New Castle…The Radford Bobcats jumped on Craig Co. early and often defeating the Rockets 43-0 for their first win of the season. The Bobcats (1-3) scored five touchdowns in the opening quarter to put the game away. They took the opening kickoff and drove 53 yards on four plays as Markell Thompson rumbled in from three yards out and Michael Hill got the point after for a 7-0 lead. The Cat defense stopped the Rockets on three plays and out, setting up their offense in Craig Co. territory. On their third play DJ Baylor rolled out to his left and hit Josh Alley for a 24-yard strike to make it 14-0.

Craig Co. then fumbled, and Radford’s Adam Simpkins recovered. Again the Bobcats would strike quickly as Thompson scored on a four-yard run to go up 21-0. Craig Co. would take over on their 20-yard line, but again they would fumble as Dillon Whitt recovered at the Rocket 18. On the first play Trace Shepherd raced 18 yards for the score and Baylor hit Nicholas Clark with a two-point conversion and the route was on, putting the “city kitties” up 36-0 after one quarter.

Radford scored on the first play of the second quarter with Baylor hitting Josh Alley this time on a 47-yard pass and Hill’s point after made it 43-0 at intermission.

Radford’s defense held Craig Co. to just 62 yards of total offense. They gave up only 44 rushing yards on 24 carries and just 18 yards in the air. Radford finished with 314 total yards of offense. Baylor had 54 yards rushing on four carries and he was six of eight for 117 yards passing and two touchdown passes. Justice Marshall had 45 yards rushing and Chris Carter had 30 rushing as the two freshmen carried the ball 15 times.

“We are slowly getting better,” said a relieved Radford head coach Matthew Saunders. “Defensively we are ahead of our offense. I liked what I saw tonight from Justice Marshall and Chris Carter. Our defense played well and we got a lot of people into the game here tonight.“ Coach Saunders then remarked, “That first win is the toughest and we are improving.”

Radford will come back home next Friday to take on the Knights of James River. Kick off will be 7pm at Bobcat Stadium.

Radford 36 7 0 0 – 43

Craig Co. 0 0 0 0 – 0

Rushing- Radford- Baylor- 4-54, Marshall- 7-45, C.Carter- 8-30, Thompson- 3-7, Duncan 5-8, Nester- 4-26, Shepherd- 1-18, Stanley- 1-10,

– Craig Co.- Henderson- 8-(-10), Bradford- 9-67, Burcham- 1-(-14), McMahan-4-(-5), Sloss- 2-6