Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 11, 1993 TAG: 9311120071
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: S-15 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That's the word from Marshall Johnson, former state sports editor for The Associated Press. Johnson calculates the standings each week and predicts, as closely as possible, which teams have the best chance of making the playoffs.
As always, Johnson has a few surprises. The most unexpected is Region III, where at last look it appeared Liberty was out and Salem had to beat Northside to make the playoffs.
Salem, though, is in the Region III Division 4 playoffs no matter what the Spartans do Friday against Northside if Amherst County beats Brookville.
Salem will go as Blue Ridge District champion if it beats the Vikings. If the Spartans lose, they'll be a wild-card team if the Bees fall to Amherst County.
Now for Liberty, which appeared to be down and out after losing 41-14 at Amherst County on Friday. When Jefferson Forest shocked unbeaten Rustburg on the Red Devils' field, it gave the Minutemen new life.
Liberty makes the playoffs if Salem, Jefferson Forest and Amherst County win. The Minutemen must do their part by beating Altavista.
Rockbridge County can only go as the Blue Ridge champion, but more about that later.
In Group AAA's Northwestern Region, Pulaski County has already clinched the top spot in Division 6 and a home game in any regional contest it plays regardless of the Cougars' game against Cave Spring Friday.
In Division 5, fans should keep an eye on Patrick Henry's clash with archrival William Fleming at Victory Stadium.
Johnson hates to predict this part of the Northwestern Region. However, Johnson says Patrick Henry, by his figuring, is in the playoffs regardless. William Fleming needs to win in order to make post season play.
There's also a possibility that if Fleming does beat PH and make the playoffs, the teams will meet again the next week.
In Group AA Region III Division 3, the winner of the Magna Vista-Martinsville game Friday will be top-seeded and play all regional games at home. The loser will go to the playoffs as the second seed.
Jefferson Forest is in, and Laurel Park has a chance to make the playoffs as the fourth team. Tunstall and Chatham are the teams battling the Lancers.
Region IV?
"I'm so confused," Johnson said. "Throw Richlands out [the Blue Tornado is on probation] and you have nothing left. They're all so close."
Of course Blacksburg is in the Region IV Division 4 playoffs as the New River District champion. As the only district champion, the Indians (5-5) will be top-seeded and at home for any regional games they play.
Carroll County, which has finished its season, has a shot in Division 4. The Cavaliers only have a chance to make the playoffs if Marion and/or Lee lose Friday. However, both those schools are favored, so the Cavaliers' chances are not good.
Radford and Christiansburg are alive in Division 3. Radford has the edge if the Bobcats upset Graham on Friday. Christiansburg must beat William Byrd and then hope either Radford or Tazewell loses.
The only thing Johnson is sure about is Region C. Giles and George Wythe top Division 2, with both contending for the top seed this week as they try to remain unbeaten. They'll be joined by Lebanon and Chilhowie.
In Division 1, Parry McCluer would likely be the top team if it beats Glenvar. The Fighting Blues will be joined by Bath County, Narrows and Rural Retreat in an all-Timesland playoff bracket.
Remember, all this is unofficial. If you're looking for a sure bet, there's no such thing in predicting playoff teams.
Coach Mike Scharnus thought his Liberty team was out after its loss to Amherst County, only to discover the Minutemen still have a shot.
\ NEW PLAYOFF POINTS: This year,the Virginia High School League started awarding playoff points for victories over teams from other states. Pulaski County found a gold mine in Anacostia, a team from Washington, D.C.
Anacostia played its 11th game Saturday, so the Cougars might have had an extra contest to get a point toward a favorable playoff spot. Not to worry, though. Under VHSL rules, only Anacostia's first 10 games counted toward the playoff ratings.
\ THOSE WILDCATS: Now more about Rockbridge County's playoff bid.
The Wildcats finished the regular season Friday by beating Western Albemarle. Rockbridge County's playoff hopes depend on Northside upsetting Salem. If that happens, the Wildcats will have sole possession of the Blue Ridge District title and go to the Group AA Division 4 playoffs.
If Salem wins,the teams will tie for the Blue Ridge District title. The Spartans will go to the playoffs because they will have the higher VHSL points rating.
Rockbridge County won't have enough points to qualify as a wild-card team because it played a pair of Group A teams.
No matter what happens, this has been a tremendous year for Rockbridge County. It started with an upset of Northside and a 20-14 loss to Salem, which looms large now.
"They've really surprised me," coach Jamie Talbott said of his Wildcats. "We lost 22 seniors from last year's squad, but we've had a lot of young players step forward and play above expectations."
Talbott has earned a reputation for turning underdogs into giant-killers. Before becoming the first head coach at Rockbridge County, he built Natural Bridge -one of the state's smallest schools playing football at the time -into a respectable Pioneer District team that challenged the likes of perennial power Parry McCluer.
When Talbott was named coach at Rockbridge County, few thought that school -made up of students from the former Natural Bridge,Lexington and Rockbridge high schools, would challenge the Blue Ridge District powers.
After only two years, the Wildcats are well-respected and regarded as an up-and-coming program.
Talbott says sophomores Travis Tomlin (defensive tackle), Matt Kave (defensive end), Chad Brown (defensive back) and Jason Hartless (offensive tackle) have come through in a big way.
"Last year, I left most of my sophomores on the junior varsity, but this year I decided to bring up these sophomores," Talbott said.
This year's team has been led by some of last year's sophomores, including offensive tackle Chris Crawford, fullback-linebacker David Long, nose guard Robert Lipscomb and return specialist Gary Tyree. Rockbridge County still has 15 seniors and Talbott will lose half of his starters.
"We've got kids who played as juniors last year,but have taken a big step in one year for making big contributions," he said.
Among those are running back-defensive back-return man Kenny Lewis, running back Woody Newman, quarterback Scotty Rogers and defensive end-tight end Scotty Hatcher.
"Scotty [Rogers] didn't play but one game last year," Talbott said. "But he's stepped in and been a leader for us."
But now the Wildcats can only watch.
"This is probably the toughest part of the season," Talbott said. "But it's welcome, because we want a week off to be healthy and prepare for the playoffs."
That's Talbott, always optimistic,which is one of the reasons his teams are so successful.
\ DEDICATED GAME: Northside beat Christiansburg 48-26 Friday and played the game in honor of former Roanoke World-News sports editor Bob McLelland.
McLelland, whose grandson, Shane Whisnant, is the Vikings' quarterback, was inducted last year in the VHSL and Virginia High School Coaches' Association Hall of Fame for his interest in high school athletics during his years as a sports editor.
McLelland is battling a serious illness, but he attended what was Whisnant's last home game for Northside, watching from his car in the end zone.
"Last week, [assistant coach] David Heath suggested that maybe we would try to get Bob to talk to the kids," said Jim Hickam, Northside's coach. "We all decided that was a good idea."
McLelland spoke to the Vikings for 15 minutes on Thursday. He had attended the Pulaski County-Northside game Oct. 29 after undergoing outpatient surgery, Hickam said.
"That made quite an impression on the kids," Hickam said. "He cared enough to see them [play] after that."
It's also worth noting that McLelland just completed his 48th year coaching sandlot football in Roanoke.
by CNB