Jefferson Forest rocks Rockbridge

FOREST — As if the unbearable humidity wasn’t enough to make Rockbridge’s game against Jefferson Forest miserable, the Cavaliers made sure the Wildcats knew they were going to be in for a long Friday night on the first play.

Rockbridge wide receiver JaQwan Biggs came in motion across the formation and took a handoff from quarterback Tyler Staton.

When Biggs saw that he couldn’t get to the sideline, he turned up field where he was met with a crushing blow from Forest linebacker Tyler Rosser.

“You always say the first play of the game is going to indicative of how the game is going to go,” Cavaliers coach Don Rice said. “There were some hits out there tonight.”

The Wildcats seemed in a fog the rest of the night and Jefferson Forest rumbled to a 40-6 victory.

“We are a hard-nosed team and we like to hit,” Cavaliers running back Desmond Goode said. “We played a team that likes to hit and we still won that matchup. We were more physical. That’s our nature.”

Forest’s defense harassed and pounded Rockbridge, holding the Wildcats to just 17 yards of offense in the first half.

The Wildcats didn’t get their first first down until there was 3:15 left in the third quarter and the Cavaliers leading 27-6.

Rockbridge gained just 128 yards of offense and had three first downs.

Jefferson Forest challenged the Wildcats’ four-wide receiver spread offense by crowding them at the line of scrimmage.

Often the Cavaliers’ deepest defender would be lined up less than eight yards off the ball.

Still, Jefferson Forest defensive backs dominated the Rockbridge receivers, picking off three passes and breaking up several other pass attempts.

“I have such faith in (defensive backs) Colby Rhodes, Brandon Harrison, Mark Carter and J.T. Jacobs,” Rice said. “They allow us to do things like that.”

The only highlight for Rockbridge was Biggs’ 70-yard punt return in the third.

Goode led Jefferson Forest with 24 carries for 169 yards and two touchdowns while battering his way through the Wildcats’ defense.

“(Goode) never goes down on the first hit,” Rice said.

The Cavaliers rushed 48 times for 275 yards. Jefferson Forest’s quarterback Hunter Hannell also was effective, completing seven of his 12 pass attempts for 159 yards.

He completed three passes to tight end Dustin Engledove for 48 yards, twice keeping the chains moving on touchdown-scoring drives in the first half.

“This is just a step towards our main goal of getting to the state championship,” Goode said. “We wanted to send a message that we will score points and still stop people.”

Said Rice: “I don’t know where to begin,” Rice said. “Desmond ran great, Rashad (Hall) ran great, Tyler Rosser ran great, Dustin Engledove had some big catches and ran over some people. The offensive line was just tremendous.”