WDBJ 7 Friday Football Extra for 12/04/98

[Salem]

[ANCHOR=Mike]

[NEWSCAST=ffe]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=FFE-7]
[GRAPHIC=FFE BIG]

Good evening everybody and welcome to Friday Football Extra's state championship preview show!
This is our 16th show of the season, and as you know we are down to just three teams from the coverage area.
Tomorrow afternoon Amherst Co., Salem and Rustburg will try to bring home the gold.
[graphic=salem/lafayette]

The Salem Spartans face a challenge and a half tomorrow from a Lafayette team that is like Salem is also 13-and-0.
That game is for the Division Four state title.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=50-Matt Anderson/Salem Co-Captain; :16]
[SUPER=50-Willis White/Salem Head Coach; :25]
[SUPER=51-Orange/Last Saturday; :50]
[SUPER=50-Jamie Garst/Salem Co-Captain; 1:35]
[RUNS=2:05]
[OUT Q=...TO YOUNGSTERS."]
(--------------)
((This showdown is almost too easy to pick apart on paper. Salem comes into the game with 9 shutouts in 13 games while Lafayette come in averaging 46 points a game on the year. ((MATT ANDERSON/SALEM CO-CAPTAIN:)) ((WILLIS WHITE/SALEM HEAD COACH:))
The Rams have three backs who can fly, but the biggest concern is fullback Ryan Thompson. ((WILLIS WHITE:))
Just making it to tomorrow's state title game won't be enough for the thousand of fans who will make the trip up 81 tomorrow.
But pressure is nothing new to this bunch.)) ((JAMIE GARST/SALEM CO-CAPTAIN:)) ((WILLIS WHITE/SALEM HEAD COACH:))
(---------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=SALEM/LAFAYETTE]

Tomorrow's game is begin played at Turner Ashby high school in Dayton up in Rockingham Co.
It's an easy two hour drive up Interstate 81 North. Once you get off the Bridgewater exit just go straight ast the college and turn right on route 42.
It's less than five miles after you get off the Bridgwater College exit.

[Cheer]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=ffe]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=FFE-8]
[GRAPHIC=SALEM]

White and his staff have also tried to lessen some of the constant pressure on their kids by turning back the clock.

They sing, celebrate and cheer just like their coach did, but with a few variations.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="In 1994...]
[RUNS=:44]
[OUT Q=...hip, hip Salem."]
(-------------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=salem]

So far the Spartans have performed that chant 13 times this season. They do it at 50 yard line at the end of each g

ame. By doing the cheer the players say they claim that field as their own after each win.[Board-Bump]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=ffe]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=ffe-17]
[GRAPHIC=ffe logo]

Rustburg and Amherst will jump in the spotlight in just moment, but first we need to take a look at the statewide schedule of champioship games set for tomorrow afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=51-Salem/This Afternoon; :00]

And also take a peek at what went on inside Salem High School this afternoon as the students took part in a pep rally to get the Spartans umped up for tomorrow's big game against Lawrence Taylor's alma mater. [NAT SOUND FOR A LITTLE BIT]
[runs=:08]
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[go to pinnacle]
[runs=:30]
[oc...last board]
(------------)
[go to break]

[Amherst]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=FFE]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=FFE-10]
[GRAPHIC=Amherst/Hampton]

A rules change moved the Amherst County Lancers from Group two A to Group Three A.
While the school wasn't happy with the re-classification, this Saturday the undefeated Lancers will play Hampton for the Division Five state champinship. Roy Stanley has more.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="The Lancers...]
[SUPER=51-Amherst/Last Saturday; :00]
[SUPER=50-Mickey Crouch/Amherst Head Coach; :14]
[SUPER=50-Senica Sandidge/Amherst Tailback; :42]
[SUPER=51-Norfolk/Last Season; 1:09]
[SUPER=59-Roy Stanley; 1:55]
[RUNS=2:05]
[OUT Q=....football extra."]
((The Lancers 13 and 0 season started shortly after the school was informed that it would be moved to the Group Three A classification.)) ((MICKEY CROUCH/AMHERST HEAD COACH:)) ((And the Lancers responded like champions. They cruised through the Western District claiming that championship.
And through the last four games the Lancers have played like true champions coming from behind to keep their state title hopes alive.)) ((SENICA SANDIDGE/AMHERST TAILBACK:)) ((CROUCH:)) ((Amherst will take its talent and character to the Tidewater area on Saturday to take on the defending champion Hampton Crabbers.
The Lancers say they will not be intimdated by the Crabbers tradition but they will still have to face the team at Norfolk State only minutes away from Hampton High School.)) ((CROUCH:)) ((ROY STANDUP:))
(-------------)

[Killer]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=ffe]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=FFE-]
[GRAPHIC=SALEM/HAMPTON]

If anyone has a unique perspective on this game and a genuine interest in the outcome, it's William Fleming head coach George Miller.
His Colonels ended last year by losing to Hampton in the state final, and his team began this season by getting shutout by Amherst.
One thing he can tell the Amherst folks is this; Norfolk ain't even close to being a nuetral site.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=50-George "Kila" Miller/Fleming Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=...tomorrow at 4."]
((GEORGE MILLER:)) (( Miller admits that the Crabbers antics frustrated his team last year, and he certain Amherst will feel much of that same frustration once Hampton's taunting begins.
But he's pulling for the Lancers to turn Tidewater upside down. ((GEORGE MILLER:))
And the shock squad loaded up the bus and rolled out of Amherst County just before lunchtime today.
They'll spend the night away from home and then look to take care of businesss tomorrow at four.))

[2-Board-Bump]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=ffe]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=FFE LOGO]

When we come back we will check in on the Rustburg red Devils who go for the gold in Division Three tomorrow.
But first tomorrow on Your Hometown Station
(-------------)
[pinnacle 7501]
don't forget we will have the annual Army-Navy game for you at high Noon.
Then on Sunday be sure to join us for an AFC
(-------------)
[pinnacle 7503]
doubleheader as Pittsburgh and New England continue their drive to make the playoffs and the Broncos look to stay unbeaten against the Cheifs.
More FFE right after this break.
(-------------)
[go to break]

[Rustburg]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=FFE]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=FFE-12]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

Welcome back folks as we now turn our attention to tomorrow's division three championship game.
[graphic=rustburg/nottoway]

Hard work and confidence have been trademarks of the Rustburg football team this season.
And Roy Stanley says the Red Devils will need those same ingredients tomorrow afternoon when they go up against undefeated Nottoway in a game that's being played at Charlottesville high school.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Throughout the...]
[SUPER=51-Rustburg/Last Saturday; :00]
[SUPER=50-Mike Scharnus/Rustburg Head Coach; :14]
[SUPER=50-Justin Plymale/Rustburg Lineman; :50]
[SUPER=59-Roy Stanley; 1:38]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=...football extra."]
((Throughout the playoffs, The Red Devils have been performing like a team of champiionship caliber.
And that Performance points to confidence and the hard work the team has done under head coach Mike Scharnus.)) ((MIKE SCHARNUS/RUSTBURG HEAD COACH;)) ((And last week in the regional championship game against Graham the Red Devils did everything right.
They stopped Graham's powerful running game and beat the G-Men 42 to 7.
And while it was an easy win the team continued go gain confidence for the state championship game.)) ((SCHARNUS:)) ((JUSTIN PLYMALE/RUSTBURG LINEMAN:)) ((The Red Devils hope to continue that togetherness for one more game.
Rustburg has the task of beating and undefeated Nottoway team in the state championship game.)) ((SCHARNUS:)) ((ROY STANLEY:))
(------------)

[Player]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=ffe]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=PLAYER]
[GRAPHIC=PLAYER OF WEEK]

Earlier this year, Rustburg's Andre Morgan picked up our player of the week honor.
[graphic=bruce]

And tonight the honor goes to a Salem Spartan. This is the first time all season that an individual off of the Spartans' balanced team has won the award.
Safety Blake Bruce picks up the plaque after cleaming up against Martinsville.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=51-Martinsville/November 28th; :00]
[SUPER=50-Willis White/Salem Head Coach; :35]
[SUPER=50-Blake Bruce/FFE Player of the Week; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=...GOTTA WORK HARD]
(--------------)
(( With Dan Greene Stadium jacked up in anticipation of a Bulldog upset, Bruce ruined what was without question the Dogs best chance skipping past Salem when Bruce caught Wes Gravely from behind on just second play from scrimmage. ((BLAKE BRUCE/FFE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:))
But it has taken more than just adreneline for Bruce to become a key part of the Salem Defense that so far in 98 has posted 9 shutouts. ((WILLIS WHITE/SALEM HEAD COACH:))
Against Martinsville, Bruce had a team high 14 tackles and a key pass breakup as he and his teammates held Marcus Hairston to a season low 55 yards.)) ((BLAKE BRUCE:)) ((WILLIS WHITE:)) ((BLAKE BRUCE:))

[3-Board-Bump]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=ffe]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=ffe logo]

In just a moment we'll give you an early Christmas present as we get unlimited access with an area team to let you know what goes on inside the huddle and inside a coach's head on Friday nights. [go to break]

[Craig]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=ffe]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=FFE-18]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

Time now for something just a little bit different. While 12 teams across the state are playing for state championship tomorrow, only six will win.
And there are hundreds of other schools that didn't even make to the playoffs.
[graphic=craig county]

One of those is Group A member Craig County. The Rockets have won just 16 games and lost 92 since the team debuted back in 1988.
That means in 11 years they have only three more wins than their nearby neighbor Salem has this season alone.
Earlier this year Friday Football Extra's Greg Moore went inside the Craig huddle to give us an inside look at a bunch of guys who are real winners, even though they rarely prove it on the scoreboard.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=51-New Castle; :00]
[SUPER=50-Mike Bryant/Craig County Junior; :38]
[SUPER=50-Kenny Kendall/Craig County Tailback; 1:34]
[SUPER=50-Jake Robertson/Craig County Lineman; 2:45]
[super=50-Jeremy Howell/Craig County Linebacker; 3:27]
[RUNS=4:14]
[OUT Q=...CELEBRATION FADE OUT.]
(--------------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=craig county]

In case you were wondering, Craig County's enrollment for grades 10 through 12 is just 125 kids. Of those, only 58 are boys.
We'd like to thank head coach Phillip King for his help with the story.
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

When we come back we'll have your game day forecasts for tomorrow and meet the grand prize winner of our Friday Football Extra trivia contest.

[go to break][Fiesta]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=ffe]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=FFE-14]
[GRAPHIC=ffe logo]

Welcome back everybody.
If you have been with us all year long you doubt know that one of the ways we have celebrated our 15th anniversary season is by giving away an all-expense paid trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
We had 12 weekly winners with our Trivia questions and in the end Ron Epperly won the big prize.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=50-Ron Epperly/Fiesta Bowl Grand Prize Winner; :00 ]
[super=51-Martinsville; :19]
[RUNS=1:00]
[OUT Q=...CAN ASSURE YOU."]
(--------------)
((RON EPPERLY/FIESTA BOWL GRAND PRIZE WINNER:)) (( Besides being a big booster of the Martinsville Bulldogs, Epperly is also the assistant supintendent of school in Martinsville and very faithful follower of Friday Football Extra. ((RON EPPERLY:))
That loyalty is conmendable, but Epperly is the first to admit that sometimes you also need a little luck.)) ((RON EPPERLY:))

[Weather]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=ffe]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=ffe-15]
[GRAPHIC=ffe]

One man who never relies on luck is meterologist Robin Reed, who joins us with tomorrow's smoking game day forecasts.

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=59-Robin Reed; :00]
[RUNS=:40]
[OUT Q=...]
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[talent=mike]
.
Have a safe weekend everybody and thanks for watching. [go to close and credits]