For one head coach, it was a good opening night.
For the other, it fell short of expectations.
Friday night at English Stadium, the Altavista Colonels opened their 2012 football season with a 51-13 rout of Randolph-Henry.
It was a game that wasn’t in doubt too long. Altavista raced to a 30-7 lead after one quarter and increased it to 44-13 at halftime.
“We had a good week of practice. We had an up-tempo week of practice,” Altavista Coach Mike Scharnus said after the game. “I thought we attacked on offense.”
Although it had been a good week of preparation, Scharnus was still uncertain how his Colonels would perform. Part of that was due to the team’s youth and inexperience. Of the 29 players on the roster, 17 are sophomores and freshmen, most with limited or no varsity experience.
On the other side, Randolph-Henry Coach Joe Freeland said his Statesmen didn’t play up to their potential.
“We didn’t execute the fundamentals,” Freeland said. “I didn’t think we were aggressive.”
The Statesmen received to open the game, but had to punt after three runs gained 2 yards. Altavista needed only two plays to get its first touchdown.
After a 5-yard run by Clydale Moon on first down, quarterback Juan Thornhill threw a short pass to Demitre Maulbeck, who started right and cut all the way across the field to the end zone for a 50-yard score. Walker Allen made the first of his seven extra points to put Altavista up 7-0 just three minutes into the game.
The Colonels’ Darius Johnson blocked a punt by Randolph-Henry’s Thristian Pate on the next series, setting Altavista up at the Statesmen 14. Moon carried for 8 yards and Destin Brown took it the remaining 6 yards to the end zone on the next play. Allen’s extra point made it 14-0.
Thornhill, who was 5-for-9 passing for 120 yards, tossed another touchdown to Demetrius Johnson for a 10-yard score. Allen’s kick made it 21-0.
It got worse for the visitors from Charlotte Courthouse.
On the next possession, starting at the 18, Altavista’s Brendon Patrick threw Randolph-Henry quarterback Joseph Reed for a 10-yard loss. After an incomplete pass, Altavista’s front wall, led this time by Darius Johnson, tackled Reed just short of the goal line. On fourth down, instead of trying a punt, Pate stepped out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
Scharnus’ defense isn’t huge, but it’s quick.
“I thought we got to the football quickly,” he said.
Maulbeck, one of several sophomores who had key contributions in the win, took Randolph-Henry’s free kick after the safety 60 yards for a touchdown. Allen’s extra point made it 30-0 in favor of the orange and black.
Reed, a freshman, then returned the Altavista kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to put the Statesmen on the board. Pate’s extra point made it 30-7.
In the second quarter, Altavista’s Timron Brown ran 16 yards for a score. Allen’s extra point made it 37-7.
Altavista had lots of new names playing big roles in the opener. Maulbeck, Moon, Demetrius Johnson, Destin Brown, Darius Johnson and Thornhill are all sophomores. Timron Brown is a junior. Allen is a freshman.
Randolph-Henry’s Reed scored on a 3-yard run that made it 37-13 before Moon scored from 1 yard out just before halftime. Allen’s extra point made it 44-13 as the Altavista band entertained.
Junior Jacob Hawkins scooped up a Randolph-Henry fumble and scored from 21 yards to stretch the lead early in the third quarter. Allen’s last extra point made it 51-13, ending the scoring.
Altavista finished the night with 238 yards rushing on 23 carries. Moon led the way with 114 yards, while Thornhill had 75.
Maulbeck led the receiving corps with three catches for 92 yards.
Randolph-Henry finished the game with 133 yards rushing on 37 carries. Reed had 50 of those yards, D.J. Cooke had 28 and Tyler Brown finished with 23. Reed was 2-for-6 passing for no yards.
For Altavista, 1-0, a date with Campbell County and Dogwood District rival William Campbell awaits this Friday night in Naruna at 7. This is the first of two meetings this season between the Colonels and Generals. The second game on Sept. 28 in Altavista will count in the district standings.
The Generals fell 35-21 to Rustburg in their opener.
Randolph-Henry, 0-1, will host another Dogwood team, Chatham, Friday night. The Cavaliers come into the game 1-0 following a 27-16 win over Bluestone.
JV football
Randolph-Henry beat Altavista in junior varsity football 36-30 last Thursday night.
The JV Colonels host William Campbell Thursday night at 6 p.m.