest Shuey to the Draft’s 17. A few plays later Blake Smith ran it in from 3 yards out and Peyton Skillman’s PAT made it 7-0 with 7:54 left in the 1st quarter. The Gladiators drove 67 yards on their next possession, topped off by Moose Lee’s 3-yard scoring run. A missed handle on the snap cost the Gladiators on the extra point attempt but Riverheads held a 13-0 lead. It looked like the Hladiators were going to score their third straight touchdown as they drove deep into Draft’s territory early in the second quarter. However, a holding penalty pushed The Gladiators back to the 20 and Peyton Skillman came in to kick a 37-yard field goal to make it a 16-0 lead.
Zac Smiley scored twice before halftime, one from 29-yards out where he broke three tackles and the other from eight yards out to give Riverheads a 30-0 halftime lead.
Devin Morris got in the end zone to cap the Gladiators 85-yard drive to start the second half and the 37-0 lead went into the fourth quarter. Riverheads committed its first mistake of the night muffing a punt and Draft recovered at the Gladiators 20. Riverheads defense made a stop and the offense proceeded to go 84 yards, topped off by a 26-yard TD run by sophomores Cy Cox.
Draft recovered a second muffed punt by the home team and finally got on the scoreboard when Blake Rosch ran it in from 15 yards out. The PAT was blocked and shortly after the kickoff fullback Trevor Roberts rumbled 62 yards to finish the scoring.
Now this sets up next weeks big match up as Riverheads travels to take on East Rockingham.
Other than the outcome of the game, the highlight of tonight’s festivities came at halftime when the 2018 Red Pride Hall of Fame was announced. Going in will be Ali Painter Engelman, a 2007 graduate; Marsha Carwell Smith, a 2001 graduate; and Mary Hemp Hubbard, a 1984 graduate. Also going in is Gene Wassick who has been the JV Head Coach for 21 years, Assistant Coach Mike Hemp who has been on the coaching staff since 1998, Defensive Coordinator Ray Norcross who has held that post since 1996, and Head Coach Robert Casto who had led the Gladiators to 5 State Championships and is coaching in his 23rd year. Also going in will be 2013 graduate Logan Moore. Logan is Riverheads all-time leading rusher with 5,358 yards and 89 touchdowns. With those accomplishments, Logan’s number 22 was retired in a pre-game ceremony. Moore is only the second Riverheads football player to have his jersey retired. The other is 1976 graduate Bernard Stewart’s #32.
