Facing a large deficit early, the Rockbridge County High School football team suffered a 42-7 loss in its homecoming game against Shenandoah District rival Wilson Memorial on Friday night at Prasnicki-Ross Field at Veterans Stadium in Lexington.
The Wildcats fell to 0-7 overall and 0-5 in the district.
The Green Hornets (3-3 overall, 2-2 district) built up a 20-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring on a 9-yard touchdown run by Clinton Coffey and a 1-yard TD run by Ainsley McAllister before Caleb Gundry made an interception and ran the ball back 30 yards for another score. WM added two more TDs in the second quarter on passes of 39 yards and 35 yards from Logan Podgorski to Nolan Deaver, to go up 35-0 at halftime.
During the halftime ceremony, Brenden Staley, a senior wide receiver and defensive back, was named the Wildcats’ homecoming king, and senior cheerleading Maria Calomeris was crowned as queen.
WM’s lone TD of the second half came on a 25-yard fumble recovery by Deaver, following a hit by teammate Carson Cash to knock the ball loose, less than two minutes into the third quarter. WM placekicker Maddox Woods made four of his five extra-point attempts, with RC’s Carson Fridley blocking one in the first quarter and Podgorski making a two-point conversion run at the end of the first half.
In the fourth quarter, RC sophomore quarterback Taylan Tyree repeatedly handed off the ball to sophomore running back Jhordane Campbell, who got the ball deep into WM territory, with the help of strong blocking from RC’s offensive lineman. The Wildcats avoided the shutout when Campbell ran for a 9-yard TD with 2:57 left in the game, and Trey Rhamey converted the extra-point kick.
Facing strong defense by the Wildcats, the Hornets went three-and-out. The Wildcats got the ball back on their own 35-yard line and, with just a few seconds remaining, took a knee to let the clock run out.
The RC defense did a good job of containing the Hornets for most of the second half, when WM was playing with mostly reserves. Among the Wildcats making tackles were Harvey Presnell, Ethan Armstrong, Marquise Beverley, Marquis Corbin, Culton Reilley, Shayde Tomlin and Asher Wells.
The Wildcats will continue district action next Friday at Riverheads (4-2, 2-2) at 7 p.m.
For the story, photos, stats and a prediction for next week, please see our Oct. 14 newspaper.
