(Photography Courtesy of Bryant Altizer)

Radford …The Radford Bobcats got two touchdowns from P J Prioleau and two from quarterback Zane Rupe as they defeated the James River Knights 31-13.

Both teams came into the contest with 6-1 overall records and so began the big showdown game in the Three Rivers District.

The Bobcats got on the scoreboard first at the 7:40 mark of the opening quarter when Rupe sneaked in from one yard out. Connor Lytton’s point after made it 7-0. They would then score again with 11:19 in the second quarter as the Bobcats reached into their bag of tricks. Rupe would handoff to Prioleau who then pitched the ball back to Justice Marshall. Marshall then stopped and tossed a 33-yard pass to Rupe and Lytton’s point after put the Cats up 14-0.

Radford (7-1, 4-0 ) would get the kickoff to start the second half and Prioleau would receive the ball at his own 13. He took off up the middle of the field and then broke off to the Radford sideline and raced 87 yards to pay dirt untouched. Lytton’s point after and his 24-yard field goal at the 4:34 mark of the quarter would extend the Bobcat lead to 24-0. Prioleau would bull his way in from two yards out to up the score to 31-0 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

James River (6-2, 2-2) finally scored with 9:58 left in the game as Deacon Paivanas caught a 65-yard pass from Coulter Hodges. They would tally another touchdown when Dyllan McAllister received a 20-yard pass from Hodges, but the kick was blocked with just 25.9 seconds left in the contest.

“I thought our defense shut their running down,” said a relieved and happy Radford head coach Matthew Saunders. “This was a big game and win for us. We had too many penalties tonight. I thought Zane (Rupe) did a good job at quarterback for us, but I’m really proud of how our defense performed.”

This was Radford’s six consecutive win and they are still tied with Glenvar for first place in the district.

Rupe rushed the ball eight times for 90 yards. Prioleau had 15 carries for 105 yards and went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

The Knights were lead by Hodges with 87 yards rushing on 15 rushes. He also threw for 201 yards, but most of that was against the Bobcats second string defense.

Radford will travel to Carroll Co. next Friday night to take on the Cavaliers and former Pulaski Co. coach Jack Turner.

 

 

Radford 7 7 10 7 -31

James River 0 0 0 13-13

 

 

Rushing – Radford – Prioleau 15-105, Rupe 8-90, Marshall 8-35, Shepherd 1-9, Chadwick 1-7, Taylor 1-1, Nestor 1-(-3), James River – Hodges – 15-87, McAllister 4-(-1), Peay 7-4, Clonch 4-16