Riverheads ‘Cash-in’ in second half comeback handing Blue Demons their first loss 24-21
Riverheads HS, VA – Riverheads is not an easy place to play. They love their football and they never quit. That was evident again Friday night as the Gladiators (4-1) erased a 21-7 halftime deficit to knock off previously unbeaten Christiansburg (5-1) winning on a 25-yard, walk off, field goal 24-21. The Gladiators outscored the Blue Demons 17-0 after the break with both teams getting only 3 chances with the ball.
Cburg punted twice and QB 4 Tanner Evans (21/145,2TDs; 5/8, 53,TD, INT) was picked off in the end zone on fourth down on their last drive. Meanwhile, Riverheads made all three second half possessions count with two TD runs and the winning boot. RB 9 David Austin (13/108,TD) scored from 10 yards out, while Riverhead’s ‘Mr. Football’ – RB 33 Cayden Cook-Cash (18/135,TD) scored from the seven at the 9:03 mark to tie it at 21-21.
Early in the contest, it looked like the visitors might have their way with Riverheads, but that always plays right into the Gladiators hands. The home team scored first on their opening drive as QB 4 Levi Dunlap finished it off on a two yard run to make it 7-0.
From there, though, Cburg put it in their Senior leader’s hands, QB 4 Tanner Evans. He threw a 35-yard TD pass to WR 1 Donovan Richardson to make it 7-6. The PAT was bobbled. Evans added scoring runs of 48 and 19 yards respectively, including a 2-ptr in the second quarter and Christiansburg led 21-7 at the half.
Riverheads made their last drive count using all the clock, with K 12 Caleb Weston nailing the winning kick, after three straight Cash-Cook runs picked up 39 yards all told. Gladiator head coach Ray Norcross made some adjustments on their defense (at halftime).
“We know they got a heckuva ball club and the way we played in the first half, we were fortunate to only be down two touchdowns.” Blue Demon Head Coach Wilkens was disappointed but respectful, “They played a helluva a ballgame. They have answers for everything you throw at them defensively. You don’t win seven straight state titles if you can’t handle all the junk thrown at you. Our offense had to be better at a few key moments and penalties hurt us.” – Cap’n Crunch
Game Stats
Rushing:
Riverheads – Cayden Cook-Cash 18/135,TD, David Austin 13/108,TD, Austin Roberts 14/68, Brenden Fortune 2/9, Levi Dunlap 2/3,TD, #11 1/5 Christiansburg – Tanner Evans 21/145,2TDs, Matt Annis 10/48, Gavin Cross 6/17
Passing:
Riverheads – Levi Dunlop 2/4,8,INT, Christiansburg– Tanner Evans 5/8,53,TD,INT
Receiving:
Riverheads – Jon Talbot 1/8, Ethan Mulcahy 1/0 Christiansburg-Jacob Evans 2/9, Brody Blount 2/9, Donovan Richardson 1/35,TD
Punting:
Riverheads – Caleb Weston 1/47yds Christiansburg – Matt Annis 2/30yd avg
Returns:
Riverheads – Austin Roberts 4/29, “5” 1/7 Christiansburg – Gavin Cross 1/32, Matt Annis 1/16
SCORING
1st Qtr:
Riverheads – Levi Dunlop 2-yd TD run; Caleb Weston PAT (8:51)
2nd Qtr:
Christiansburg – Donovan Richardson 35-yd TD catch from Tanner Evans; Spencer Conner PAT No good (10:28)
Christiansburg – Tanner Evans 48-yd TD run; Tanner Evans 3-yd 2ptr (7:37)
Christiansburg – Tanner Evans 10-yd TD run; Spencer Conner PAT (0:43)
3rd Qtr:
Riverheads – David Austin 10-yd TD run; Caleb Weston PAT (4:32)
4th Qtr:
Riverheads– Cayden Cook-Cash 7-yd TD run; Caleb Weston PAT (9:03)
Riverheads – Caleb Weston 25-yd FG (0:00)