R’heads’ ground game runs wild

GREENVILLE — Riverheads running back Cory Sandridge scored five touchdowns on short and long runs Friday, keying the Gladiators to a 42-14 Shenandoah District victory over Stonewall Jackson.

Riverheads, which climbed to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in district play, fumbled on its first possession and trailed 7-0 after Stonewall Jackson converted the turnover on an 11-yard run by Generals back Colton Koontz.

But the rest of the night belonged to the Gladiators, who garnered more than 400 yards on the ground.

Sandridge amassed 151 yards that included a tying four-yard run in the first quarter. The score finished a 65-yard, nine-play drive.

The Gladiators took over again late in the first quarter, and held the ball six minutes, with Sandridge capping the drive on a two-yard run with just over eight minutes left in the half.

The night’s most impressive drive came later in the quarter, when Riverheads took over at its own nine-yard line.

Quarterback Lance Diehl bootlegged 64 yards on the second play of the possession, which was fiinished by Sandridge’s one-yard touchdown with just under three minutes left in the half.

Stonewall Jackson tried to make a game of it to start the second half.

The Generals used a 61-yard line run by running back Jordan Laughlin to set up a one-yard quarterback sneak by John-Michael Pirtle with 9:30 left in the third quarter.

The touchdown cut Riverheads’ lead to 21-14, but the game didn’t stay close for long.

The Gladiators answered with a six-play, 70-yard drive finished by Sandridge’s fourth touchdown of the night – a 29-yard effort that included several broken tackles.

The scoring was capped by Diehl’s option keeper of 7 yards late in the third quarter, and Sandridge’s final score, a 13-yard run with 2:30 left in the game.

Riverheads Coach Robert Casto said his offense “went both outside and inside’’ to score.

“We are a large and athletic team. And the key is we have four running backs,’’ he said.

With the loss, Stonewall Jackson fell to 2-6 overall, and 1-2 in Shenandoah District play.