Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 6, 1993 TAG: 9311060162
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MIKE ASHLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
Raypheal Milton did most of the damage in the first half, passing for 104 yards and rushing for 67, all before twisting an ankle just before halftime.
Twin brother Maurice came off the bench to rush seven times for 141 yards in the second half and the Spartans' Single Wing offense didn't miss a beat, accounting for 472 yards total offense.
"Whoever they had running the ball hurt us tonight," said Bill Strong, Grayson County's coach. "They just beat us bad in every phase of the game."
Giles (9-0 overall, 7-0 Mountain Empire) piled on the points early and often in running up a 29-6 halftime lead. The Spartans scored on their first three possessions, including a spectacular 44-yard scoring strike from Raypheal Milton to J.C. Riggs to open the scoring at the 8-minute, 18-second mark.
The Blue Devils (5-4, 4-3) fumbled on their next play from scrimmage. Five plays and 22 yards later, Giles led 14-0 when Raypheal Milton slashed in from 2 yards. Grayson County's Shane Griffith got off a 43-yard punt for the Blue Devils the next time their offense stalled, but Raypheal Milton overcame the poor field position with a 41-yard catch-and-run to Peter Janney. Another quick march, this one of five plays, ended with Janney's 2-yard scoring run as the Sprtans took a 21-0 lead.
Grayson County, despite totalling only 80 yards offense in the first half, drove 91 yards after the ensuing kickoff to make the score 21-6. Derek Vaughan, who jump-started the drive with a 38-yard gallop, carried the final 7 yards for the score.
With the score 21-6, Giles smartly moved 70 yards before its offense finally ran out of gas, Eric Montgomery stopping Raypheal Milton short on a fourth-down play. The Blue Devils' bad luck continued, though, when Griffith couldn't handle the deep snap in punt formation and was forced to step out of the end zone for a safety 5:22 before the half.
"We got off to a good start and got a couple of big plays early," said Steve Ragsdale, Giles' coach. "The offense looked sharp most of the night."
The Spartans' offense was particularly sharp early in the second half, even without Raypheal Milton. Kevin Slusser's 22-yard run set up a 1-yard plunge by Maurice Milton and a 37-6 lead at 8:45 of the third period. Maurice Milton added a 48-yard scoring run on Giles' next possession.
"I felt I had to go in there and do the job," said Maurice, who sees most of his action on defense. "The line just kept opening holes for me."
The Spartans' defense kept nimble Blue Devil quarterback Bobby Cheeks under wraps all night, limiting him to 6 yards on nine carries, including five sacks. Cheeks completed four of seven passes for 53 yards, and he did have a 12-yard touchdown run with 46 seconds left in the third quarter. Grayson
\ see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB