Tornado brings the heat, routs Grayson Co.
Richlands (63) vs. Grayson County (7)
Written: Nov 14, 2015
By MIKE DAVIS
for the Daily Telegraph
RICHLANDS, Va. — The temperatures plummeted into the 40’s by game time Friday night at Ernie Hicks Stadium/Emats Field and a brisk wind cut through the stadium all evening making for a chilly evening of football.
However, despite cold temperatures on the field, the Blue Tornado brought the heat to the visiting Grayson County Blue Devils (6-5) in the 2A West Region Semifinals.
The Tornado put seven first-half touchdowns in the books on their way to a 63-7 victory, scoring touchdowns on their first eight possessions.
“Grayson County decided we weren’t going to run the ball and we were able to hit them with some big plays and that’s the difference in the ball game,” Richlands head coach Greg Mance said.
“Grayson shut down our execution in the run game and give them credit, they put seven guys in the box and that put the outside in man-to-man. Then, John-Luke (Asbury) got hot and our receivers made some big plays. When they make catches in the open field they’re hard to stop.”
“Grayson County is a lot better team the score indicated, they’re big and physical and they won six games and played some other teams down to the wire and we felt like it would be a four-quarter ballgame, but, we made more plays than they did.”
Richlands (10-1) signal caller John-Luke Asbury completed 12 of 14 passes for 285 yards and five touchdowns to six different receivers.
Cody Howie caught two passes for 68 yards and Scottie Ball hauled in three receptions for 66 yards. Austin Atkinson (2-62), Chace Collins (2-59), Bryce Farris (1-13) and Landon Lowe (1-2) rounded out Asbury’s targets.
“Everyone does a great job,” Asbury said. “I think we have one of the best receiving corps in the state and we have a line that can block and give us time to make the down field throws.”
Grayson County felt the pressure early from the Richlands special teams on the opening kickoff when the Blue Tornado stripped the ball on the Blue Devils’ return. The ball bounced around for a moment before Richlands claimed their prize with the possession at the Blue Devils 17-yard line.
Three plays later, the Tornado changed the scoreboard for a lead they wouldn’t relinquish when Asbury lofted a 10-yard touchdown pass to Scottie Ball less than a minute and a half into the game and Nick Barrett added his first of seven extra points on the evening.
The Blue Devils had no answer for the entire first half while Richlands continued to produce touchdowns.
Following a Grayson County punt, the Blue Tornado set up shop at the Blue Devils 48-yard line. Asbury went to the air again on a one-play, 48-yard drive by way of a touchdown to Ball on another long pattern down the right sideline.
Richlands scored two more touchdowns before the end of the first quarter beginning with a 32-yard drive capped by a 1-yard run by Landon Lowe, then, Asbury threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Cody Howie with three seconds showing on clock.
With a rout clear the order of the evening, Richlands scored three touchdowns in the second quarter started with back-to-back touchdown passes from Asbury to keep the scoreboard turning.
Asbury hit Chace Collins coming across on a fourth-and-8 and he turned on the jets for a a 43-yard touchdown. Then, the Blue Tornado completed a 66-yard drive with a 52-yard touchdown pass from Asbury to Atkinson to take their lead to 42-0.
With their backs against the wall on Grayson County’s next drive, the Blue Devils had to punt out of their own end zone. Atkinson took the 30-yard boot for Richlands at the Grayson 39-yard line and cut back and forth until he broke free for a punt return for a touchdown to give the Blues a 49-0 lead through the intermission.
The halftime break came to an end with the Tornado taking the first possession of the second half and the first team came out with more of the same.
Asbury piloted the Richlands offense downfield and cashed in the score with 19-yard touchdown run by Atkinson, his third of the game.
The Blue Devils avoided the shutout with a touchdown late in the third quarter when Tyler Lundy found Carter Cox open in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Tanner Jackson added the point after.
The final touchdown of the night came in the fourth quarter when Trey Brown ran in a 6-yard touchdown and Daniel Brown added the point after.
Richlands advances to play host to Buckingham next week in the second round of playoffs. The game will be played on Friday or Saturday.
At Ernie Hicks Stadium
Grayson County......0 0 7 0 — 7
Richlands..........28 21 7 7 — 63
First quarter
R – Ball 10 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
R – Ball 48 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
R – Lowe 1 run (Barrett kick)
R – Howie 59 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
Second quarter
R – Collins 43 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
R – Atkinson 52 pass from Asbury (Barrett kick)
R – Atkinson 39 punt return
Third quarter
R – Atkinson 19 run (Daniel Brown kick)
GC – Cox 19 pass from Lundy (Jackson kick)
Fourth quarter
R – Trey Brown 6 run (Daniel Brown kick)
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