Galax defense shines in 35-0 shutout of George Wythe
Pendleton Field, Wytheville, VA – It was Maroon on Maroon Friday night in Wytheville as the Galax Maroon Tide traveled up to take on the George Wythe Maroons. At night’s end it was the visitors from Galax and an aggressive defense that shut out a young George Wythe team 35-0. Coach Shane Allen’s Tide scored on their first three possessions of the game and then locked down GW. 
LB 57 Riley Jo Vaught led the Tide with 6 tackles followed closely by DB 3 Mason Cox with five and DB 9 Ian Ashworth and DL 50 Isaac Bartlett with four stops. On offense Galax teed up a balanced running attack of RB 1 Tedruhn Tucker, RB 21 Ronny Horton, and RB 7 Kale Carter 82 yards respectively as the Tide rolled up 298 yards on the ground. All three scored, with Tucker crossing the goal line twice. George Wythe was led by RB/LB 10 Layton Fowler. The Junior linebacker had 14 tackles, including a tackle for a loss. On offense he carried the ‘rock’ 14 times for 54 yards. Fowler is an aggressive linebacker that reads and reacts to the ball well. GW Head Coach Brandon Harner has a young squad with only two Seniors, so Maroon opponents should take note.
The Maroons enter the field
First Quarter – After George Wythe took the opening kickoff, the Galax defense established themselves early. The Maroon Tide with the benefit of a GW penalty had the home team punting the ball back after three plays. A short punt put Galax in the cat birds seat right away. It took only six plays for Sophomore RB 1 Tedruhn Tucker to get the visitors on the board with a four yard TD run up the middle. Tucker carried the ball five of the six plays leading up to the score with runs of 12, 14, 10, 4 and the final 4. He’s a strong runner and Galax typically gets a hat on a hat blocking wise, so they are tough to stop. K 2 Alberto Vera’s extra point at the 8:52 mark made it 7-0.
Galax RB 1 Tedruhn Tucker runs behind good blocking
George Wythe’s next offensive series was more promising, advancing the ball near midfield but again penalties and negative plays thwarted their efforts. The Maroons third down pass completion looked to move the sticks but alas, a holding penalty brought it back. That coupled with DL 53 Austin Ashworth’s tackle for a loss and DL 50 Isaac Bartlett’s sack of GW quarterback 2 Luke Jollay forced another punt.
Galax DL 53 Austin Ashworth brings down George Wythe RB 10 Leyton Fowler for a loss
does, Galax handed the ball to their quick back – RB 21 Ronnie Horton and the Senior wasted no time getting up into the hole, then outside, and down the sidelines for the 70-yard scoring run. That quick it was 14-0 Galax with the Vera PAT.
Galax wasn’t done in this first quarter. Again their defense forced a ‘three and out.’ Again DL 53 Austin Ashworth had a hand in putting GW behind the sticks with a seven yard tackle for a loss. George Wythe had to punt. ‘Do everything’ KR/QB/DB 9 Ian Ashworth hauled in the 38-yard boot at the Galax thirty-three and nearly returned it for the score to the GW eight. Three plays later, RB 1 Tucker scored up the middle on another four yard run with 1:14 left in the first quarter. The Maroon Tide’s lead had ballooned to 21-0.
Maroon Wave RB 1 Tucker scores from 4 yards out
Maroon RB 10 Leyton Fowler picks up the tough yards as he is pursued by LB 57 Riley Jo Vaught
Second Quarter – The Maroons couldn’t seem to get their offense in gear – part due to penalties and in part negative plays courtesy of the Galax defense. On GW’s next drive, LB 57 Riley Jo Vaught had back to back tackles for losses of minus one and minus three yards. The Galax defense is always in attack mode. George Wythe’s defense finally found their footing on Galax’s first second quarter drive thanks in part to the efforts of LB 10 Leyton Fowler. The linebacker recorded four tackles on the the seven play series forcing the Maroon Tide into their first punt of the night.
George Wythe QB 2 Jollay lets it go with pressure from DL 66 Brender Rojas
George Wythe’s offense couldn’t stay on the field, which was problematic. Galax added one more score with :27 left in the half to increase their lead to 28-0. Taking over the ball with only :37 seconds left in the half at their own forty, the Tide rolled downfield. QB 9 Ashworth put a bow on it on a 9-yard run. The big plays on the quick drive were passes, 24 and 30 yards respectively, to RB 21 Ronnie Horton and WR 3 Mason Cox.
Ian Ashworth scores from 9-yards out for Galax
Second Half – The second half was more promising for George Wythe as far as defense, but the Maroon’s offense was still stuck in the mud. Twice in the third quarter, GW advanced the ball into Galax territory and twice they were turned away on fourth down. The Maroons were stopped at the forty-one and then the twenty-eight of the visitors.
George Wythe QB 2 Luke Jollay takes off for yardage
These two possessions were sandwiched around another ‘explosive play’ Galax touchdown by RB 7 Kale Carter. The Senior showed off his wheels in finishing off a six play drive with 3:18 left in the third with a 76-yard TD run. The final quarter saw a lot of action for many of the backups.
Takeaways from this game were that the Galax (4-2) defense and offense can be equally lethal to opponents. But you also got the feeling that George Wythe didn’t have their best night. They are a talented bunch with a lot of ability. Both these coaches know each other well and have a lot of respect for each other. Galax Head Coach Shane Allen talked a little about it after the game. “You want to win, but (GW Head Coach Harner) Brandon and I are good friends and go way back. It’s a tough game for the two of us.”
Scoring:
First Quarter
Galax: T. Tucker 4-yd TD run, A. Vero PAT (8:52)
Galax: R. Horton 70-yd TD run, A. Vero PAT (4:49)
Galax: T. Tucker 4-yd TD run, A. Vero PAT (1:14)
Second Quarter
Galax: I. Ashworth 9-yd TD run, A. Vero PAT (0:27)
Third Quarter
Galax: K. Carter 76-yd TD run, A. Vero PAT (3:18)
Offense:
Rushing: Galax – T. Tucker 16/92, 2TDs, R. Horton 7/96, TD, K Carter 4/82, TD, I. Ashworth 2/15, TD, B. Lowe 5/13 George Wythe – L. Fowler 14/54, L. Jollay 6/25, T. Rainey 2/25, L. Houston 1/8, B Jollay 1/(-4) Passing: Galax– I. Ashworth 4/8, 56 George Wythe – L. Jollay 11/21, 63 Receiving: Galax – M. Cox 1/30, R. Horton 1/24, A White 2/2 George Wythe – B. Rainey 2/39, B Walters 4/13, B. Jollay 1/7, T. Smith 1/3, R. Kirtner 2/1, L. Houston 1/0 Punting: Galax – M. Cox 3/28 Yd avg George Wythe– C. Green 6/36 yd avg
Defense (leaders):
Galax – R. Vaught 6 Tkls, 2 TFL, I. Bartlett 4 Tkls, Sack, M. Cox 5 Tkls, I. Ashworth 4 Tkls, A. Ashworth 2 Tkls, 2 TFL,
George Wythe – L. Fowler 14 Tkls, D. Patel 7 Tkls, L. Tolley 4 Tkls, L. Bennett 4 Tkls, D. Repass 3 Tkls, A. Repass 3 Tkls, T. Smith 3 Tkls