The fact that the Gladiators would win big over the Generals is not surprising and maybe even the final score was pretty much what everyone expected, but there were some odd twists and turns to get us to that point up in Quicksburg tonight.
First and foremost.....guess who scored in the first minute of the game? The Generals took the opening kickoff and on second down from their own 37 yard line, the Ritchie to Ritchie brother combination took it to the house, scoring the first TD of the game with the clock still showing 11:08 in the first quarter. The pass was delivered out in the left flat and he outran the nearest defender to the endzone.
However, not to be outdone, Riverheads needed only ONE play from scrimmage to even the score and that is where the first Gladiator surprise of the evening came in. That score also came through the airwaves (which is very rare for the Big Red) and the receiver was none other than fullback Jaden Phillips, who scored his first TD of the season, as he went 61 yards down the right sideline. Just like with the Stonewall TD, it was the yards-after-catch and the timely blocking from his teammates that got him into the endzone.
As it turned out the Gladiators were just getting started as they took COMPLETE charge of the game from that point and roared out to a 62-7 halftime advantage. They blocked a couple of punts to gain short fields, defensive end Drew Bond returned a pick six that was deflected to him by his own teammate, and in the second major surprise of the evening, Phillips scored again from his fullback slot, this time on the ground, as he went straight up the middle untouched, again scoring from 61 yards out. Don't be surprised if he lobbies for a new number this week (61) instead of his regular 24!
Subs got into the act as early as the second quarter and the final touchdown tally was two each for Phillips and sophomore Zac Smiley, and single scores for Bond, Devin Morris, starting quarterback Justin McWhorter, Cyrus Cox, and Phillips' back-up at the fullback slot, Avery Schaefer. The Schaefer TD was especially satisfying for RHS fans as he had been out of action all season due to an injury received during the pre-season.
Tonight was his first night back in uniform and what better way to start your senior season than to break several tackles and score from about 25 yards out on your very first carry of the year? And if that surname sounds familiar...yes he is the younger brother of Harrison Schaefer, who was the Big Red's all-everything a couple of seasons ago.
With the halftime score what it was, everyone wanted to see the clock run quickly and get it over with, so the Gladiators did everything they could to avoid further damage in the second half. First of all, they kicked off to Stonewall again, as they had to open the game, as opposed to exercising their option to receive.
Then on their very first possession of the second half, after gaining a first down at the Generals' 20, they attempted a field goal on the first down play. It was quite possibly done for the practice as much as anything and was perhaps not even expected to succeed, but nevertheless the busiest guy on the field, placekicker Peyton Skillman, knocked it through for the final points of the evening.
Stonewall could have used another score for morale purposes and they came agonizingly close to getting it, as they drove all the way to the Gladiator one yard line as the third quarter ended. However, RHS stopped them on downs. The Pride then pretty much ran out the running clock but in the process got some nice hard runs from yet another talented running back of the future, D'onte Gray.
In keeping with the desire to NOT score again, the Big Red reached the red zone with still four or five minutes on the clock, but they voluntarily ended the drive with a series of deliberate delays of game, although Gray or any of several others likely could have scored if the desire was there to do so. Stonewall then had one last chance but failed to move out of the shadow of their own goal as the game mercifully ended.
As mentioned in Wednesday night's JV wrap-up, I saw some potential in that Stonewall squad, so if the coaches can keep the spirit up, there can be brighter days ahead for the Generals. Also it was announced tonight that later in the season, their field will be dedicated and formally re-named The Dick Krol Field in honor of their legendary long-time coach, who gave the Big Red fits a few times when he was at the helm.
Riverheads moves to 4-1 on the season with tonight's win and will host arch-rival Wilson next Friday.
First and foremost.....guess who scored in the first minute of the game? The Generals took the opening kickoff and on second down from their own 37 yard line, the Ritchie to Ritchie brother combination took it to the house, scoring the first TD of the game with the clock still showing 11:08 in the first quarter. The pass was delivered out in the left flat and he outran the nearest defender to the endzone.
However, not to be outdone, Riverheads needed only ONE play from scrimmage to even the score and that is where the first Gladiator surprise of the evening came in. That score also came through the airwaves (which is very rare for the Big Red) and the receiver was none other than fullback Jaden Phillips, who scored his first TD of the season, as he went 61 yards down the right sideline. Just like with the Stonewall TD, it was the yards-after-catch and the timely blocking from his teammates that got him into the endzone.
As it turned out the Gladiators were just getting started as they took COMPLETE charge of the game from that point and roared out to a 62-7 halftime advantage. They blocked a couple of punts to gain short fields, defensive end Drew Bond returned a pick six that was deflected to him by his own teammate, and in the second major surprise of the evening, Phillips scored again from his fullback slot, this time on the ground, as he went straight up the middle untouched, again scoring from 61 yards out. Don't be surprised if he lobbies for a new number this week (61) instead of his regular 24!
Subs got into the act as early as the second quarter and the final touchdown tally was two each for Phillips and sophomore Zac Smiley, and single scores for Bond, Devin Morris, starting quarterback Justin McWhorter, Cyrus Cox, and Phillips' back-up at the fullback slot, Avery Schaefer. The Schaefer TD was especially satisfying for RHS fans as he had been out of action all season due to an injury received during the pre-season.
Tonight was his first night back in uniform and what better way to start your senior season than to break several tackles and score from about 25 yards out on your very first carry of the year? And if that surname sounds familiar...yes he is the younger brother of Harrison Schaefer, who was the Big Red's all-everything a couple of seasons ago.
With the halftime score what it was, everyone wanted to see the clock run quickly and get it over with, so the Gladiators did everything they could to avoid further damage in the second half. First of all, they kicked off to Stonewall again, as they had to open the game, as opposed to exercising their option to receive.
Then on their very first possession of the second half, after gaining a first down at the Generals' 20, they attempted a field goal on the first down play. It was quite possibly done for the practice as much as anything and was perhaps not even expected to succeed, but nevertheless the busiest guy on the field, placekicker Peyton Skillman, knocked it through for the final points of the evening.
Stonewall could have used another score for morale purposes and they came agonizingly close to getting it, as they drove all the way to the Gladiator one yard line as the third quarter ended. However, RHS stopped them on downs. The Pride then pretty much ran out the running clock but in the process got some nice hard runs from yet another talented running back of the future, D'onte Gray.
In keeping with the desire to NOT score again, the Big Red reached the red zone with still four or five minutes on the clock, but they voluntarily ended the drive with a series of deliberate delays of game, although Gray or any of several others likely could have scored if the desire was there to do so. Stonewall then had one last chance but failed to move out of the shadow of their own goal as the game mercifully ended.
As mentioned in Wednesday night's JV wrap-up, I saw some potential in that Stonewall squad, so if the coaches can keep the spirit up, there can be brighter days ahead for the Generals. Also it was announced tonight that later in the season, their field will be dedicated and formally re-named The Dick Krol Field in honor of their legendary long-time coach, who gave the Big Red fits a few times when he was at the helm.
Riverheads moves to 4-1 on the season with tonight's win and will host arch-rival Wilson next Friday.
