BY JUSTIN RICE
It was probably one of the best special teams performances in Spotsylvania High School football history, and it took a little of the shine off an otherwise one-sided Riverbend victory.
Spotsylvania ran three kickoffs back for touchdowns--and nearly cashed in a fourth--but the Bears ran up 452 yards of offense and opened their season with a 41-21 home win last night.
"Hey, a win's a win," Riverbend coach Todd Campbell said. "We'll take it any way we can get it. The kickoff team gave up three scores. Clearly we've got to get better there."
Dra Nelson fielded the game's opening kickoff at the 13 and barely had to change direction on an 87-yard return for the Knights (0-2).
Riverbend answered with a four-play drive that was capped by Brian Gaines' 16-yard scoring run.
The second kickoff return was a little more difficult for the Knights.
Elijah Dailey muffed the kick following Gaines' score. He picked the ball up at the 10, cut across the field and raced 90 yards to give the Knights a 14-6 lead.
Again, the Bears answered, driving 61 yards on nine plays and scoring on Gaines' 16-yard sweep.
The next kickoff didn't go quite as well for Spotsylvania.
This time, Brandon Sellers took it back 61 yards, but was dragged down at the Riverbend 19. On the next play, the Knights fumbled the ball back to the Bears.
Riverbend scored again on its fourth possession--this time a 38-yard run by Chris Brooks, taking a lead it would never relinquish.
Nine players carried the ball for Riverbend, which had 309 rushing yards. Nick Jones picked up his teammate's fumble and went 55 yards for a score, Rufonda Moss had a 5-yard touchdown run, and Jacob Morrison ran back an interception 72 yards to put the Bears up 41-14.
But again, they were burned by a kickoff.
Spotsylvania's Brandon Sellers took it 77 yards for the Knights' third kick return touchdown in the game.
It was a bright spot and a step forward for a team that didn't win a game last year.
"Yes, we're taking steps forward," Spotsylvania coach Ben Lawrynas said. "But nothing's better than a step forward and a win, though. The kids are working their tails off. We've got to take the next step after that and capitalize on our opportunities."
Spotsylvania | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -- | 21 |
Riverbend | 12 | 15 | 0 | 14 | -- | 41 |
First Quarter
Sp--D. Nelson 87-yard kick return (L. Lutrell kick).
Rb--B. Gaines 15-yard run (kick failed).
Sp--E. Dailey 90-yard kick return (L. Lutrell kick).
Rb--B. Gaines 16-yard run (pass failed).
Second Quarter
Rb--C. Brooks 38-yard run (R. Moss run).
Rb--N. Jones 55-yard run (C. Beer kick).
Fourth Quarter
Rb--R. Moss 5-yard run (C. Beer kick).
Rb--J. Morrison 72-yard pass interception (C. Beer kick).
Sp--B. Sellers 77-yard kick return (L. Lutrell kick).
TEAMSTATISTICS
Sp | Rb |
First downs11 | 21 |
Rushing yardage29-138 | 35-309 |
Passing yardage38 | 163 |
Passes3-11-1 | 10-22-0 |
Punts-Avg.4-29 | 3-49.4 |
Fumbles-lost3-3 | 5-2 |
Penalties-yards 6-60 | 10-95 |
INDIVIDUALSTATISTICS
Rushing: Riverbend--Rufonda Moss 14-95, TD; Nick Jones 1-67, TD; Chris Brooks 5-59, TD; Brian Gaines 5-40, 2TDs; Zac Naccarato 1-16; Reece Bradley 2-15; Steven Sarver 2-13; Greg McCrae 3-6; Austin Grew 2-(-2). Spotsylvania--Brandon Sellers 5-49; Nate Ennis 6-43; Dra Nelson 7-24; John Thomas 5-21; Ashten Dixon 3-7; Elijah Dailey 3-(-6).Passing: Riverbend--Zac Naccarato 9-21-0 155; Austin Grew 1-1-0 8. Spotsylvania--Ashten Dixon 2-5-1 29; Nate Ennis 1-6-0 9.
Receiving: Riverbend--Kory Pfeiffer 2-54; Bryant Pryor 3-51; Nick Jones 2-26; Chris Brooks 1-13; Reece Bradley 1-11; Deion Roy 1-8. Spotsylvania--Dra Nelson 2-22; Kyle Girone 1-16.
Justin Rice: 540/368-5045
Email: jrice@freelancestar.com
SPOTSYLVANIA 21