Richlands vs Cave Spring BHC article

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http://www.tricities.com/sports/article_8643b982-2faa-11e2-bfbd-001a4bcf6878.html

 

.Home Sports .Richlands to host Cave Spring

 

 

 

. Posted: Friday, November 16, 2012 1:45 am | Updated: 12:08 am, Fri Nov 16, 2012.

 

Richlands to host Cave Spring Allen Gregory | Bristol Herald Courier TriCities.com

 

Posted on November 16, 2012

by Allen Gregory

RICHLANDS, Va. – For fans of the Richlands Blue Tornado, last season’s Region IV, Division 3 football championship unfolded like a slasher film.

 

Behind elusive running back Sam Wright, the Cave Spring Knights gashed the previously unbeaten Blues for 398 yards rushing en route to a 35-21 win.

 

That was the first home loss for Richlands since 2009. Richlands coach Greg Mance remembers the pained expressions of players and supporters that night, and he has been trying to exorcise those ghosts all week.

 

“I’ve watched the film of that game about 100 times this week,” Mance said.

 

According to Mance, there was nothing otherworldly about the emotional night.

 

“Cave Spring just won the battle at the line of scrimmage and caught us off-guard,” Mance said. “We did everything we could to stop their running game, including putting 10 guys in the box, and they just wore us out.”

 

This will be the fourth straight playoff meeting between Cave Spring and Richlands. Once again, the teams feature potent and diverse offenses built around the spread formation.

 

Richlands outscored its foes by an average margin of 35-14 en route to its ninth straight Southwest District title. That run includes a 65-33 dismantling of Tazewell County rival Tazewell in the final week of the regular season.

 

The Blues lost prolific quarterback Gray Baker (14 touchdown passes) to a knee injury after the seventh game. Richlands must also play without speedy A.J. Johnson, who was ejected against Tazewell. Under VHSL rules, a player ejected during a game cannot play in the next game.

 

The stat line for Johnson includes 983 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns. He has also has five interceptions.

 

“A.J. is our X factor on offense, defense and special teams,” Mance said. “A.J. could take it to the house anytime. We’ll have to find a way to win without him.”

 

With Johnson missing from the lineup, Richlands will likely turn to 6-4, 220-pound senior receiver Todd McGlothlin. The senior receiver was forced from last year’s game with Cave Spring after suffering a knee injury on the second offensive series for Richlands.

 

“Losing Todd was a big factor,” Mance said. “We scored on our opening drive with Todd, and we were relying on him at outside linebacker.”

 

Mance said that that Knights focused their running plays on the spot that McGlothlin vacated.

 

Instead of an explosive back like Wright, the 2012 Knights rely on balanced running attack led by James Jackson (538 yards), 5-11 quarterback Connor Baker (282 yards) and Alex Lines (154 yards). Baker is the maestro of the offense, passing for 1,855 yards and 18 scores against six interceptions.

 

The top receiving threats include Jack Woody (753 yards, 9 touchdowns), John Evans (45 rec., 571 yards) and tight Jordan Bryant with 32 catches for 380 yards. The 6-3, 232-pound Bryant is the top prospect for the Knights.

 

“Bryant is a great blocker on offense and a handful at linebacker,” Mance said.

 

Running back Colton Staten has been steady for the Richlands offense. Relying on leg strength and his massive line, the 5-9, 200-pound junior Staten has blasted for 1,593 yards rushing and 12 scores.

 

Staten replaced two-way all-state player Devon Johnson. The Marshall University freshman supplied 113 yards rushing and three scores against Cave Spring last season.

 

The other offensive key for Richlands is 6-1 junior quarterback Ben Brown. In the showdown game against Tazewell, Brown completed 10 of 19 passes for 242 yards and five touchdowns.

 

“That was exactly the kind of performance we wanted to see,” Mance said. “Ben has always had the talent, and now he’s overcoming a couple of injuries and developing confidence. We will need another good game from Ben Friday.”

 

Before last season’s loss, Richlands had won six of the past seven regional titles.

 

Richlands linebackers Frank Taylor and Michael Horton each have over 80 tackles, while senior Corbin King (6-2, 240) is a force on the defensive line.

 

While Cave Spring has five losses, Mance pointed to the quality of opponents. For example, the Knights lost only 28-21 to unbeaten Salem in midseason.

 

“And they had Salem beat until the last minutes,” Mance said.

 

The lone loss for Richlands was a 28-17 decision at Pulaski County. Cave Spring won 17-14 at Pulaski.

 

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Mance said. “Cave Spring can run it and throw it.”

 

During the off week, Mance said the Blues went back to the fundamentals of blocking and tackling. The Blues also spent hours studying for the Knights, who own a 2-1 edge in the series.

 

“This has become a really good rivalry,” Mance said. “Cave Spring presents things that we usually don’t see in Southwest Virginia with their speed, balance and misdirection.”

 

After a long week of film study, one theme became evident for Mance and his players.

 

“We’ve got to be able to run the ball and shorten the game because Cave Spring is going to score if you let them inside the 50-yard line,” Mance said.

 

“Our kids have watched the mistakes they made in last year’s game and had a great week of practice. Now, it just comes down to executing the game plan.”

 

Tonight’s winner will host either Marion or Tunstall next week.