Spartans bounce back against Eagles

Cody Dalton
Sports Correspondent

RINER – Giles bounced back from a tough 36-28 district loss last week to Eastern Montgomery, handing Auburn their third straight Three Rivers District loss on Friday, 55-12.

The Spartans (5-3, 2-1) broke the game open in the first quarter with their running game. Three Giles players would score in the opening stanza. Travis Robertson scored on a 4-yard run to give the Spartans the early 7-0 edge after the extra point.

Towards the middle of the quarter, Matt Bane would break free on a 45-yard run to extend the Giles lead to 14-0. Adam Baker at the end of the quarter on a 8-yard run, as the Spartans took the commanding 21-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

Baker would start the second quarter like his finished the first, scoring on a long 52-yard touchdown run. Giles led 27-0 after a blocked extra point.

However, the Eagles (1-7, 0-3) would answer with their first score of the game. Quarterback Zac Blankenship would find running back Michael Spencer on a 10-yard pass play. The two-point conversion would fail and the lead held at 27-6.

Giles once again finished the quarter strong. Frankie Robertson broke free on a 14-yard touchdown run and teammate Tyler Thorne would scamper 44 yards for a score, as the Giles lead continued to grow.

Just before halftime, Auburn would attempt to get things going through the air, but Travis Robertson stopped any Eagle momentum. He would intercept Blankenship deep in Giles territory and return it 90 yards for a touchdown. Giles held a commanding 48-6 lead at halftime.

The Eagles wouldn’t let the huge lead get them down, as they scored on a big play in their opening drive of the second half. Ryne Scott would run for a 72-yard touchdown, cutting the lead down to 48-12 after a missed conversion.

Towards the end of the third quarter, Giles’ Cody Vaught scored on a 23-yard run, which turned out to be the final score of the game.

The Eagles next game will be on the road against current Three Rivers leader Radford (5-3, 3-0). The Bobcats started off on the wrong foot earlier in the season by losing three of their first five games to Pulaski, George Wythe, and Gretna.

However, they have fought back to win three district games in a row against Eastern Montgomery, Floyd, and Glenvar. Last year, the Bobcats knocked off the Eagles, 35-7, in Radford.


Bobcats slip by Highlanders for third straight win

Cody Dalton
Sports Correspondent

SALEM – All signs pointed towards a slugfest in Friday’s Three Rivers contest against Radford and Glenvar, but the weather caused a low scoring affair, as the Bobcats were able to sneak out a tough 9-3 victory over the Highlanders.

Radford (5-3, 3-0) would get on the board first in the first quarter when quarterback Dontae Carter found DJ Palmer in the end zone for a touchdown. The Michael Goodman extra point would be blocked, as the score remained 6-0.

That would be the score heading into the halftime break, as both teams failed to score before the break.

In the third quarter, Radford would mount a drive into Highlander territory. However, all that would come of it would be an impressive 40-yard field goal by Goodman. The Bobcats led 9-0.

Glenvar (6-2, 1-2) would create their own drive and get on the board. Corey Bolden scored from six yards out. For the second time in the game, an extra point would be blocked. This time, it would be Radford’s Julian Minter who came up with the huge block.

After Radford gave the ball back to Glenvar, it looked as if the Highlanders were going to score and at least tie the game and maybe win it.

Minter would once again come up big for the Bobcats and block the Corey Bolden 25-yard field goal attempt, which helped to keep Radford ahead. However, the game would not be a guaranteed victory.

Radford would give the ball back to the Highlanders deep in their own territory, after Phillip Tarpley returned a Bobcat punt 56 yards. The Highlanders just couldn’t get anything going offensively and stumbled to a four-and-out, which gave Radford the hard-fought win.

The Bobcats are now unbeaten in district play and have won three straight games since starting to season with three losses in four games to Pulaski, George Wythe, and Gretna.

Radford’s next district adversary will be Auburn. The Eagles (1-7, 0-3) have struggled since winning their opening game of the year against Craig County, 16-13. The Bobcats defeated the Eagles last season, 35-7, at home.



Mustangs suffer setback against Floyd

Cody Dalton
Sports Correspondent

FLOYD – After winning a tough district game against Giles last week, all the momentum coming into Friday’s contest was on Eastern Montgomery’s side. However, Floyd County didn’t listen, handing the Mustangs a tough 27-12 loss Friday on Senior Night.

Floyd County (3-5, 2-1) opened up scoring the first half, as Dorian Harris would score on a 3-yard run. The extra point would fail and the Buffaloes took a 6-0 lead after one quarter of play.

Harris would get things going again in the second, as Harris once again found the end zone. He would break free for a huge 63-yard run, as Floyd held a 13-0 lead after the extra point.

Just before halftime, Eastern Montgomery (6-2, 1-2) would get on the board. Quarterback Shawn Christian would find teammate Brad Wooten on a 31-yard pass and catch. A blocked extra point later would leave the Mustangs within a touchdown, 13-6, at the halftime break.

The Buffaloes broke out of the halftime break with a big score. Quarterback Caz Cantrell found Daniel Bradford on a 6-yard pass play and score, lifting the Floyd lead to 19-6 after another missed kick.

Eastern Montgomery would continue to fight hard to stay within striking distance. While the Buffaloes honed in on the Mustang’s passing attack, Shawn Christian would take advantage of that. He would break free on his biggest rush of the game and scamper 24-yards for a touchdown, as the Mustangs pulled to within seven points for the second time in the game.

Once again, Harris would go to work and put the game out of reach for Eastern Montgomery. A 17-yard touchdown run by him, plus a two-point conversion from Bradford to Cantrell, would give the Buffaloes a bigger lead and eventually the victory.
Harris finished the game with 156 yards rushing on 20 carries and three rushing touchdowns for Floyd County. On the other side, Christian led the Mustangs by completing 10 of 19 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a touchdown in the game.

Eastern Montgomery will look to bounce back next week, as the play the team currently tied with them in the Three Rivers District standings, Glenvar. The Highlanders (6-2, 1-2) are coming off of a tough 9-3 loss to district leading Radford. Last season, Glenvar knocked off the Mustangs, 26-14, in Salem.

(10-28-09)