SHOCK & AWE: Dan River unloads on unsuspecting Chatham

RINGGOLD — Dan River made some major changes in their bye week and it showed Monday night when they trounced Chatham 46-0.

The Wildcats (2-2, 1-0) switched an outside linebacker, Trey Edmunds, to quarterback and moved their original signal caller, Kevin Eldridge, to wide receiver. The switch worked well, with Edmunds throwing for 116 yards and three touchdowns in addition to a single rushing score. Eldridge benefited from the switch as well by hauling in two touchdown passes and rushing for another against the Cavaliers (1-4, 0-1).

“We took a week off and came back,” Dan River coach Ferrell Edmunds said. “We tried to spread them out. Before they were having five or six guys in the box. We just tried to get the ball out to our speedsters and let them make plays.”

Dan River found the end zone on its first play from scrimmage.

The Wildcats assumed possession on the Chatham 25-yard line following a botched fake punt attempt from the Cavaliers and Edmunds scampered into the end zone with 9:47 remaining in the first quarter.

“I started on a bad note with that fake punt,” Chatham coach Malon Dalton said. “It could’ve been either a spark plug or result in a turnover. They sniffed it out and took advantage.”

Dan River scored 25 points in the second quarter, including a 34-yard touchdown pass from Edmunds to Eldridge with 30 seconds remaining in the half to put the Wildcats up 32-0.

In the fourth quarter, Chatham managed to move the ball down to the Dan River 30-yard line when the Wildcats’ Brian Murphy intercepted a Buzz Keel pass at the 1-yard line, putting an end to Chatham’s most successful drive of the ball game.

Coach Edmunds was pleased with his team’s all-around performance.

“We came out and threw the ball well,” Edmunds said. “When you can just drop back and throw it opens up the running game. After that, the run becomes more of a factor.

“With our attack we’re still a power running team,” Edmunds said. “If we can’t throw the ball a little, they will stack the box. We made some changes and definitely got the ball down the field.”

Dalton, on the other hand, wasn’t as thrilled with the Cavaliers.

“We just didn’t execute and didn’t play hard,” Dalton said. “We need people who are willing to use their shoulder pads. We’re not very deep and need to have confidence in young guys to step up and get yards.

“We did have a few freshmen come in and play hard. Joey Cline ran the ball hard and we used the bubble they gave us up front,” Dalton said.

Edmunds feels good about his team’s chances heading into district play.

“Anytime you can win a district game it feels good,” Edmunds said. “We are trying to build a program and tonight our kids showed they want to be a good team. Any time a team plays like this in district play, it is a good step.”