Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 18, 1993 TAG: 9311180108
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The team with the best chance is North Cross in the Division II state private school playoffs. That's because the Raiders only have to win a game Friday against Huguenot Academy to claim a state title.
Still, one has to like Pulaski County's chances. The Cougars weren't given a much hope last year, but they won the Group AAA Division 6 title with a 35-20 upset of Thomas Dale in Richmond.
This year, the Cougars appear to be stronger, quicker and just as hungry as they were a year ago. They might have a tougher road to achieve the same finish, though.
Consider, Pulaski County played the Northern Region champion, James Robinson, in a semifinal a year ago. This year, the pairings are different and the Cougars must play the champion of the Eastern Region, generally regarded as the state's strongest in football, if they win the Northwestern Region title.
One advantage Pulaski has this year is it will be home for a state semifinal game. If Indian River or Menchville advances from the Eastern Region as expected, it will be very difficult for them to play at Pulaski County, where the Cougars' rabid following gives them a strong home-field advantage.
Pulaski County fans are not happy that for the second year in a row the Northwestern Region champion must travel to a state title game. If the Cougars advance to the championship game, it sets up the possibility of a rematch with Thomas Dale in Richmond. By the Virginia High School League's rotation of the playoffs, it just so happens that Pulaski County's strongest teams must play away from home for the state crown.
Thomas Dale was beaten early in the year by unbeaten L.C. Bird. Richmond writers suggest, however, that Thomas Dale - with 6-foot-1, 212-pound fullback Ken Oxendine - has overcome early injuries and might be back to the level it played at last year in the postseason.
Aside from Pulaski County, Magna Vista finished No. 1 in the state Group AA poll and should be favored to win the Division 3 crown. The Warriors' problem is that they must first beat either Jefferson Forest, the 1992 champion and the team that beat Magna Vista in the regional final last year, or a good Martinsville team for the second time in three weeks.
Patrick Henry doesn't figure to win the Group AAA Division 5 playoffs, but the Patriots are a favorite to make the state semifinals. PH is at home this week to Stonewall Jackson-Manassas, a team that isn't nearly as strong as the one that handled William Fleming so easily in the 1992 playoffs.
If the Patriots win, they'll meet either E.C. Glass or Heritage, two teams they beat during the regular season. There is one catch. Glass was running the wishbone offense early in the year. The Hilltoppers went back to the I formation, upset GW-Danville and have four consecutive victories since their 24-7 loss to the Patriots.
The last time PH went to the playoffs was in 1985 under Larry Carter. The Patriots rolled into a semifinal home game against T.C. Williams of Alexandria, a matchup played at Salem because of the flood. Two key injuries in practice the week of the game crippled PH and the Patriots lost 10-0.
Giles and George Wythe are unbeaten heading into the playoffs, but in Group A Division 2, each faces a rough road to a state title. Parry McCluer always is a threat in Division 1.
Any other Timesland team winning a state title would be a shock. Then, remember that no one thought last year Pulaski County would become the Roanoke Valley District's first state champion since the 1973 Patrick Henry team.
\ MILESTONES: Willis White has some extra incentive for his Salem football team Friday at Rustburg. If the Spartans upset the Red Devils in the first round of the Group AA Region III Division 4 playoffs, it will give White his 150th coaching victory. White's record is 149-60-4.
Rustburg's Paul Wheeler, who started his coaching career at George Wythe in 1982, got his 100th victory Friday in a 35-16 victory over Nelson County. Wheeler's teams have 36 losses.
This will be the first time Salem has played a road game in the Region III playoffs. The Spartans dropped to the Group AA ranks in 1988 and have played 10 consecutive home games, which helps account for four consecutive regional crowns and an overall 9-1 record.
If Amherst County hadn't beaten Brookville 24-0 on Friday, it would have been the first time Salem failed to make the playoffs under White since his 1986 team went 6-2-2.
\ ROANOKE CATHOLIC CHANGES: John Cooke is giving up his duties as boys' basketball coach at Roanoke Catholic this winter. Roger Henderson, an assistant to Cooke last season, will take over the program.
Cooke, who coaches softball and football in addition to being the school's athletic director, decided to take a break.
In two years, the Catholic football program has progressed under Cooke and might be ready to post a winning record next year. The Celtics have gone 2-8 and 4-6 the past two years.
Next year, Catholic expects to have 19 of 22 players back, including nine of 11 starters on offense. Running back P.J. Moyer, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards this year, returns as a sophomore with two years' experience as a starter.
"There are not a lot of questions where people will play. We know that Tony Joyce will play quarterback [replacing departing senior Mike Kolnok]," Cooke said.
The veteran coach says the main thing is to get the Celtics on a weight program. "In the games we lost, we just got manhandled," Cooke said.
\ SHAWSVILLE CHANGES: For the second time in three years, Shawsville's girls' basketball program has reached the Region C tournament.
With seven juniors and only two seniors this year, the Shawnees figure to be strong again next year.
"We could be better if everything falls into place," said Tracy Poff, Shawsville's coach. "I like the idea that we'll play some non-district games in September. We can afford to play some teams that have good records to give our young girls experience."
This year, Shawsville was locked into a mostly Mountain Empire District schedule. When the Mountain Empire split, Shawsville added Group AA Christiansburg, James River and Craig County to a non-league schedule that already included perennial Group A power Glenvar.
by CNB