After opening their season with a pair of impressive wins, the Junior Gladiators suffered their first loss of the season tonight as visiting Spotswood took a 26-6 victory. However, the Big Red did not go down without a fight as they had drives into the red zone in both the second and third quarters that could have tightened things up a bit, but just could not convert.
A brief rain shower that almost directly coincided with the opening kickoff sent fans scurrying for cover or raising the umbrellas but it only lasted 5-10 minutes and soon the sun was out. The Gladiators took the ball first and moved into Blazer territory before being stopped on downs. The Blazers then used the ground game to drive straight down the field for their first score, as the opening quarter ended 6-0 Spotswood.
The remaining four touchdowns were all scored in an action-packed second quarter. The Blazers pushed across a second rushing touchdown to go up 12-0 and then took to the air for the first of two TD passes. However they were not faring well on two-point conversions, so the lead was 18-0 when Riverheads' running back Jackson Fitzgerald broke loose for about a 55 yard gallop around left end.
That score made it 18-6 with less than two minutes to go before halftime, but The Blazers got a break when a late hit out of bounds was called on RHS. That gave them the chance to strike for their second TD pass of the quarter, and although we did not know it at the time, the 26-6 halftime score would be the final.
Riverheads used up at least seven minutes of the third quarter on one steady drive, but came up short on their final attempt to close the gap. Then in the fourth quarter, in an interesting twist, the Blazers broke loose and scored on long running plays, not once but twice. However in each case, the TD was called back on a holding penalty.
Those three penalties I have just mentioned might give the impression that the game was poorly officiated, but it really wasn't. Overall there was limited controversy and the game was pretty much decided because Spotswood was able to move the ball both on the ground and through the air, whereas Riverheads was more one-dimensional in its approach and the Blazers were able to adapt. To their credit, both teams were willing to gamble as there were several occasions where one or the other went for it on fourth down when a punt might have seemed to be the expected call.
Fitzgerald as mentioned was the leading RHS rusher, but teammate Spencer Simpson also had a nice long run that almost matched Fitzgerald's but he was injured soon thereafter and was unable to return to action. Skyler Shifflett, who had been a defensive specialist so far this season, filled in for him the rest of the way and showed some promise.
With the win the Blazers made it two trips in a row into Augusta County as they also left Wilson victorious last week. Coincidentally those same Junior Hornets will be up next for Riverheads as they will travel to Greenville a week from tonight before the two varsity teams take the field at The Hive on Friday the 22nd for a much-anticipated Shenandoah District tussle.
Meanwhile the Varsity Gladiators, as mentioned earlier, are off this Friday. Wanna bet how many of the Red Pride coaches and players will be spotted at Western Albemarle Friday night taking in that Wilson game?
A brief rain shower that almost directly coincided with the opening kickoff sent fans scurrying for cover or raising the umbrellas but it only lasted 5-10 minutes and soon the sun was out. The Gladiators took the ball first and moved into Blazer territory before being stopped on downs. The Blazers then used the ground game to drive straight down the field for their first score, as the opening quarter ended 6-0 Spotswood.
The remaining four touchdowns were all scored in an action-packed second quarter. The Blazers pushed across a second rushing touchdown to go up 12-0 and then took to the air for the first of two TD passes. However they were not faring well on two-point conversions, so the lead was 18-0 when Riverheads' running back Jackson Fitzgerald broke loose for about a 55 yard gallop around left end.
That score made it 18-6 with less than two minutes to go before halftime, but The Blazers got a break when a late hit out of bounds was called on RHS. That gave them the chance to strike for their second TD pass of the quarter, and although we did not know it at the time, the 26-6 halftime score would be the final.
Riverheads used up at least seven minutes of the third quarter on one steady drive, but came up short on their final attempt to close the gap. Then in the fourth quarter, in an interesting twist, the Blazers broke loose and scored on long running plays, not once but twice. However in each case, the TD was called back on a holding penalty.
Those three penalties I have just mentioned might give the impression that the game was poorly officiated, but it really wasn't. Overall there was limited controversy and the game was pretty much decided because Spotswood was able to move the ball both on the ground and through the air, whereas Riverheads was more one-dimensional in its approach and the Blazers were able to adapt. To their credit, both teams were willing to gamble as there were several occasions where one or the other went for it on fourth down when a punt might have seemed to be the expected call.
Fitzgerald as mentioned was the leading RHS rusher, but teammate Spencer Simpson also had a nice long run that almost matched Fitzgerald's but he was injured soon thereafter and was unable to return to action. Skyler Shifflett, who had been a defensive specialist so far this season, filled in for him the rest of the way and showed some promise.
With the win the Blazers made it two trips in a row into Augusta County as they also left Wilson victorious last week. Coincidentally those same Junior Hornets will be up next for Riverheads as they will travel to Greenville a week from tonight before the two varsity teams take the field at The Hive on Friday the 22nd for a much-anticipated Shenandoah District tussle.
Meanwhile the Varsity Gladiators, as mentioned earlier, are off this Friday. Wanna bet how many of the Red Pride coaches and players will be spotted at Western Albemarle Friday night taking in that Wilson game?
