849 yards of offense, 13 touchdowns, 82 points in game
By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, Oct. 4 — Friday night’s non-district matchup between Page County and Rocktown showcased two running backs that combined for 524 yards on 57 carries — an average of 9.2 yards per carry — and seven touchdowns. It was a night of little defense, as the Panther and Raptor offenses combined for 849 yards, 13 touchdowns and 82 points. After a close first half, Rocktown scored on five consecutive possessions in the second half en route to a 52-30 road win — the program’s first win of the season.
Page County senior running back Ace Campbell carried the ball a grueling 38 times — 22 in the second half — chalking up 288 yards on the ground (7.6 ypc) and three rushing touchdowns. Campbell also had a 13-yard touchdown reception, and ran a fake punt 13 yards for a key first down.
Rocktown sophomore running back Demetrius Arrington put up 152 yards in the first half alone. He finished the night with 236 yards on 19 carries (12.4 ypc) and three touchdowns. Arrington accumulated his stats while only getting three touches in the fourth quarter.
The only defensive battle of the game came in the opening minutes. The Raptors turned the ball over on downs after picking up one first down, and the Panthers went three-and-out before executing one of the game’s two punts. Rocktown would then score on its next three possessions, starting with a 12-yard touchdown run by junior Na’im Sampson. The Raptors capped a three-play drive covering 35 yards and went up 7-0 with 6:58 left in the first quarter.
Page County’s second drive was extended by Campbell’s fake punt scramble, as well as a 30-yard breakaway run to the Raptor’s 20-yard line. After covering 33 yards and grinding 5:28 off the clock, the 12-play drive stalled after five penalties (four false starts) and three consecutive incomplete passes. Rocktown then marched 75 yards in six plays, capped off by a 12-yard touchdown run by junior Troy Groden to go up 14-0 with 11:26 left in the first half.
The Panthers answered back with a nine-play, 55-yard drive that ended with senior Kenseth Tharp finding the end zone from 13 yards out. Tharp would end up inches short on the two-point attempt, and the score remained 14-6 with 6:13 left in the half. It would only take two plays for the Raptors to score again, as Arrington broke loose on a 58-yard touchdown run. Rocktown lead 20-6 with 5:50 left.
Page County consumed the next 4:26 of the clock, but stalled out a nine-play drive after coming up inches short of the first down at the Raptor 28. Two plays later, Rocktown turned the ball over as Page freshman linebacker Wyatt Roudabush came up with an interception at the Raptor 41. With only 45 seconds left before halftime, the Panthers completed three consecutive passes, ending with a 13-yard touchdown reception by Campbell. The Panthers narrowed the deficit to 20-12 heading into halftime.
On the opening drive of the second half, Campbell broke loose for 29 yards on the first play. However, the Panthers ended up punting three plays later. Page would then turn the ball over on downs on its next possession, and then throw an interception on a halfback option during the following possession.
Rocktown went on to score on its next five possessions, including 12 points in 13 seconds after Page County coughed up its only turnover of the night. Rocktown freshman Will Atkins snagged the interception late in the third quarter. The Raptors took no more than five plays to score in five straight drives — 16-yard run by Arrington (7:21-3Q); 6-yard run by Arrington (1:13-3Q); 45-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Braxton Pettit (1:.07-3Q); 8-yard run by sophomore Matthew Wolfe (5:53-4Q); 60-yard run by junior Jaleel De La Cruz.
After being dominated 18-0 in a pivotal third quarter, the Panthers would hit the end zone on its last three possessions, scoring 18 points in nine minutes, and winning the fourth quarter. Campbell scored from 7 yards out (9:45-4Q), 8 yards out (5:53-4Q) and 4 yards out (0:25-4Q).
Each team committed one turnover by interception, and each team had more than their share of costly penalties. Each team had an explosive ground game with two dynamic running backs, but each team also couldn’t find a way to stop the other. Page County put up 373 yards of offense, to Rocktown’s 476. The Panthers went 4-of-12 through the air for 41 yards and a touchdown, while the Raptors connected on 4-of-6 passes for 83 yards. The Rocktown defense recorded three sacks.
Up next, Page County (2-3) will travel to Strasburg (5-0) on Friday, Oct. 11 for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The matchup marks the beginning of a five-game Bull Run District slate for the Panthers.
Rocktown (1-4) will host King William next Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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