Tornado surges past Dogs
Richlands (40) vs. Tazewell (18)
Written: Oct 11, 2014
By LARRY HYPES
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
RICHLANDS, Va. — A River ran through it.
River Michaels accounted for 296 total yards, including 178 passing and 116 more rushing to lead surging Richlands to a 40-18 Southwest District triumph over Tazewell Friday.
A pair of quick early Blue Tornado (5-2) scores from Michaels to Chace Collins, with one set up by a blocked punt, ignited the Tornado to its fifth straight victory and 12th consecutive over the Bulldogs (4-3).
Michaels orchestrated the game like a conductor, passing for two scores, adding three running touchdowns, and managing the contest from start to finish.
Turnovers plagued the hard-charging Tazewell eleven, as the Dogs played strongly but could not overcome a pair of interceptions as well as the blocked punt. One of the picks came on a tipped ball that floated between three players.
Chris Hall was the standout for THS with two touchdowns on 19 carries and 151 yards rushing, as well as a recovery of a muffed Richlands punt reception.
Still, the opportunistic Blues, playing disciplined football, were able to do what had to be done to secure the victory.
“We were able to make some big plays early,” observed Tornado mentor Greg Mance. “I thought that blocked punt, to be honest, turned the game in our favor and we kind of took off from there.”
Mance was referring to a spectacular play by Griffin McCauley, who blocked a punt and came close to a score before falling at the Tazewell 21 late in the opening stanza.
Michaels threw the first of two touchdown passes to Collins, a 27-yard strike to give the Blues a 7-0 advantage with 3:30 remaining in the opening stanza.
Collins then grabbed an interception on the very next series on the tipped pass and RHS took over on Tazewell’s 41-yard line. Michaels dropped back and fired another touchdown pass to Collins. Alex Bandy’s PAT made it 14-0 with :52 seconds on the clock.
“That inside play, the seam down the middle, it’s a good play, one of the best to throw and we got a couple of early scores with it,” beamed Mance. “Once we got up, that made it better for us and our defense could look for some things with Tazewell down early.
“Still, Tazewell played very hard and we were lucky to hang on to that lead. I thought coming in we would have to score in the high 30s to win. It was a good game.”
The Blues’ Canaan Addison came up with another interception in the second stanza to set up Bandy’s 31-yard field goal with 5:35 to play in the first half as RHS moved in front, 17-0.
Michaels added a seven-yard touchdown run moments later as the steadier Blues kept taking what they were given and making the most of opportunities.
Tazewell’s first score was set up by a 68-yard kick return following Michaels’ score. Hall bolted up the middle for a 32-yard touchdown but the run for two was stopped.
The Dogs’ Austin Reed recovered the kick on Richlands’ 27-yard line with a minute to go in the half but the opportunity fizzled. Nick Barrett attempted a 51-yard field goal, driving the ball straight down the middle, just five yards short.
Michaels scored again on a three-yard scamper with 8:27 left in the third, giving the Blues an all-important boost in the crucial opening drive of the second half. Bandy’s kick upped the margin to 31-6, capping an 8-play, 60-yard march. Michaels exploited a seam in the defense to ramble for 61 rushing yards in the third quarter.
“It (winning) was a lot of fun but I can’t do anything without my teammates,” said Michaels.
“Chase did a good job tonight and my offensive line really opened some good holes. The blocking up front cleared the way and I was able to get a lot of yards before anybody got a hand on me. I credit a good game plan and execution for that.”
Hall’s punt muff recovery enabled THS to inch closer one series later, after Michaels’ touchdown.
Malik Davis drilled a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Mountain with 4:32 left in the third period but again Tazewell misfired on the run for two extra points.
A 20-yard completion from Michaels to Brandon Waldron made possible the last RHS touchdown. Michaels then went in for the score from one yard out three plays later, getting in with 10:25 to go. Bandy again drilled the PAT and the Tornado moved ahead, 38-12. A safety made it 40 for Richlands.
Mountain made a heads-up return of 55 yards to help Tazewell score again late in the contest.
Hall bolted in for a three-yard six-pointer with 1:27 on the clock.
Richlands led 315-290 in total yards, as the Bulldogs finished with 170 on the ground, compared to 137 for the Blues. The Tornado had 12 first downs and THS got 11. Tazewell was flagged 7 times for 60 yards and Richlands was called 8 times for 55.
Both Richlands and Tazewell are open this week. Richlands travels to Abingdon on October 17, the same night the Bulldogs will play in Grundy.
At Ernie Hicks Stadium
Tazewell............0 6 6 6 — 18
Richlands.............14 10 7 9 — 40
First Quarter
R - Chase Collins 27 pass from River Michaels (Alex Bandy kick), 3:30
R - Collins 41 pass from Michaels (Bandy kick), 0:52
Second Quarter
R - Bandy 31 FG, 5:35
R - Michaels 7 run (Bandy kick)
T - Chris Hall 32 run (run failed)
Third Quarter
R - Michaels 3 run (Bandy kick), 8:27
T - Jesse Mountain 16 pass from Malik Davis (run failed), 4:21
Fourth Quarter
R – Michaels 1 run (Bandy kick) 10:25
T – Hall 3 run (kick failed)
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