Richlands top Vikings in close battle

BY ALLEN GREGORY
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

BIG STONE GAP, Va. – Richlands High School senior quarterback Cody Johnson is making the transition to Southwest Virginia style football.

The transfer from Big Creek High School in West Virginia displayed a mix of grit and skill Friday as the Richlands Blue Tornado stopped Powell Valley 19-14 in a classic non-district game.

Johnson rushed for 88 yards, passed for 109 and survived the unrelenting PV defense.

“This was the most physical game I’ve ever played in,” Johnson said. “These were two families going at it hard, but we were able to come out in the end.”

Johnson rushed for 61 yards in the opening game against Gate City, but the Blues sputtered to a 10-7 loss. Since that night of frustration, Johnson has gradually found a comfort zone with the spread formation.

He connected with his cousin Austin Johnson on a 58-yard score as time expired in the first half Friday, and continually found seams through the PV defense with creative runs.

“I studied the playbook over the summer and coach [Greg] Mance has done a great job helping me learn all about this offense,” Johnson said. “Things come easier every game, but Powell Valley played great.”

Brad Strong added a 15-yard scoring run for Richlands with 3:32 left in the third quarter, while Reece Strong added a 31-yard field goal with 9:15 left in the game.

Powell Valley, which features 15 returning starters, was projected for a second-place finish in the Lonesome Pine District. The Vikings played like title contenders Friday.

After falling behind 19-6, the Vikings rallied behind their powerful offensive line and the running of Dathan Davis.

A senior who runs with a passion, Davis (12 carries for 75 yards) scored on a six-yard for the Vikings with 4:43 left in the game.

PV then mounted another drive in the final two minutes before falling Richlands defensive end Will Lowe forced an interception with a big hit on the PV quarterback.

Some PV fans were upset with a blocking penalty on the Vikings in the final two minutes that negated a long run inside the Richlands 10-yard-line, but PV coach Phil Robbins focused on the big picture.

“There was no question in my mind that we were going to score there,” Robbins said. “But I would just like to think this game was decided between the white lines on this field.”

Versatile senior Myron Pinkston, who accounted for 198 total yards last week in a 27-7 loss to powerful Lebanon, rushed for 68 yards on 16 carries Friday, despite missing part of the game with a collarbone injury.

After the Lebanon game, Robbins switched his offense back to the traditional I-formation. That move produced dividends Friday.

“I was just really frustrated after last week,” Robbins said. “I didn’t think Lebanon had any better players than we had. I just thought they were better coached in what they were doing.

“We’ve got some backs that can run the ball and we’ve got a fullback [Bryant Renfrow] that can block. I got back in the I-formation Monday at practice, and we tried to get physical.”

Richlands rushed for 212 yards, but was never able to pull away from the Vikings. The Blues played without versatile Jack Vance, who has been experiencing internal bleeding.

Richlands coach Greg Mance was not surprised by the drama.

“Powell Valley had us down 35-0 with four minutes to go in the game last year, so we knew that we were facing a quality team,” Mance said. “I don’t think we tackled well, but we battled and did some good things.”

Richlands 0 7 9 3-19
Powell Valley 0 0 6 8-14
Scoring Summary
R-A. Johnson 58 pass from C. Johnson (Strong kick)\
PV-Pinkston 39 run (kick failed)
R-Brad Strong 15 run (R. Stong kick)
R-Safety, Punt snap went out of end zone
R-Strong 31 FG
PV-Davis 6 run (Davis run)
Team Stats
First Down: R 13, PV 13: Rushes-Yards: R 213, PV 219; Yards Passing: R 108, PV 45; Comp-Att-Int.: R 5-19-,0 PV 2-7-1; Fumbles-Lost: R 2-1, PV 3-1; Penalties-Yards: R 8-60, PV 5-25; Punts-Avg.; R 3-34, PV 3-33.

agregory@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2544