Raiders blaze through Midland Trail
River View (52) vs. Midland Trail (32)
Written: Oct 15, 2011
By GARY DOVE
for the Daily Telegraph
WELCH — In any sport, getting off to a fast start is always an advantage.
The third-rated River View Raiders did just that last evening at Vic Nystrom Stadium, scoring on their first five possessions, and eight of their initial nine series on the way to a 52-32 win over the Midland Trail Patriots.
The talent-laden Raiders showcased eight different players finding the end zone, as they recorded their seventh win of the campaign in as many starts.
After LeShon Benton blocked a Midland Trail punt to end the Patriots’ inaugural series, John Bailey burst 15 yards up the middle to cap a one-play drive with 8:13 remaining in the opening quarter.
Junior Austin Walker intercepted a Trail pass to set up a 10-yard Trey Bailey score at the 4:01 mark.
Benton and John Bailey switched places from the first score, as Bailey set the stage for a Benton TD when he recovered as Patriot fumble at the Midland Trail 27.
On the second play of the succeeding drive, senior quarterback Jacob Muncy hit Benton perfectly in stride with a 25 yard scoring aerial with one 1:57 left in the opener for quick 18-0 lead.
The Fayette countians embarked on an eight-play, 76-yard march that spanned the initial two quarters and came to fruition on a 6-yard Marshall Wood run off left tackle only 59 seconds into the second quarter.
Branton Church found pay dirt on a two yard run around right end to cap a six play, 42 yard surge that John Bailey again set in motion with a 35-yard kick off return.
Benton booted the PAT for a 25-6 Raider advantage with 7:14 remaining in the half.
Church’s pass theft three plays later led to a 15 yard Muncy-to-Brandon Thomas TD strike, and with Benton’s conversion kick, River View led 32-6 at the 5:36 mark of the second.
Junior Ethan Barker swiped a River View screen pass attempt and raced 29 yards for an answering Patriot score with 1:27 left in the half.
In response, Muncy connected with Chad Franklin for a 14 yard pick up and then Benton on a 32 yard pass that carried to the Midland Trail three.
Walker scampered the final three yards for the 6th, and when Benton’s kick was true at the 21 second mark River View lead 39-12.
The offensive extravaganza continued in the third, with Muncy hooking up with senior Trey Lockhart for a 24 yard scoring pass with 10:22 showing.
Benton again kicked the extra point.
Jacob Grimmett capped a 13-play, 83-yard march with 3:52 remaining in the third on a 9 yard jaunt around right end for the Patriots.
Quarterback Drew Keenan passed to Barker for the conversion.
Joseph McClanahan broke free for a 68 yard touchdown for the final River View points with 3:04 remaining in the third.
The passing combination of Keenan-to-Barker accounted for a pair of fourth quarter trail scores.
The first came at the 11:38 point and covered 31 yards, with the final coming with 5:48 remaining from 24 yards out.
Related River View head coach Mitch Estep of the game, “We have so many weapons on offense. We played a lot of players in order to see what they would do in ‘game’ situations.
“A game like this is a good time to do that, instead of waiting until maybe a starter gets hurt and you have to throw them in there.”
The Raiders will entertain Liberty-Raleigh Friday night at Vic Nystrom Stadium.
Remarked Patriot head coach Joe Dean, “Our kids really play hard. River View has a really good team.”
Midland Trail will visit Greenbrier West Friday night.
at Vic Nystrom Stadium
Midland Trail...............0 12 8 12 — 32
River View................ 18 21 13 0 — 52
|