Highlander’s big second half lets them pull away from Giles 54-6
Stephen Ragsdale Field, Pearisburg, VA – When area, tradition-rich football teams like Giles and Glenvar meet you can expect fireworks. They have a rich history between them marked by seasoned coaches and passionate communities who love their high school football, and of course, tough kids. Glenvar Coach Kevin Clifford has always respected the Spartans and their approach, “I love playing here because they love football, and they are going to contend for their region (year in and year out).” 
Glenvar got the best of Giles this Saturday afternoon, 54-6, but Giles actually scored first on a 66-yard TD run by RB/DB 12 Gage Fleeman. Right out of the box, the Spartans sent a message that they meant business. But the Highlanders are deep and talented this year. Their numbers, as well as Clifford’s approach, took its toll on the home team. Balance is a big thing as well, illustrated by the Highlanders rushing and passing both for 250 yards on the day. Glenvar scored on its last five possessions of the game, all in the final quarter to make the score a bit misleading. Spartans Head Coach Jeff Williams remarked after the game, “We got worn down. Our kids are playing both ways, and we gave up some big plays.” Williams was quick to give the Highlanders credit as well. Don’t get me wrong. The Highlanders earned this win and every point they got, but it was a much more competitive game, at least for three quarters than the scoreboard illustrates. Clifford didn’t mince words, “It was kind of what we expected. It matters a lot. It’s a pride game. Giles means a lot to our program. They’ve been Glenvar’s measuring stick forever.”
First Quarter – Giles jumped on Glenvar right from the start. On the first play from scrimmage Spartan RB 12 Gage Fleeman took it 66-yards to the ‘house.’ The shifty back made a couple guys miss and then turned on the jets. The PAT was no good and Giles led 6-0 almost before the crowd had all found their seats. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your team, that was all the scoring the Spartans could muster against the hard hitting Highlanders.
RB 12 Gage Fleeman gets loose for big yards
Glenvar’s linebackers in the middle, LB 22 Shane Gibson and LB 30 Nick Williams patrolled the middle and make you pay for passage. Glenvar just missed on K 16 Carl Muse’s 35-yard attempt on the Highlanders first drive. The drive stalled when Giles broke up a third down pass in the red zone. Both teams traded punts on their next two possessions and Giles lead was 6-0 going into the second. Clifford talked about the how tight the game was until the fourth quarter, “It was close for two thirds of the game. We pulled away at the end, but they are good. This is a tough place for us to win.”
Spartan RB 80 Nathan Foust bolts through the middle of the line
Second Quarter – Glenvar finally got on track in the second. The Highlanders put together a patented 11 play drive, mostly run but with a few passes to keep Giles honest. QB 4 Aiden Wolk threw a dart to WR 9 Gabriel Ford on a sideline, out route, and the Junior made it pay off, taking it in from 25 yards out. 
The PAT was no good and the game was tied 6-6 with half the quarter gone. It would stay that way, until the very end of the first half. Wolk found RB 2 Kyle Hanks on a screen pass and the Senior took it 66-yards to pay dirt with only :42 ticks left on the clock. Giles Head Coach Jeff Williams thought the Glenvar score before the half was big. “That mishap play at the end (of the first half) where they dropped it, picked it up and got it to a receiver down the side (for a touchdown). That was the turning point.”
Glenvar’s two point try was incomplete and the Highlanders took a tight 12-6 lead into the lockers at the break.
Third Quarter – Glenvar came out in the second half and added another score on their first drive. It was QB 4 Wolk to WR 9 Ford again as the two combined for a 43-yard toss and run a minute and fifty eight seconds into the second half. K 28 Tyler Pierce’s PAT boot stretched the lead to 19-6. On the other side of the ball, the Highlander defense was strangling the Spartan’s vaunted running game.
Glenvar WR 9 Gabriel Ford shakes tacklers
Twice Giles had ‘three and out’ series in the third. Giving Glenvar’s offenses more chances with the ball in their hands is not going to pay off this year. The quarter ended with Clifford’s troops tacking on another score. QB 4 Wolk, who threw five touchdowns on the afternoon, found WR 13 Nick Woodson for an 18-yard TD pass and run with :39 seconds left in the quarter. K 28 Pierce made the extra point making the tally 26-6 Glenvar.
Glenvar Head Caoch Kevin Clifford surveys the game
Glenvar QB 4 Aiden Wolk fits the pass through a window on Saturday
WR 7 Dagan Williams catches a TD pass from QB 4 Aiden Wolk
Fourth Quarter – The final quarter was more Glenvar. The Highlanders last three offensive possessions saw them score TDs and the last score came on a defensive fumble recovery in the end zone.
Glenvar RB 24 Elijah Carter reacts to a touchdown run
QB 4 Wolk threw a TD pass to WR 10 Mason Anderson from 30 yards out. Then the Highlander reserves scored twice in mop up duty.
RB 25 Jake Stanley takes it in for the score
RB 24 Elijah Carter scored from 24-yards out and that was followed up by RB 25 Jake Stanley who took it in from the five yard line. The days scoring was round out by DL 70 Anthony LaRosa’s fumble recovery in the end zone at the 2:28 mark to get us to the 54-6 final. – Cap’n Crunch
Glenvar DL 70 Anthony Larosa recovers a fumble in the end zone for the games last score
Traditionally the Giles and Glenvar game has always been a tough, hard fought game that meant something to the players and the communities. Nothing has changed there. Coach Clifford likes the challenge that the Spartans provide year in and year out, “I love playing here because they love football, and they are going to contend for their region.” Both teams will move on to the first round of the playoffs. Glenvar is the number one seed in the region and will host Patrick County at Highlander Stadium. Giles will host Eastern Montgomery.
Giles Head Coach Jeff Williams makes his point
Scoring:
First Quarter:
• Giles – G. Fleeman 66-yard TD run; PAT no good
Second Quarter:
• Glenvar – G. Ford 25-yard TD pass from A. Wolk ; PAT missed (5:37)
• Glenvar– K. Hanks 66-yard TD pass from A. Wolk; 2 ptr no good ( :42)
Third Quarter:
• Glenvar – G. Ford 43-yard TD pass from A. Wolk; T. Pierce PAT (10:02)
• Glenvar – N. Woodson 18-yard TD pass from A. Wolk; T. Pierce PAT ( :39)
Fourth Quarter:
• Glenvar – M. Anderson 30-yard TD pass from A. Wolk; T. Pierce PAT
• Glenvar – E. Carter 24-yard TD run; T. Pierce PAT (7:08)
• Glenvar– J. Stanley 5-yard TD run; T. Pierce PAT (2:52)
• Glenvar– A. Larosa fumble recovery in the end zone; T. Pierce PAT (2:28)
Offense
Rushing:
Glenvar – K Hanks 14/83, A. Wolk 11/73, E. Carter 6-51, TD, J. Stanley 5-43, TD
Giles – G. Fleeman 15-85, TD, N. Sheetz 6-22, K. Saunders 6-8, J. Parsell 7-7, C. Ratcliffe 1-1, A. Burton 1-0
Passing:
Glenvar – A. Wolk 15/27, 250, 5TDs
Giles – G. Fleeman 1/5, (-2)
Receiving:
Glenvar – G. Ford 5/120, 2TDs, K. Hanks 4/78, TD, M. Anderson 3/50, TD, D. Williams 4/50, N. Woodson 1/18, TD
Giles – N Sheetz 1/(-2)
Punting:
Glenvar – A. Wolk 1/30 yd avg
Giles – G. Fleeman 6/38 yd avg
Returns:
Glenvar – A. Noel 5-23, D. Williams 1-10
Giles – G. Fleeman 4-40, J. Parsell 2-20, C. Ratcliffe 1-(-1)