BY CRAIG WORRELL
Sports Correspondent
HILLSVILLE, Va. – Champions find a way to win. As has been the case at times this year, Richlands found it in the second half.
The Blue Tornado scored on its first two possessions of the third period, coming from behind to knock off Carroll County 21-13 in a battle of Southwest District unbeatens at Tommy Thompson Field.
The win gives Richlands (8-1 overall, 5-0 district) its sixth straight SWD title, while the Cavaliers (6-3, 4-1) are left waiting for the school’s first district crown in football.
Richlands trailed 13-7 at intermission after being held to four first downs and 82 yards of offense, but the Blue Tornado quickly turned the tables, scoring four plays into the second half.
Devon Johnson broke up the middle for an apparent 72-yard score on the first play of the third period, and though a block in the back brought the ball back to the Cavalier 43, the carry still eclipsed Richlands’ entire rushing total from the first half.
Johnson zipped around the left side for the tying touchdown two plays later, and Reece Strong’s PAT put the Tornado ahead to stay, 14-13, just a minute and 18 seconds into the half.
Richlands needed but five plays on its next possession to add some cushion to its lead. Austin Johnson picked up 14 yards to the Carroll 48, Cody Johnson carried to the 36 and, following two incompletions, Cody Johnson scrambled to his left and slipped through Carroll County tacklers three times en route to a 36-yard score and a 21-13 lead.
Richlands limited the Cavaliers to 32 yards on the ground in the second half, but struggled themselves before halftime. Carroll County outgained the Blue Tornado 189-82 in the first two periods, giving up only a 62-yard punt return by Austin Johnson for the game’s initial score at 5:29 of the first period.
The Cavaliers responded with a 74-yard drive kept alive when a Carroll punt glanced off a Richlands player and was recovered by Kyle Wengerd at the Richlands 42. Ulisis Moreno darted in from 46 yards out three plays later, then booted the extra point to square the score at 7-7.
Carroll County took the lead on its next series, driving 71 yards in nine plays, with Blake Bowman scoring on a 20- yard run at the 5:03 mark of the second. Richlands held a slim advantage in total yards for the game, 279-263, with Devon Johnson carrying 17 times for 123 yards. Carroll County had four ballcarriers with between 42 and 60 yards, led by Moreno with 60 yards on five rushes.
Richlands overcame 16 penalties for 161 yards in a game that was bogged down by nearly 30 penalty flags.
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