Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 10, 1993 TAG: 9309090163
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-14 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With stud tailback and pass specialist Raypheal Milton nursing the battle scars of a preseason scrimmage, the Giles land offensive appeared stalled and its air attack grounded. The highly touted enemy, Blacksburg, rolled into town with a loaded arsenal.
"Go tell the Spartans," the cry went out, "to pack it in."
Problem was, Janney never heard the retreat order. The senior back-of-all-trades deserved a medal for being a foot soldier on offense and a one-man deterrent on defense. He rushed for 120 yards, scored a touchdown and registered 10 tackles in a 21-12 season-opening win over the favored Indians, the Spartans' first victory over Blacksburg since 1986.
"We were wanting to beat them pretty bad," said Janney, normally a wingback in the Giles single-wing set. "We were pretty pumped up."
Janney's enthusiasm showed on the first series of the game, when he rushed for 63 yards on a 72-yard drive and scored a touchdown and a conversion that put the reigning Mountain Empire District champions ahead of the defending New River District champs, 8-0.
"That first drive was important," said Giles coach Steve Ragsdale. "It gave the players confidence in what they were doing."
Janney was confident at tailback, having practiced there all week knowing that Milton probably wouldn't be able to play. Milton had a sore shoulder but entered the game late in the first half and threw a touchdown pass and ran for another. Milton also completed a 15-yard pass to Janney in the second half.
"We're a team," said Janney, who hadn't played tailback since he was on junior varsity. "We're not just one or two guys."
Janney was everywhere. Blacksburg ran up 147 yards of offense on the night, 72 of those coming on one possession. A linebacker, Janney was a field leader in the department of defense.
"Those 10 tackles were legitimate," said Ragsdale. "We counted them off the tape. I read some of these tackling totals [from other schools] and they're absurd. Peter had 10 legitimate tackles and they were good licks."
This Friday at Floyd County, Janney will probably be removed from command of the offensive troops as Milton returns to tailback.
"I'll still do whatever I need to do," Janney said. "I just want to play."
To paraphrase what Kipling said about his hero Gunga Din: "You're a better man than I, Peter Janney."
Other notable performances from last week:
Radford's Casey Underwood did everything but sell concessions in the Bobcats' 30-0 mashing of Covington, a victory that equaled Radford's entire win total of last year. The senior quarterback and placekicker was responsible for all of Radford's points - he threw for two touchdowns, ran for two others and kicked a 31-yard field goal. He completed 11 of 15 passes for 136 yards.
Andre Eaves of Pulaski County scored three touchdowns, including one on an 80-yard fumble recovery, in the Cougars' 49-12 butchering of Anacostia.
Floyd County quarterback Monty Moran ran for 102 yards, scored two touchdowns - one of them a 66-yard jaunt - and threw for another in the Buffaloes' impressive 20-14 win over Glenvar.
Speedy Christiansburg tailback Andra Beasley gained 104 yards on 15 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns in the Blue Demons' wild 57-41 loss to Alleghany.
by CNB