The Maroon Tide strikes first, but big plays hurt Galax
Roanoke County, Highlander Stadium – The Galax Maroon Tide rolled into Highlander Stadium Friday night to take on the Glenvar Highlanders as both teams kicked off their 2021 football season. Things were a little different from their delayed, 2020 football season, which finished just 4 months earlier. There were more fans in the stands, and the smell of concession food was in the air. Both teams’ QBs played well on this opening night, and it was Galax’s QB 9 Ian Ashworth who got the Maroon Tide on the board first with a 32 yard TD run in the opening quarter as Galax capitalized on a Glenvar turnover to go up 7-0. Glenvar’s offense struggled to begin the game, but settled down and went to the airways in the 2nd quarter to take a 14-7 lead at the half, thanks to QB 4 Aiden Wolk’s tw
o TD passes. Coming out of the half, Glenvar’s defense made a big 4th down stop on Galax’s first drive, and soon after Glenvar receivers 1 Jackson Swanson and 7 Dagan Williams both hauled in their 2nd TD passes on the night from QB 4 Wolk and the Highlanders had a 28-7 lead after 3 quarters.Galax never quit and scored with 2:20 left in the 4th when QB 9 Ashworth found WR 8 Ayden White in the left side of the end zone for a 29 yard catch and the final was 28-14. “I thought we settled down defensively once we kind of took their first shot…I was proud of our kids for just gutting it out” said Glenvar Coach Kevin Clifford after the game as the Highlanders moved to 1-0 on the young season.
Galax defense comes up with the first takeaway of the game
1st Qtr: Glenvar received the opening kickoff and picked up one first down but fumbled the handoff on the fifth play of the drive and Galax’s DL 53 Austin Ashworth recovered the ball on the Highlander 43.
#9 Ian Ashworth headed to the end zone to put Galax up 7-0
The Maroon Tide moved the ball to Glenvar’s 32 when QB 9 Ashworth (14-96 yds rush, TD, 11/19-160 yds pass, TD) scampered 32 yards for the TD on a QB draw. K 10 Alberto Vera made the PAT and Galax took the lead 7-0.
Both teams had 3-and-outs on the next 3 possessions before Galax offense started moving late in the first. Five straight runs by RB/DB 21 Ronny Horton (16-36) moved the ball into Glenvar territory at the 38 as the quarter ended.
2nd Qtr – Galax’s drive stalled due to a holding penalty and a 7 yard loss on a running play and WR/DB/P 3 Mason Cox punted the ball away to the Highlander 26 yard line. It only took Glenvar one play to tie the game when QB 4 Wolk (3-(-6) yds rush, 14/24-233 yds pass, 4 TD) hit RB 1 Jackson Swanson (2-5 yds. rush, 7-144 yds. rec, 2 TD) over the middle for a 74 yard TD catch.
Glenvar’s Aiden Wolk finds a wide open Jackson Swanson for 74-yard TD
K/P Tyler Pierce 28 made the PAT and the score was knotted at 7. On the next Maroon Tide possession, Glenvar DB 13 Nick Woodson made a big stop on a 4th and 4 when he came in full speed from the left edge and hurried the pass to cause a Galax turnover on downs. After a 40 yard pass completion to WR 1 Swanson, QB 4 Wolk threw a slant that was tipped at the line of scrimmage, but still found its way into the hands of WR 7 Dagan Williams (6-89, 2 TD) who turned on the jets and sprinted in for the 30 yard TD score which gave Glenvar a 14-7 lead at the half.
Glenvar’s #7 Dagan Williams outruns Galax for the score from 30 yards out
3rd Qtr – Galax got the ball after the break and started on their 26 yard line. Three straight runs by RB/LB 40 Tedruhn Tucker (11-12, Fum) left them with a 4th and 2 on their 34 yard line. The Maroon Tide decided to go for it but Glenvar LB 10 Mason Anderson wasn’t having it as he made the tackle in the backfield for a 2 yard loss and the Highlanders took over on their own 32.
#10 Mason Anderson and the Highlander defense stop Galax on 4th and 2
QB 4 Wolk connected with WR 1 Swanson on a 4th and 9 to keep the drive alive and on the next play he passed it to WR 7 Dagan Williams for a 19 yard TD , the second scoring pass play on the night from this senior duo. Galax threatened later in the 3rd when QB 9 Ashworth found WR/DB 8 Ayden White (3-87, TD) running free on the Maroon Tide sideline for a 42 yard gain to the Glenvar 12, but Galax fumbled the ball to Glenvar on the next play.
Glenvar’s Dagan Williams and Jackson Swanson score 3rd qtr TDs – courtesy of QB Aiden Wolk
The Highlanders scored again as time ran out in the 3rd when WR 1 Swanson caught an 11 yard TD pass from QB 4 Wolk and the lead was 28-7 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
4th Qtr – Galax continued to battle as this single A power house always does and they put together an 11 play, 64-yard drive that culminated in a 29 yard touchdown pass from QB 9 Ashworth to WR/DB 8 White. K 10 Alberto Vera made his second PAT on the night and the final score was 28-14.
Galax #8 Ayden White on the receiving end of 29 yard TD pass
After the game, Galax Coach Shane Allen remarked, “I thought our kids fought and fought hard … we had too many missed opportunities … but that’s why you love playing the teams like Glenvar who are going to be physical and well coached … if you don’t play good teams, you don’t find these mistakes”. – Mike ‘the Machine’ Dermott
Offense: Rushing– Galax – Ian Ashworth 14-96, TD, Ronny Horton 16-36, Tedruhn Tucker 11-12, Fum, Brady Lowe 1-0, Team rush (high snap) 2-(-44), Fum Glenvar – Kyle Hanks 13-25, Fum, Aiden Wolk 3-(-6), Jackson Swanson 2-5, Team rush (high snap) 1-(-10)
Passing– Galax– Ian Ashworth 11/19 -160, TD Glenvar– Aiden Wolk 14/24-233, 4 TD
Receiving– Galax– Kolton Barnes 1-4, Josiah White 3-42, Ayden White 3-87, TD, Mason Cox 1-4, Jackson Alderman 1-15, Sam Olinger 1-8 Glenvar– Jackson Swanson 7-136, 2 TD, Elijah Carter 1-0, Dagan Williams 6-89, 2 TD
Punting– Galax– Mason Cox 4-28 avg. Glenvar– Aiden Wolk 5-33.8 avg.
Scoring:
1st Qtr
Galax- I.Ashworth 32-yard TD run; Vera PAT (8:17)
2nd Qtr
Glenvar- Swanson 74-yard TD pass from Wolk; Pierce PAT (10:20)
Glenvar – D.Williams 30-yd TD pass from Wolk; Pierce PAT (4:56)
3rd Qtr
Glenvar – D.Williams 19-yd TD pass from Wolk; Pierce PAT (7:57)
Glenvar – Swanson 11-yard TD pass from Wolk; Pierce PAT (0:00)
4th Qtr
Galax – A.White 29-yard TD pass from I.Ashworth; Vera PAT (2:20)