Rockbridge County (0-7) at Riverheads (4-2)
WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday WHERE: Riverheads High School in Staunton. Tickets are $7. LAST YEAR: The Wildcats suffered a 41-6 loss to Riverheads in their homecoming game. Senior Andrew Kelly ran for a 4-yard touchdown as the clock expired allow the Wildcats to avoid the shutout. RC set up that touchdown on the previous play when Taylan Tyree completed a 34-yard pass to Aiden Meyers. Before that play, the Gladiators dominated the game, racing to a 21-0 halftime lead by scoring three rushing touchdowns. Riverheads ran for three more TDs in the second half, two in the third quarter and one in the fourth quarter, to extend its lead to 41-0. Jackson Fitzgerald led the Gladiators with 126 rushing yards and two TDs on 12 carries, while teammate Skyler Shiflett ran for 77 yards and a TD on 10 carries. The Gladiators racked up 360 rushing yards while holding the Wildcats to 124, led by Kelly with 70 yards on 16 carries. Tyree completed 8-of-16 passes with one interception for 114 yards, while Riverheads had just five passing yards.
SCOUTING THE GLADIATORS: After starting Shenandoah District action with narrow losses to Stuarts Draft, 28-24, and to Buffalo Gap, 7-0, Riverheads has won its last two league contests, defeating Wilson Memorial 29-24 on Sept. 25 and then taking down Fort Defiance 41-21 last Friday. Similar to WM, which beat the Wildcats 42-7 last Friday, the Gladiators have an offense with two tight ends, moving wings and plenty of power. Against Fort, Fitzgerald, now a senior, racked up 119 yards and three touchdowns, while teammate Gage Hutton ran for 93 yards. Quarterback Kendal Edwards completed passes to help jump-start the offense, and Rylan Payne broke away for a 34-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to help the Gladiators pull away. In addition to the win over WM, Riverheads won a close nondistrict game earlier this season, defeating Altavista 43-36 in overtime on Sept. 4.
SCOUTINGTHEWILDCATS: The Wildcats have faced large deficits early in their last few games, and that’s something they’ll want to avoid to be competitive. Riverheads has a strong running offense like WM, though, so it’s likely the Wildcats will have their hands full trying to keep up. If they have success moving their offense earlier, like they did with Jhordane Campbell running in the second half last week, the Wildcats have a chance to be more competitive.
THE NEWS-GAZETTE’S PICK: In another difficult district showdown, we see the Wildcats in for a tough test against a Riverheads team that has been improving the last few weeks. We expect the Wildcats to be more successful on offense, but we see the Gladiators dealing them a 42-21 loss.
