The Hidden Valley passing game came up with two big plays Friday night at Dwight Bogle Stadium. Unfortunately for the Titans, their rushing game was virtually ground to a halt by River Ridge foe Christiansburg as the Blue Demons pulled out the 27-14 win.
In signature Christiansburg style, the Blue Demons used a relentless ground game to roll out to a 17-0 lead. The Blue Demons took the opening kickoff and drove to the Hidden Valley 12-yard line before the drive stalled and they settled for a Jake Hamley 29-yard field goal. After Hidden Valley was held to three-and-out on their first possession, Christiansburg followed with a drive that was culminated by a Tanner Reed 4-yard touchdown run that put the Blue Demons up 10-0
Christiansburg made it 17-0 midway through the second quarter on a Mack Muldoon score and Hidden Valley was in a hole that proved to be too much to overcome against the stingy Blue Demon defense.
The Titan passing game made things interesting in the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Jake Smiley connected on a 70-yard bomb to receiver Dean Sayers that cut the Blue Demon lead to 17-7 with just over four minutes left in the half.
That score stood until the fourth quarter when Christiansburg went up 24-7 after a methodical 80-yard drive that ended with Blue Demon quarterback Charlie Johnson scoring from 1-yard out.
Smiley and Sayers connected for the second time on a 65-yard hookup later in the fourth, cutting the Hidden Valley deficit to 24-14, but Christiansburg ran the clock down before Hamley hit on a 39-yard field goal to secure the final margin.
Christiansburg dominated in the rushing game with a 296-39 advantage over the Titans. Sayers led the Titan receiving game with 145 yards on three catches that included the two TDs.
– Bill Turner
