RICHLANDS CRUISES TO NO. 9
BY: BUCKY DENT, October 29, 2006, Bristol Herlad Courier
RICHLANDS — Minutes after Richlands clinched the Southwest District title on Saturday night with a 41-0 drilling of visiting Carroll County, its star running back, Caleb Jennings, made a confession.
"We underestimated them last year," he said of the Blue Tornadoes’ 7-6 squeaker in Hillsville.
That wasn’t a problem last night, when the state’s No. 2 ranked Group AA team romped through the mud at Ernie Hicks Stadium to roll up 333 total yards in what coach Greg Mance termed "the best game we’ve played all year."
The usual suspects led Richlands’ methodical massacre of the Cavaliers (6-3, 2-1). Jennings rushed for 107 yards in 19 carries and scored two touchdowns, giving him 28 for the year and breaking Brannon Breeding’s 14-year old school record for most TDs in a season.
"It’s an honor to hold that record," Jennings said. "There have been a lot of good backs here."
Quarterback Justin McCracken ignored a biting crosswind and calmly hit 9-of-13 passes for 195 yards and three scores, marking the sixth time this season he’s fired three or more TD passes in a game.
McCracken even turned in the night’s big hit. Hustling down the field in the fourth quarter after snapping for a rare C.J. Arms punt, McCracken jolted Zane Mitchell just moments after Mitchell caught the ball.
"That’s why I like long-snapping," McCracken said. "Every once in a while, it feels good to get a shot like that."
Wideout Austin Fuller caught four passes for 105 yards and two scores, including a 69-yarder late in the third quarter which capped the evening’s entertainment for a chilled crowd.
"They just have so many weapons," Carroll County coach Tom Hale said of the Blues. "If you put seven guys in the [tackle] box, they just pass on you. If you play six in the box, they just run on you."
Equally as impressive was Richlands’ defense, which wouldn’t permit the Cavaliers to play keepaway. Carroll County’s Wing-T attack managed just 144 total yards and no play longer than its first — a 26-yard pass from Travis Green to J.T. Turner.
"We thought if they had a weakness, it might be their defense," Hale said. "We had some good plays, but just couldn’t string enough of them together."
Originally scheduled for Friday night, the game was moved back 24 hours when an inch and a half of rain pounded Richlands. Mance and his veteran coaching staff put the extra prep time to good use.
"We had an extra walkthrough this morning and I think it helped us," McCracken said. "We went over their alignments and broke their defense down over and over. We knew where we had to go."
It was the 28th consecutive regular season win for the Blues (9-0, 4-0), which assured themselves of staying at home for their first two games in the Division 3 playoffs that start in three weeks.
Mance, whose team has won 19 of their last 20 games at home, wore a wide smile as he pondered the fact his team won’t have to make another trip until a possible state semifinal on Dec. 2.
"When we get to the playoffs," he said, "there’s going to be 7 or 8,000 fans screaming their heads off for us. These kids feed off it and they love playing in their backyard. Ernie Hicks Stadium is good to us."
Richlands closes its regular season on Friday, hosting Hogoheegee District champion Lebanon. Carroll County entertains SWD foe Graham and could earn a first round home game in the Division 4 playoffs with a win.
Email: berry1974@adelphia.net
