Riverheads....
- Thread starter NNDanalyst
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RH up 21-0 with 5 minutes left in 1st
Luray with a fumble on kickoff, botched punt and interception s
Luray with a fumble on kickoff, botched punt and interception s
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RE Lee Staunton next week at RH
Central Woodstock after that at RH
Lost to both last year
Just about any team can have a turnover or two, "maybe" even three, and still win a game. But when you turn the ball over on your first five possessions, not to mention two or three more after that, and your opponent converts just about every one of them into six points, then you know it is not your night. Such was the case with Luray as they handed the visiting Gladiators one easy scoring chance after another, each one on a shinier silver platter than the one before.
The Gladiators could not have had a better first quarter if they had special-ordered it from a catalogue. As mentioned above, Luray muffed the opening kickoff and after a mad scramble and some digging at the bottom of the pile, RHS was in business from the Bulldog 35. The Gladiators then used five different ball-carriers on a seven play drive to go up 7-0 less than 3 minutes into the game. Zac Smiley got the honors from about 6 yards out.
On Luray's second possession, they went three and out, but when it came punt time, the Gladiators put on a big rush, and although the snap had been clean enough, the punter panicked and was swarmed under, again putting RHS in business inside the Luray 40. This time a long run by Smiley took it down to the one and from there, Jaden Phillips ran it in to make it 14-0, with seven minutes still on the first quarter clock.
On its next possession, Luray completed a pass out in the left flat around its own 40.......only one problem though.......the completion went to Riverheads' Justin McWhorter, who returned the pick six for a 21-0 Gladiator lead. The clock still showed over 5 minutes at that point.
The Bulldogs finally managed a first down on their fourth possession, and even crossed midfield by half a yard, but on the very next play, they fumbled the ball and RHS recovered. If you have been counting, that is four turnovers in the first quarter alone. The clock ticked over to the early moments of the second quarter before Devin Morris ran it in from one yard out for a 28-0 Riverheads advantage.
Within three minutes, Drew Bond hauled in an interception around midfield to give the Big Red its fifth takeaway and yet another scoring opportunity. This time the Gladiators failed to score as they found themselves facing a 4th and 7 from around the Bulldog 28. Coach Casto elected to give placekicker Peyton Skillman some long-distance practice, but the junior came up a few feet short on the 45 yard attempt.
Riverheads then finally scored a TD that was NOT aided and abetted by a turnover, as they drove down the field for Smiley's second TD of the evening to make it a 35-0 count with about 2 1/2 minutes left before the break. To the Bulldogs' credit, they used that time wisely, hit a couple of timely passes and finally scored with under 10 seconds left to cut the halftime margin to 35-7.
The second half was much less eventful, mainly because Riverheads scored quickly enough to put the running clock in motion. They took the kickoff in for one score, and then again rushed the Luray punter so hard he could not get the kick off, which led to another touchdown. The PA announcer had gotten quiet by that time and sometimes there were so many bodies clustered together you could not easily tell who scored, but I will unofficially say that Morris got his second TD and Smiley his third to make the score 49-7 after three.
Speaking of "unofficial", Luray coughed up what I believe was its seventh turnover early in the fourth quarter when the QB went back to pass and was sacked on the attempt, jarring the ball loose. It was ruled a fumble and a Riverheads recovery in one of those plays that would have been reviewed out the wazoo on TV.
The Gladiators had plenty of clock to work with and Cy Cox, who would ultimately finish out the game as Riverheads' third QB of the night, skirted around the left side from about 30 yards out for the visitors' final TD of the night. Luray then scored one final TD on a sideline scamper of its own with about 3 minutes left, but failed on the two-point conversion.
Each team has a big game next Friday. Riverheads will welcome R E Lee in a grudge match after the Leemen handed them their first loss last season, whereas the Bulldogs will travel to Page for a much-anticipated neighborhood donnybrook. Considering Luray's collapse at Lee last week and tonight's turnover-fest, at this point, you gotta like the Panthers' chances to knock off their arch-rival, which I don't think they have done in quite a while.
One final TV tip for devoted Riverheads fans. Surely many of you remember "Big Mike" Herndon from a few years ago. Well from what we hear, he is having a stellar senior season at Pitt and the Panthers will be on the tube tomorrow (which is of course now TODAY) in a 2:30 game against Notre Dame. Considering the season the Irish are enjoying, Mike and his team may not fare very well in that one, but you might want to check it out anyway. The Panthers will also be at UVa for a Friday night game a few weeks from now.
The Gladiators could not have had a better first quarter if they had special-ordered it from a catalogue. As mentioned above, Luray muffed the opening kickoff and after a mad scramble and some digging at the bottom of the pile, RHS was in business from the Bulldog 35. The Gladiators then used five different ball-carriers on a seven play drive to go up 7-0 less than 3 minutes into the game. Zac Smiley got the honors from about 6 yards out.
On Luray's second possession, they went three and out, but when it came punt time, the Gladiators put on a big rush, and although the snap had been clean enough, the punter panicked and was swarmed under, again putting RHS in business inside the Luray 40. This time a long run by Smiley took it down to the one and from there, Jaden Phillips ran it in to make it 14-0, with seven minutes still on the first quarter clock.
On its next possession, Luray completed a pass out in the left flat around its own 40.......only one problem though.......the completion went to Riverheads' Justin McWhorter, who returned the pick six for a 21-0 Gladiator lead. The clock still showed over 5 minutes at that point.
The Bulldogs finally managed a first down on their fourth possession, and even crossed midfield by half a yard, but on the very next play, they fumbled the ball and RHS recovered. If you have been counting, that is four turnovers in the first quarter alone. The clock ticked over to the early moments of the second quarter before Devin Morris ran it in from one yard out for a 28-0 Riverheads advantage.
Within three minutes, Drew Bond hauled in an interception around midfield to give the Big Red its fifth takeaway and yet another scoring opportunity. This time the Gladiators failed to score as they found themselves facing a 4th and 7 from around the Bulldog 28. Coach Casto elected to give placekicker Peyton Skillman some long-distance practice, but the junior came up a few feet short on the 45 yard attempt.
Riverheads then finally scored a TD that was NOT aided and abetted by a turnover, as they drove down the field for Smiley's second TD of the evening to make it a 35-0 count with about 2 1/2 minutes left before the break. To the Bulldogs' credit, they used that time wisely, hit a couple of timely passes and finally scored with under 10 seconds left to cut the halftime margin to 35-7.
The second half was much less eventful, mainly because Riverheads scored quickly enough to put the running clock in motion. They took the kickoff in for one score, and then again rushed the Luray punter so hard he could not get the kick off, which led to another touchdown. The PA announcer had gotten quiet by that time and sometimes there were so many bodies clustered together you could not easily tell who scored, but I will unofficially say that Morris got his second TD and Smiley his third to make the score 49-7 after three.
Speaking of "unofficial", Luray coughed up what I believe was its seventh turnover early in the fourth quarter when the QB went back to pass and was sacked on the attempt, jarring the ball loose. It was ruled a fumble and a Riverheads recovery in one of those plays that would have been reviewed out the wazoo on TV.
The Gladiators had plenty of clock to work with and Cy Cox, who would ultimately finish out the game as Riverheads' third QB of the night, skirted around the left side from about 30 yards out for the visitors' final TD of the night. Luray then scored one final TD on a sideline scamper of its own with about 3 minutes left, but failed on the two-point conversion.
Each team has a big game next Friday. Riverheads will welcome R E Lee in a grudge match after the Leemen handed them their first loss last season, whereas the Bulldogs will travel to Page for a much-anticipated neighborhood donnybrook. Considering Luray's collapse at Lee last week and tonight's turnover-fest, at this point, you gotta like the Panthers' chances to knock off their arch-rival, which I don't think they have done in quite a while.
One final TV tip for devoted Riverheads fans. Surely many of you remember "Big Mike" Herndon from a few years ago. Well from what we hear, he is having a stellar senior season at Pitt and the Panthers will be on the tube tomorrow (which is of course now TODAY) in a 2:30 game against Notre Dame. Considering the season the Irish are enjoying, Mike and his team may not fare very well in that one, but you might want to check it out anyway. The Panthers will also be at UVa for a Friday night game a few weeks from now.
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Didn’t see this coming, most coaches tell you turnovers is lack of focus can’t believe you got Riverheads coming to your house and your not ready, 7 turnovers is a lot!!
Thanks for the breakdown Longtime.
Pitts playing good physical ball. Hope they can keep it rolling.
Unfortunately Pitt came up short in that one, but at least our three major Virginia schools were all victorious today and tonight.
Yeah gave it away in the 4th. Miami got a heavy dose of Juan Thornhill tonight though. That was nice to see.
