HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 994 Offered February 19, 2007 Commending the Riverheads High School football team. ---------- Patron-- Cline ----------

WHEREAS, the Riverheads High School football team won the Virginia High School League Group A, Division 1 state football championship on December 9, 2006, defeating J. I. Burton High School, 21–20; and

WHEREAS, the Riverheads Gladiators’ win capped a 13–1 season during which they captured the Shenandoah District title and the Region B championship; and

WHEREAS, the Riverheads Gladiators defeated Stonewall Jackson High School by a score of 10–8 in the Region B semifinal game; and

WHEREAS, the Riverheads Gladiators took on and defeated William Campbell High School by a score of 35–31 to claim the Region B championship; and

WHEREAS, the Riverheads Gladiators continued their climb to the championship by defeating Sussex Central High School 24–14 in the state semifinal game; and

WHEREAS, in the state championship game, the Riverheads Gladiators used their wing-T offense and crushing attack defense to outscore J. I. Burton High School 21–20 in a fiercely contested game; and

WHEREAS, the Riverheads Gladiators outscored their opponents 403–192 during the season; and

WHEREAS, the Riverheads Gladiators offense averaged an impressive 28.8 points per game over the course of the season while the defense allowed an average of only 13.7 points per game by opposing teams; and

WHEREAS, the Riverheads Gladiators finished the season 5–1 at home and claimed a perfect 8–0 record on the road; and

WHEREAS, the Riverheads Gladiators were ably led by Head Coach Robert Casto and a talented, dedicated assistant staff including Ray Norcross, Rodney Painter, Mike Hemp, Mitch Reynolds, Gene Wassick, Jack Preston, and Damian Eutsler, with athletic trainer Laura Wilkerson and team doctor H. Lynn Moore also providing assistance; and

WHEREAS, Head Coach Robert Casto took the Riverheads Gladiators to their second state title after also successfully coaching the 2000 state champion Riverheads team; and

WHEREAS, the Riverheads Gladiators claimed additional postseason honors when Coach Casto was named the Virginia High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year and 14 team members were named to the all-district team, nine were named to the all-Region B team, and five players were selected for the all-state team; and

WHEREAS, the outstanding victory of the 2006 Riverheads High School football team is a tribute to the talent, dedication, and perseverance of the players; and

WHEREAS, the Riverheads Gladiators are affectionately known as the “Red Pride” in their home community; and

WHEREAS, the ongoing support and enthusiasm of the students, parents, faculty, and staff of Riverheads High School, as well as the greater Augusta County community, encouraged the team members in their pursuit of the state title; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate the Riverheads High School Gladiators on their triumphant season and their successful effort to win the 2006 Virginia High School League Group A, Division 1 state football championship; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Coach Robert Casto and Athletic Director Matt Stevens on behalf of the “Red Pride” as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the commitment, dedication, and hard work that enabled the Riverheads High School Gladiators football team to secure the 2006 state championship.