WDBJ 7 Friday Football Extra for 12/03/04

11:35 - 01

[Salem]

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Good evening everybody and welcome to Friday Football Extra's state semi-final preview show. In the next 30 minutes or so, we'll get you ready for the five games in this end of the state involving teams from the Friday Football Extra coverage area. Plus, we will of course meet the latest player of the week, and check in with a very special fan in Rural Retreat.
[GRAPHIC=SALEM/RICHLANDS]

We start in Group 2A Divison 4. Salem meets Richlands tomorrow at Hicks Field. The two teams met in this very same game back in 1992 in what turned out to be the cleat controversy where the Blue Tornado used illegal cleats on a muddy, snowy field. Steve Mason looks at the past and present.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=49-Steve Mason; ; :00]
[SUPER=51-Stephen Magenbauer/Salem Head Football Coach; :25]
[SUPER=53-Richlands/1992 Division IV Semifinals; :40]
[SUPER=53-Amherst/Region III Championship; :50]
[SUPER=51-Joey Daniels/Salem Linebacker; 1:05]
[SUPER=51-Matt Shawver/22 Touchdowns Passes This Season; 1:24]
[SUPER=51-Andre Hairston/1,128 Rushing Yards, 14 TD's ; 1:39]
[SUPER=54-2004 Division IV Championship/Bassett vs. Richlands; 1:59]
[SUPER=51-Dustin Pickle/Salem Linebacker; 2:19]
[RUNS=3:29]
[OUT Q=...friday football extra"]
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((The Salem road warriors next stop is unlike any other in over 10 years because of the cleat controversy that will always link the two schools. But as far as the 2004 Spartans and their first year head coach are concerned, it matters very little. ((:)) ((:)) ((:))
What does matter to Salem is playing with the same consitency and intensity that has earned the Spartans the Region III championship. That formula on offense includes a simple yet challenging philosophy. ((:)) ((:))
Shawver has played with the maturity of a college quarterback of late, racking up 1,991 passing yards, 22 touchdown tosses and and 11 interceptions in his senior season. Shawver and his offense face a Richlands defense that is giving up around 11 points a game. Salem's defense has allowed just over 10 points a game in its last three against Pulaski, Liberty and Amherst. Opposing teams have piled yards on the Spartans. Amherst running back Jonathan Rose racked up nearly 270 yards on the ground. But the Spartans could care less about yardage. ((DUSTIN PICKLE/SALEM LINEBACKER:))
Offensively, the Blue Tornado sets up in the I formation and will run shot gun. Thad Wells has rushed for 782 yards with `13 TD passes and 8 interceptions. Running back Cain Ringstaff carries the load with over 15 hundred rushing yards and 23 toucdowns.))

[Flashback]

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You never know who might end up in one of these state games in southwest Virginia thanks to strong line of coaches and players who continue working with young men generation after generation. Richlands head coach Greg Mance was not only a star baseball player at Virginia Tech - hitting 300 as a second baseman in the mid-80s - but he also played on the 1980 State Championship team in Football for Giles.
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[OUT Q=...A GOOD COACH."]
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When we come back we'll hear from Steve Ragsdale as he prepares for a Division Two battle with Powell Valley tomorrow.

Only 12 games remain statewide tomorrow. Here's a look at not only the team from our neck of the woods, but the statewide schedule for Division One through Division Six, with the home teams listed on the bottom of each matchup.
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[Gretna]

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Welcome back everybody to our Friday Football Extra state final four edition.
[GRAPHIC=GRETNA/TAZEWELL]
After traveling to Graham last year, Gretna will host Tazewell tomorrow at 1:30 at Bond Stadium in the Group 2A Division three semifinals. Steve Mason has our pre game notes from this one.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=49-Steve Mason; :08]
[SUPER=53-Lynchburg/2003 State Championship; :23]
[SUPER=51-Vic Hall/13,071 Career Offensive Yards; :32(QUICK!!!!!!!!!!!!)]
[SUPER=53-Gretna/Region III Semifinals; :36]
[SUPER=53-Christiansburg/Regional III Championship; :42]
[SUPER=51-Rob Senseney/Gretna Head Football Coach; 1:14]
[SUPER=53-Tazewell; 1:20]
[RUNS=2:11]
[OUT Q=.......friday football extra"]
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((STEVE MASON:)) ((VIC HALL/13,071 CAREER OFFENSIVE YARDS:))
((Not many teams have been able to slow Vic Hall and that is where the challenge for a talented Tazewell team starts. Christiansburg was in position to win in the Region III Division III championship, up by 10 points with under 9 muntes to play, but that is an eternity to Hall whose 6th touchdown of the night was the game winner with nine seconds remaining in a 49-42 win. Gretna has had a tendency in post season against Cave Spring and Christiansburg of starting slow. Credit the Knights and the Blue Demons who combined to outscore the Hawks 42 to 24 in the first half. ((ROB SENSENEY/GRETNA HEAD FOOTBALL COACH:)) ((:))
Tazewell's offsense is led by J.R. Reynolds. The running back has over 12 hundred yards and 15 touchdowns in the Bulldogs option offense which shifts to a power I. ((:)) hall's run at Bond Stadium ends saturday where he is 23 and 1 and his only loss came during the senior's freshman year.)) ((:)) ((:)) ((:))

[Giles]

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[anchor tag] In Division Two, Giles and Powell Valley will meet in Pearisburg Saturday at 1:30. The game will mark the fourth time that the two legendary programs have squared off in the final four. But this isn't your daddy' Powell Valley. Instead of lining up an runing down your throat - coach Phil Robbins is winging it.

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[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=51-Steve Ragsdale/Giles Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=53-Big Stone Gap/Last Saturday; :25]
[SUPER=51-Lorne Bowman/Giles Senior Guard; :41]
[SUPER=54-Giles In White; :48]
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[OUT Q=...TO BE WHERE WE ARE."]
((BITES:)) ((But really nothing has been easy for this edition of the Bandana Express. Giles opened the season losing its first two games to Blacksburg and Christiansburg, but has since reeled off 10 straight wins, with most of the final five coming in pressure packed do or die situations.)) ((RAGSDALE:))
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[GRAPHIC=GILES/POWELL]
This is a classic matchup for old school football fans in the area because since 1986 - Giles and Powell Valley have combined to win six state titles. By the way - this is Giles first appearance in the semi-finals since 2000, when the Spartans lost to Honaker, which at the time was quarterbacked by UVa's Heath Miller.

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Friday Football Extra's previews will shift to the division one ranks and Rural Retreat and William Campbell have a chance to make it an all-area final. More one those games when we return from this wuick commercial break. [GO TO BREAK]

[Campbell]

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Friday Football Extra's state semi-finals special is working its way through the division from four to one.
[GRAPHIC=William Campbell/Franklin]
In one of the Group A Division one state semifinals, William Campbell matches up against Franklin in a 1:30 kickoff in Franklin which is located about 20 miles from Suffolk and 45 miles from Norfolk. Steve Mason has our preview.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=53-Naruna; :00]
[SUPER=51-Brad Bradley/William Campbell Head Football Coach; :08]
[SUPER=53-Harrisonburg/2002 State Championship; :18]
[SUPER=51-Danny Broggin/William Campbell Quarterback; :45]
[SUPER=49-Steve Mason; 1:36]
[SUPER=51-Michael Lane/William Campbell Nose Guard; 1:52]
[SUPER=53-Sussex/Franklin vs. Sussex Central; 2:00]
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[OUT Q=.....Friday Football Extra"]

((After arriving in Naruna five years ago, William Campbell head coach Brad Bradley has won three straight Region B titles and a state championship. ((BRAD BRADLEY/WILLIAM CAMPBELL HEAD COACH:))
Ironically, capturing a second state title is linked to that 2002 victory at James Madison University in which the Generals defeated Appalachia 70 to nothing. Quarterback Shea Boyd was the offensive General of that William Campbell team. Boyd, Now beginning a a college quarterbacking football career at Virginia State shared some very important knowledge with this seasons quarterback, Danny Broggin. ((DANNY BROGGIN/WILLIAM CAMPBELL JUNIOR QUARTERBACK:))
Broggin's play Saturday will be key. In their early October meeting, he engineered a 28-6 lead against defending double A state champion Gretna but five interceptions helped the Hawks come back to win 50 to 20. However, Broggin has grown up tremendously since then. ((:)) ((:)) ((STEVE MASON:)) ((:)) ((:))
Babb has rushed for over 1600 hundred yards and has nearly 30 touchdowns. In the Generals 44-8 Region B title win over Stonewall Jackson, the only minor concern might be that they allowed 291 yards on the ground. ((:)) Franklin head coach Darren Parker has led the Broncos to their first state semi final in school history after beating defending state champion Sussex Central 17-nothing. The win avenged the Broncos only loss of the season to the Tigers which ended in a bench clearing brawl. Who will win the fight between a power run team and a spread offense tomorrow at 1:30 at Armory Filed in Franklin is yet to be determined. In Naruna, Steve Mason Friday Football Extra. ))

[Retreat]

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[GRAPHIC=Rural Retreat/J.I. Burton]

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In the other Group A, Division One Semifinals, 7 and 5 Rural Retreat hits the road for Wise to square off with 9 and 3 J.I. Burton. The Raiders are the back to back Region D, Division One Champs. Travis Wells has more on the first post season meeting between the two teams since the inception of the two-division system in 1986.
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[SUPER=49-Travis Wells; :00]
[SUPER=51-Quinton Hensley/First Year Rural Retreat Head Coach; :11]
[SUPER=53-Wise/Region D, Division 1 Championship; :31]
[SUPER=51-Matthew Heldreth/Rural Retreat Quarterback/Def. Back; :51 REALLY QUICK!!]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=Friday Football Extra."]
((Travis: Rural Retreat has won five regional titles in school history, but never played in the state championship. To do so this year, the Indians will have to win a third straight game on the road.))

[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD RURAL RETREAT/JI BURTON]
By the way Hensley also is the Rural Retreat head girls basketball coach - and is having to defer to his assistants until football season ends.

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When we come back we'll check in with this week's player of the week and the meet one of Southwest Virginia's Super Fans. But first here's one more look at the statewide schedule for semi-final Saturday.
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[Player]

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It's time now for our Player of the Week segment. Rural Retreat's Matthew Heldreth [TAKE HELDRETH HEAD SHOT]
led his team past Parry McCluer last week, becoming the fourth Indian in the history of Friday Football Extra to claim the award. As Travis Wells explains, Heldreth has relied on hard work and toughness, two trademarks that are quite common in the small community.
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[SUPER=53-Buena Vista/Region C, Division 1 Championship; :00]
[SUPER=51-Matthew Heldreth/2 TD Passes, 1 TD Rushing vs. PM; :21]
[SUPER=51-Quinton Hensley/Rural Retreat Head Coach; :47]
[SUPER=49-Travis Wells; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:56]
[OUT Q=Friday Football Extra."]

((Matthew Heldreth did just that against Parry McCluer, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another in the 38 to 19 win. It was the Indians first regional title in five years. Heldreth is the unquestioned leader of Rural Retreat's youthful bunch, a team that has only 6 seniors.
Matthew: Quinton: Travis: Quinton: Matthew:
In between the farm chores, Heldreth hopes to lead his team to a state title. And with 2 more years in an Indians uniform, Rural Retreat fans have plenty to look forward to. Travis Wells, Friday Football Extra.))

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The high school playoffs wouldn't be compete with the fans, and Rural Retreat has one of most loyal followers you've ever seen. His story when Friday Football Extra's state semi-final Friday continues here on Your Hometown Station. [GO TO BREAK]

[SUPER FAN]

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[GRAPHIC=Rural Retreat/J.I. Burton]

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Rural Retreat fans will travel in droves tomorrow to Wise to watch the Indians face off against J.I. Burton. One in particular, will have prime travel arrangements on the team bus. Travis Wells has the story of Walter Wynn, the Indians super fan.
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[SUPER=53-Rural Retreat; :00]
[SUPER=51-Quinton Hensley/Rural Retreat Head Coach; :38]
[SUPER=51-Matthew Heldreth/Rural Retreat Quarterback; :56 QUICK!]
[SUPER=51-Chubeye/Indians Biggest Fan; 1:02]
[SUPER=51-Dean Rhea/Former Rural Retreat Head Coach; 2:10]
[SUPER=49-Travis Wells; 2:30]
[RUNS=2:40]
[OUT Q=Friday Football Extra."]

((Nats: Chubeye moves a little slower these days, and his physical challenges might show a bit more. But to former head coach Dean Rhea, the Rural Retreat community, school and football team, he is their heart, soul, and inspiration. His real name is Walter Wynn and he's become the Indians biggest supporter.
Quinton: Matthew: Chubeye: get fired up.
Chubeye embodies the personna of this year's Indian team--underestimated, yet overachieving. Rural Retreat got into the playoffs with a 5 and 5 record, and the Indians just keep on winning and defying the odds.
Chubeye: go all the way.
He might not know all the x's and o's of the game, but you can bet that Chubeye is well aware of what's going on.
Quinton: Chubeye:mean world to me.
Rhea took Chubeye under his wing during his 19 year tenure. Rhea is also a former teammate of Survivor castaway Big Tom. But in Rural Retreat, even Big Tom takes a back seat to Chubeye.
Dean: Chubeye:
Travis:))

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[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]
Thanks so much Trav. That does it for this edition of Friday Football Extra. We'll have highlights of the semi-final action for Saturday night on News 7 at 11, plus reports from the Orange Bowl in Miami as the Hokie take on the Hurricanes. Folks, have a great weekend. We'll see you next Friday night for the final show of the season - a preview of the state championship games. Good night. [GO TO BREAK]