Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 19, 1993 TAG: 9312190167
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
At Giles, there's the Steele family as opposed to the steel curtain, but they both act the same as far as defense goes.
Brandon Steele is Timesland's Sizzlin' Sophomore of the Year for defense, and he's the latest in a long line of Steeles to play at Giles.
On offense, the top Timesland sophomore performer is Liberty receiver Gregg Reynolds, a three-sport star who had his best game in helping the Minutemen beat Jefferson Forest, the Group AA Division 3 state champion.
If anyone wants to figure out which Timesland teams will be the best in the coming years, they have only to look to Radford and Cave Spring. Those two schools each had three Sizzlin' Sophomore selections.
Radford's road back to title contention will be simpler behind linebackers Larnelle Lewis and Jameel Hendricks and offensive lineman Kelly Underwood. Plus, the Bobcats drop down to the Group A Mountain Empire District. With three top sophomores, that makes Radford an instant title threat.
Cave Spring plays in the Group AAA Roanoke Valley District. Three sophomores - quarterback Jeff Lang, defensive back Billy Frantz and defensive lineman Jim Fusco - won't make the Knights contenders. They at least give Cave Spring the expectation of big improvement, though, from this year's 0-10 record.
Martinsville might have the best group of young players. The Bulldogs placed 6-foot-3, 260-pound Marco Law at offensive tackle and 6-1, 280-pound Derrick Wright at defensive tackle for Sizzlin' Sophomores.
As if that wasn't enough, 6-2, 265-pound Thomas Willis was just beaten out by Bath County's second-team All-Pioneer District center, Dennis Loan. Still to come at Martinsville is freshman running back Manti Venable, Timesland's fifth-leading rusher with 1,218 yards, who could be a Sizzlin' Sophomore offensive player of the year in 1994.
Steele joined his brother Patrick on the Giles defense as the Spartans went 14-0 and won the Group A Division 2 state championship. Last year, Steve Steele was a defensive player at Giles, and several uncles as well as the Steeles' father have played for the Spartans.
"I didn't listen to Pat because he played a different position," said Brandon Steele of his older brother, who was a first-team All-Timesland selection.
Giles coach Steve Ragsdale said, "Brandon kind of surprised me. Stevie was one of our inside linebackers. He graduated and we had to fill his spot. Based on what Brandon did on the junior varsity and when he came up to the varsity last season, we used him."
Steele, like his brothers, has good size at 5-10, 210 and is very strong.
"I don't know how much weight he can squat, but it's a bunch," said Ragsdale. "He also moves so well. He runs close to the best shuttle time [10 yards down and back, then 10 yards down and back again] in his class."
Reynolds, at 5-8, 153, had 34 receptions for 536 yards as Liberty just missed making the playoffs for the first time in years. He was a first-team selection on both offense and defense (back) in the Seminole District, which is arguably the best Group AA league in the state.
Against Jefferson Forest, Reynolds had seven catches as the Minutemen stunned the Cavaliers 17-14.
"I was surprised because Gregg took it to another level. He made some great catches," said Liberty coach Mike Scharnus.
Reynolds is a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball, which he played on the varsity as a freshman.
"Gregg has a lot of natural talent," Scharnus said. "He's not that fast, but he's very quick. He'll only continue to get stronger."
Asked if he had to pick a favorite sport, Reynolds, stopped and said, "Oh, that's tough. I never thought about that, but I guess whichever is in season."
Reynolds beat out Pulaski County place-kicker Shayne Graham as the top offensive sophomore. Graham had strong nerves as he kicked two crucial field goals in the playoffs for the Cougars and he missed only one extra point this year.
by CNB