Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 14, 1993 TAG: 9310160126
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
It certainly didn't feel very good, but the alternative was worse.
The Buffaloes' unpleasant awakening came in the second game of the season. They were coming off a 20-14 victory over Glenvar and were feeling rather chipper about their place in the world.
Then the walls came tumbling down like the work of a drunken bricklayer.
The next week, invaders rode up the mountain to Floyd in yellow school buses. Giles. The guys in red, sky blue and white. The ones who can play a little football.
Things went poorly for the Buffaloes to the tune of 137 total yards managed to 320 surrendered in a 29-6 thrashing.
Illusions shattered like fine china on flagstones. Reality set in.
"It really opened our eyes," said Monty Moran, the Buffaloes' quarterback. "We weren't as good as we thought we were after beating Glenvar."
What followed was a renewal of resolve, a rededication to labor - as well as a four-game winning streak.
"That game really woke us up," said Winfred Beale, Floyd's coach. "Giles physically dominated us. There's really no other way to put it. Since then, we've really gotten better every game."
Everybody's gotten better, and it shows in an analysis of the statistics. Off a roster of 27, just about all have contributed. Three fullbacks, two tailbacks, two wingbacks and two quarterbacks have combined to produce an average of 210 yards per game and a total of 14 touchdowns.
The line has distinguished itself on both sides of the ball.
"The line has gotten 100 percent better since the Giles game," Moran said.
For the views of a lineman on the subject, senior Charles Blackwell came forward.
"During our scrimmages and in the Glenvar game, we never saw as good a quality line as what Giles had," he said. "We weren't ready. Since then, we've learned we have to attack and not sit back and patty-cake block like we had been doing."
It goes on. Seven players have scored touchdowns. Ten have had rushing attempts. Six have caught passes. Twenty have made tackles.
This from a team that lost 16 seniors a year ago after going 7-3 and falling one victory short of qualifying for the Group A Division 2 playoffs.
"We're just a bunch of blue-collar people who have jelled," Beale said. "We're definitely not overly talented, but we work hard."
Moran, a three-year starter, is one of a core of seniors who have made things go. He has thrown for 308 yards and three touchdowns while completing 50 percent of his passes. He has accounted for 407 yards of total offense and scored six times.
Other key seniors include Jason Harman, who has five catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns and also plays defense. Guards Josh Howery and Matt Tolbert have, along with Blackwell, anchored the line. Backs Winky Nichols and Mike Weeks have solidified the rushing attack. They alternated at fullback last year, but Nichols moved to tailback this year where he's averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
Nichols also has taken over the kicking duties from Evan Arno, a hero more than once in a high school career that ended last season. Nichols, who had never kicked, was rough at first.
"It was kind of like Russian roulette," Beale said.
But Nichols settled down to hit nine consecutive extra-point attempts.
A lot of help has arrived in new players or those just off the junior varsity. Gary Chaffin came off the JV team to play middle linebacker and lead the team in tackles. Another JV graduate, linebacker Peter Bucklin, has been one of the team's most versatile performers.
Phillip Marshall and Joe Kiser, both seniors, hadn't played football for a while, but Marshall earned a job playing tight end and Kiser is starting on the line. Jason Pratt had never played football before, but superior athletic ability landed him a job as a starting flanker and his prospects appear bright.
Then there is Jamie Warren, another recent JV player who leads the team in rushing (213 yards), kickoff returns (17.5 yards per return), punt returns (21.3 per return) and is second on the team in touchdowns with three.
"I didn't think it was going to be as easy as it has been," Warren said.
Things figure to get harder soon enough. Floyd County still has important Mountain Empire District games left with Narrows and Grayson County and another tough game with Group AA Radford. Still, if the Buffs can handle Grayson and Narrows as well as win the games it's favored in, the playoffs could again be within reach.
For now, Floyd County can enjoy what it's accomplished.
Said Moran: "It's been a real pleasant surprise."
by CNB