Despite those rapidly rising gas prices and a small threat of rain, a respectable crowd showed up on both sides tonight at Stuarts Draft for the first Middle School/JV doubleheader of the season between these two. The homestanding Cougars picked up where they left off last year and won the Middle School contest 20-0, whereas Riverheads once again showed signs of having a dominant JV team as they throttled the Cougars 22-0.
The Middle School game was certainly odd statistically, if they even keep stats. For example, Riverheads clearly controlled the time of possession, especially in the first half. They in fact ate the first 11 minutes off the clock before being stopped inside the red zone. They then had a second time-consuming drive in the second quarter before being stopped again.
SD on the other hand was more of a big play team as they produced two second-quarter scores to take a 12-0 lead at the break and then added an insurance TD in the fourth quarter. Last year, the Draft was the dominant Middle School team in the Augusta County area and it looks like they may be again this season.
The JV game started off with a bang for RHS as freshman running back Jackson Stuples raced untouched right up the middle with what would turn out to be the only Cougar kickoff of the night. Later in the first quarter he swept around left end and rambled about 40 yards down the SD sideline for his second score of the game as the Big Red led 16-0 after one.
Even when he wasn't scoring personally, he factored in to the action. Late in the second quarter, he was headed for his third score of the game as he was sweeping around right end from about 20 yards out. But as the Cougar defense closed in to prevent the score, he alertly lateraled the ball back to quarterback Evan Edwards, who had been trailing the play. Edwards then had clear sailing to the end zone as the Gladiators wrapped up the scoring all in the first half.
In addition to Stuples' outstanding rushing game, he was helped along by several key runs by Tanner McCray and Carter Fortune. My apologies if any names are wrong because it is early in the season and there was no roster tonight.
Perhaps even more impressive than their offense, the Big Red defense smothered the home team all night long. I honestly cannot remember the Cougars having even one serious scoring threat in the game.
The younger Gladiator teams will get to show their stuff in front of the home fans next Thursday night when Buffalo Gap comes calling. But of course before we can think about that, we have to wrap up this weekend's SD/RHS action and that will take place Friday night in Greenville when the varsity Cougars will pay a visit. Each team will be more than ready to break tonight's 1-1 tie and earn bragging rights for the week.
The Middle School game was certainly odd statistically, if they even keep stats. For example, Riverheads clearly controlled the time of possession, especially in the first half. They in fact ate the first 11 minutes off the clock before being stopped inside the red zone. They then had a second time-consuming drive in the second quarter before being stopped again.
SD on the other hand was more of a big play team as they produced two second-quarter scores to take a 12-0 lead at the break and then added an insurance TD in the fourth quarter. Last year, the Draft was the dominant Middle School team in the Augusta County area and it looks like they may be again this season.
The JV game started off with a bang for RHS as freshman running back Jackson Stuples raced untouched right up the middle with what would turn out to be the only Cougar kickoff of the night. Later in the first quarter he swept around left end and rambled about 40 yards down the SD sideline for his second score of the game as the Big Red led 16-0 after one.
Even when he wasn't scoring personally, he factored in to the action. Late in the second quarter, he was headed for his third score of the game as he was sweeping around right end from about 20 yards out. But as the Cougar defense closed in to prevent the score, he alertly lateraled the ball back to quarterback Evan Edwards, who had been trailing the play. Edwards then had clear sailing to the end zone as the Gladiators wrapped up the scoring all in the first half.
In addition to Stuples' outstanding rushing game, he was helped along by several key runs by Tanner McCray and Carter Fortune. My apologies if any names are wrong because it is early in the season and there was no roster tonight.
Perhaps even more impressive than their offense, the Big Red defense smothered the home team all night long. I honestly cannot remember the Cougars having even one serious scoring threat in the game.
The younger Gladiator teams will get to show their stuff in front of the home fans next Thursday night when Buffalo Gap comes calling. But of course before we can think about that, we have to wrap up this weekend's SD/RHS action and that will take place Friday night in Greenville when the varsity Cougars will pay a visit. Each team will be more than ready to break tonight's 1-1 tie and earn bragging rights for the week.
