Week 5 high school football recap: Riverheads holds off Wilson Memorial in thriller
The Riverheads football team, a perennial state championship contender, was staring at an 0-2 start to Shenandoah District play on Saturday against rival Wilson Memorial.
Then the Gladiators' defense saved the day.
After Wilson pulled to within one point on a Parker Baucom touchdown reception with less than 10 seconds to go, Hornets coach Ryan Byrd opted to go for the two-point conversion and the win.
Riverheads' defense was up to the challenge, stopping Wilson's Keyvon Jones short of the goal line to preserve a 14-13 victory.
The stop capped a hard-fought win for the Gladiators (4-1, 1-1 Shenandoah District), who had to rally from an early deficit to knock off the Green Hornets (3-2, 0-1).
Wilson Memorial took an early lead on a 30-yard touchdown catch from Baucom in the first quarter. The Hornets held that lead until the third quarter, when Riverheads tied the game on a touchdown run from Jackson Fitzgerald. The Gladiators then took the lead in the fourth quarter on a Jonathan Talbott touchdown run and held it the rest of the way.
Riverheads returns to action this Friday with a trip to Christiansburg, while Wilson hosts Staunton on Friday in Shenandoah District action. Both games are 7 p.m. kickoffs.
Buffalo Gap 51, Waynesboro 20
The Bison offense had another big day in a convincing win over the Little Giants in the Shenandoah District opener for both teams.
Colby Yeago scored three rushing touchdown to lead Buffalo Gap (4-1, 1-0 Shenandoah District), which is averaging 36.2 points per game after Saturday's victory. Two of Yeago's touchdowns came in the first quarter as the Bison built a 20-0 lead. Yeago added another rushing score in the second quarter as Buffalo Gap continued to pull away.
After being held scoreless in the first half, Waynesboro (0-5, 0-1 Shenandoah District) had a little more success after halftime, getting touchdowns from Nashawn Mickens, Casey Breeden and Cameran Newsome.
Buffalo Gap travels to Stuarts Draft this Friday for a 7 p.m. tilt, while Waynesboro hosts Fort Defiance this Friday at 7 p.m.
Staunton 21, Stuarts Draft 14
Maliq McCauley scored the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter and the Storm defense delivered a second-half shutout en route to a victory over the Cougars in the Shenandoah District opener for both teams.
Staunton (3-2, 1-0) had to rally from touchdown deficits twice in the first half. Stuarts Draft (3-2, 0-1) got on the board early in the first quarter on a Landon Graber touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead. The Storm answered with a Thomas Chisley touchdown catch later in the first quarter to tie the game.
The Cougars regained the lead in the second quarter when Graber scored his second rushing touchdown of the game. Again, Staunton answered, this time with a touchdown run from Marc Geffrard to tie the game.
Staunton travels to Wilson Memorial this Friday for a 7 p.m. game, while Stuarts Draft hosts Buffalo Gap this Friday at 7 p.m.
Fort Defiance 21, Madison County 13
The Indians wrapped up non-district play with a road win over Madison County. After losing their first two games of the season, Fort Defiance (3-2) won its third game in a row.
The Indians scored all of their points in the first half and took a 21-7 lead into the halftime break. Madison County (3-2) pulled to within a possession on an Aaron Fincham touchdown run in in the second half, but would get no closer.
Fort Defiance travels to Waynesboro this Friday for a 7 p.m. matchup.
