by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
There wasn’t much spice on Monday night, and that’s exactly how Highland Springs likes it.
The dominant Springer defense held Hanover to 85 yards of total offense, and received a surprisingly stellar day from running back J.J. Saunders to upend Hanover 19-10 in a pivotal Capital District battle.
Saunders can run the ball, nothing is shocking about that.
But the junior toted the pigskin an astounding 29 times for 217 yards against one of the toughest defenses in the Central Region, as a few other Springer backs weren’t available. Saunders had no problem stepping to the fore.
“He’s good,” Highland Springs coach Loren Johnson said of Saunders, more known as a terrific cornerback. “We’ve got some other ones that didn’t play this evening because they were injured. I wish they could’ve played, but all of our running backs are special.”
Not much was special about Highland Springs’ offensive effort until the second half.
HS drove 65 yards in 12 plays, churning up almost seven minutes of the third quarter before quarterback Wayne Pugh scored on his second 1-yard QB sneak to give the Springers, ranked fourth in the latest Fox/DigitalSports Top 10, its second lead at 12-7.
It was a powerful drive that will be a staple of Highland Springs’ offense, much different than the high-wire act the black and gold had last season.
“It surprised me that we ran the ball so well in the second half,” Johnson said. “However, that’s what we set out to do. Sometimes when you set out to do things you accomplish them with a lot of hard work.”
Said Saunders, who racked up 31 yards on the drive: “We’ve got some unselfish players on the team. I’ve got the linemen blocking for me. Got the receivers saying, they got me, they got me. So we had to get it done on the ground.”
A little later, No. 6 Hanover converted a third and 19 from its own 42 as senior Josh Wells hit Xavier Crocker on the sideline for 30 yards.
Hanover advanced to the Springer 8-yard line but HS sacked Wells back-to-back to force Rachel Moore‘s 34-yard field goal to slice HS’ advantage to 12-10 with 7:55 left in the contest.
The Springers avoided disaster minutes later.
Clarence Hill‘s punt richocheted off a player and bounced around the turf as Hanover tried to advance it. But the ball got back loose and JaQuan Burchette was Johnny on the Spot, like he was all night, earning a Springer first down.
He was Pugh’s favorite target, catching five passes for 59 yards, including a couple of chain movers.
That led to Pugh sneaking behind center Rashad Winston and guard Derrick Hopkins on fourth-and-one. Then Saunders popped a 36-yarder to set up Pugh’s third TD of the evening, this one a 5-yard bootleg.
Kevin Reynolds picked Wells to end the threat, as the Springers defense was sick once again.
Hanover’s TD was set up by a brilliant punt return from Bryson Kemler, a 38-yard effort set up with nice blocking.
Hanover only needed two yards and Deane Cheatham got one of them three plays later as Hanover got its first and only lead at 7-6. But Highland Springs’ defensive pressure was too much.
“Everybody expects to score on us,” defensive end Dennis Washington said. “We’re young. We’re missing a lot of people. But we’re stepping it up though. We’re planning to do shutouts the rest of the year.”
Hanover 0 7 0 3 – 10
H. Springs 0 6 6 7 – 19
HS – Pugh 1 run (kick failed)
H – Cheatham 1 run (Moore kick)
HS – Pugh 1 run (pass failed)
H – FG Moore 34
HS – Pugh 5 run (kick good)
RUSHING
Hanover – Cheatham 13 carries, 26 yards; Crocker 2-(minus 3); Wells 7-(minus 6); Highland Springs – Saunders 29-217, Frank Bebbs 3-15, Clarence Smith 1-(minus 6), Pugh 6-(minus 9)
PASSING
Hanover – Wells 9 completions, 16 attempts, 1 interception, 68 yards; Highland Springs – Pugh 7-16-1-62
RECEIVING
Hanover – Danny Trsic 3 receptions, 14 yards, Crocker 3-22, Ross Scarborough 1-11, Steven Fogleman 1-6, Jeremy Yorke 1-8; Highland Springs – Burchette 5-59, Smith 1-3, Saunders 1-0
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