By MIKE DAVIS
RICHLANDS, Va. — The Blue Tornado will take a break from their Southwest District title defense tonight when they host the Lebanon Pioneers for non-district football action. Both teams are coming off wins last week with Lebanon (4-2, 1-1) toppling Virginia High, 52-28, and Richlands (5-1, 3-0) calmed the Scarlet Hurricanes, 27-7.
“Lebanon is the best balanced team we’ve played this season,” Richlands head coach Greg Mance said. “They can run and they can throw the ball.”
“When we played Abingdon, they threw the ball well and Powell Valley could run the ball, but Lebanon can do it all. They’re big up front and they’re athletic.”
The Pioneers have won two straight after beating Clintwood three weeks ago and got their first Clinch Mountain District win of the season against Virginia High.
“We had a good game against Clintwood and then, we had a week off,” Lebanon head coach John Adams said. “I think we improved with the open week and we had a good game against Virginia High.”
The Pioneers have a powerful offensive game this season with 150 total points in six games and their defense has allowed just 69 points. Opponents had been averaging just over 10 points per game through the first four games this season before the Bearcats scored 28 last week.
“We hope to live up to the reputation of playing power football,” Adams said. “But, we’re playing someone who does the same. Greg (Mance) and the boys up there do a great job.”
A week ago, the Tornado had one drive against Marion that pushed the ‘Canes defense down field before three big scoring plays put the game out of reach and the Blues took one more step up the district ladder.
The first Tornado touchdown came on a 4-yard run by Devon Johnson capping a 51- yard trip to the end zone. Then, the Tornado converted a 33-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-four from Cody Johnson to Austin Johnson catching the Marion defense in the box in the second quarter giving Richlands the lead by a touchdown through halftime.
Austin Johnson also scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter on runs of 62 and 24 yards for his 10th touchdown of the season. He has eight receptions for 322 yards this year with six touchdowns and 191 yards rushing on 14 carries averaging over 13 yards per carry with four touchdowns.
“We’ve obviously going to find a way have to give Austin Johnson the ball,” Mance said. “He’s touched the ball 22 times and he’s scored 10 touchdowns in the process.”
“I may have to fire the offensive coordinator if he can’t figure a way to do that, of course, I’ll have to fire myself,” Mance laughs.
Richlands also has other weapons in the backfield with Cody Johnson completing 29-of-70 passes for 581 yards and eight touchdowns this season with just two interceptions and he’s added 315 yards on the ground with four rushing touchdowns.
Devon Johnson is the leading rusher for the Blues with 497 yards on 63 carries with six rushing touchdowns and Bradley Strong leads the Tornado receivers in catches with 10.
Lebanon’s weapons includes senior quarterback, Andrew Jessee, who has been averaging over 130 yards per game with tailback Dylan Smith coming out of the backfield.
“The senior leadership is helping us,” Adams said. “Andrew Jessee has about 700 yards this season and he’s thrown eight or nine touchdowns. Dylan Smith has rushed for about 800 yards this season and he had a great game against Virginia High.”
Cody Thomas leads the Richlands defense in tackles with 47 and Will Lowe has 33. Lowe and Cody Johnson lead the Tornado in sacks with 5.5 apiece.
“Teams like to run at us and we’ll give up a first down here or there,” Mance said. “But, we have a good defense and they keep people out of the end zone.”
Two road games and an open date has kept the Blue Tornado away from the comforts of home for a month and returning tonight to host the Pioneers is a welcome return.
“The kids like playing at Ernie Hicks Stadium,” Richlands head coach Greg Mance said. “They like the energy they feel from the fans and they like to play in front of a big crowd.”
“We have to play consistent and get into a good rhythm and cut out the penalties.”
