For the most part the Knights were in mid-season form tonight as they displayed their two (I believe they have two) legitimate D-1 prospects and also the transfer they received from Staunton. That trio was more than Riverheads could handle but the Gladiators did not exactly roll over and play dead and in their own way, they accomplished what they needed to.
The scrimmage began with each team getting two 12-play untimed drives. RHS got off to a good start when Levi Dunlap kept the opening possession alive with a nice toss out in the flat to Brody Phillips that moved the ball in to TA territory. The drive stalled and TA would go on to score three times in that segment of the scrimmage to technically win the "first half" 19-0.
After a break, the scrimmage wrapped up with two 15 minute quarters in which the clock ran continuously, even on incomplete passes. Riverheads fared better in that half as Jackson Fitzgerald, a member of RHS' very talented sophomore class, picked off a pass to thwart TA's opening drive. The Knights did score on their second possession, again with their first string offense.
The final quarter featured the second offenses of both squads and Riverheads may have had the slight advantage, as they marched the ball all the way down to the three yard line before coming up a yard short on fourth down. So neither team scored as the "second half" ended 6-0 in favor of the home team.
It might seem alarming to Gladiator fans to read that the Big Red failed to score at all, but I have a hunch the coaches were not too upset about that. They knew coming in that TA is likely the Valley District favorite and that they (Riverheads) has some promise, but yes some holes to fill. So I think the coaches did exactly what they wanted to do tonight, which was to play everyone they had to see who is ready to step up and contribute. We saw the half-dozen running backs we expected to, but at least that many more played, and they also tried to open up the passing game a bit.
The Big Red will host Strasburg next Thursday so that will be more of a test of their strength as they will be playing a Region 2-B opponent that they just might see again down the road. Another factor that was encouraging for RHS was the attendance. Despite a 45 minute road trip, the Gladiators had twice the fan support that TA had and that noise in the stands will make a difference on occasion this season, as it always has. So don't write the Big Red off this season based on this scrimmage, but DO pencil TA in as a Valley contender.
Not only that but they may be contenders for quite some time, if you judge by tonight's JV scrimmage. The Knights had a huge size and numbers advantage in that one and easily controlled the Junior Gladiators.
The scrimmage began with each team getting two 12-play untimed drives. RHS got off to a good start when Levi Dunlap kept the opening possession alive with a nice toss out in the flat to Brody Phillips that moved the ball in to TA territory. The drive stalled and TA would go on to score three times in that segment of the scrimmage to technically win the "first half" 19-0.
After a break, the scrimmage wrapped up with two 15 minute quarters in which the clock ran continuously, even on incomplete passes. Riverheads fared better in that half as Jackson Fitzgerald, a member of RHS' very talented sophomore class, picked off a pass to thwart TA's opening drive. The Knights did score on their second possession, again with their first string offense.
The final quarter featured the second offenses of both squads and Riverheads may have had the slight advantage, as they marched the ball all the way down to the three yard line before coming up a yard short on fourth down. So neither team scored as the "second half" ended 6-0 in favor of the home team.
It might seem alarming to Gladiator fans to read that the Big Red failed to score at all, but I have a hunch the coaches were not too upset about that. They knew coming in that TA is likely the Valley District favorite and that they (Riverheads) has some promise, but yes some holes to fill. So I think the coaches did exactly what they wanted to do tonight, which was to play everyone they had to see who is ready to step up and contribute. We saw the half-dozen running backs we expected to, but at least that many more played, and they also tried to open up the passing game a bit.
The Big Red will host Strasburg next Thursday so that will be more of a test of their strength as they will be playing a Region 2-B opponent that they just might see again down the road. Another factor that was encouraging for RHS was the attendance. Despite a 45 minute road trip, the Gladiators had twice the fan support that TA had and that noise in the stands will make a difference on occasion this season, as it always has. So don't write the Big Red off this season based on this scrimmage, but DO pencil TA in as a Valley contender.
Not only that but they may be contenders for quite some time, if you judge by tonight's JV scrimmage. The Knights had a huge size and numbers advantage in that one and easily controlled the Junior Gladiators.
