Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410200054
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: 6 EDITION: NEW RIVER
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Understand, this team is picked by talking to coaches and getting their nominations each year. While trying to see most of the candidates for various All-Timesland teams in football and basketball, the high school sports gurus from this paper don't always see every candidate for the Sizzlin' Sophomore team that was instituted in the mid 1980s as a way to honor 10th-grade athletes.
How well the Sizzlin' Sophomores do as seniors eventually tells how well a person can look at some educated picks by the coaches, blend in statistics and then be fortunate enough to say where a kid will be in two years.
Sure, I know about some of this year's top sophomores, such as Roanoke Catholic's P.J. Moyer and Staunton River's Kevin Martin. They're running backs who are dominating Timesland statistics, so it's easy to tell about 10th-grade running backs.
That's why it was no surprise that Raypheal Milton of Giles was Timesland's Sizzlin' Sophomore of the Year for 1992. All he's doing now is cruising to a possible one-year state record for total yards in offense. He leads Timesland in rushing and is fourth in passing.
Look at the other two now-senior running backs who were noticed as sophomores: Christiansburg's Andra Beasley and Pulaski County's Eric Webb.
Beasley is second in Timesland rushing; Webb was a great running back as a junior who nearly led the Cougars to a second-straight Group AAA Division 6 state title before he was injured in the playoff semifinals. The team lost the championship final. Now Webb is an outstanding linebacker and a top college prospect.
Other Sizzlin' Sophomores from two years ago who have done well offensively are ends John St.Clair of Franklin County and Steve McGhee of Franklin County, Northside lineman Jeff Painter, Blacksburg center Tim Schnecker, William Fleming center Paul Wallace, Patrick Henry return specialist Jamie Price and Blacksburg quarterback Greg Shockley.
They are all main-line troops this year. Painter and St.Clair are regarded as being among the state's top college prospects; Schnecker was All-Timesland at center as a junior.
On defense, Northside's Karim Thompson, Salem's Mike Murphy, Pulaski County's Andre Eaves, Franklin County's Landon Cuff and Monty Smith of North Cross are the most recognizable names. However, Murphy, Thompson and Eaves are better known for offense, though they're still good defensive players. Thompson and Murphy are among Timesland rushing leaders. Eaves, All-Timesland on defense last year, is also Pulaski County's quarterback.
Smith has transferred to North Cross and proven he's a capable Group AAA player; Cuff ranks third among the top 10 in Timesland tackling.
So why did I pick Cave Spring last in the Group AAA Roanoke Valley District football race this year? The Knights had only three Sizzlin' Sophomores a year ago, so is it any surprise that Cave Spring beat Franklin County this past Friday in their first RVD game as they ran their overall record to 5-1?
One has only to look and see how a team did in the Sizzlin' Sophomore derby to decide if it is loaded for the coming year.
PARDON ME AGAIN: Have you heard this before?
``I realize that my actions concerning this matter demand that steps be taken to address the poor judgment that I used, and I am willing to accept responsibility. I only ask that you and the Virginia High School League hold me solely responsible for my actions as head coach ... ''
Compare this with a statement made nearly two years later:
``During the Richlands versus Graham football game, I made a remark to a Graham player that was perceived derogatorily. I apologize to anyone who was offended by this comment.''
By now you've guessed the source of these statements. It's Richlands assistant football coach Dennis Vaught. The first statement came after Vaught apologized for outfitting his teams in illegal cleats in a playoff game against Salem in 1992. The other came after a Graham football player accused Vaught of making a derogatory remark to him during a game against Richlands this fall.
Vaught said words to the same affect when he resigned from Patrick Henry after making an alleged racial slur during a half-time talk in 1989. I'm sure he wrote similar words to a Marion player that he berated during the 1992 season, though I don't have a copy of that letter.
The question is how many times Tazewell County will allow Vaught to get away with conduct unbecoming a coach or a teacher? There have been other documented incidents. The list is not short, yet Tazewell County Schools Superintendent Woodrow Mullin accepted the latest apology with the added comment, ``But I want to make it clear that this board does not condone such behavior, will not allow it to go unanswered, and will not tolerate a repetition.''
Anyone want to bet on how true that last statement is?
NEW STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: If you hadn't noticed, there was another sports poll last week. The state's top private-school volleyball teams were ranked, with North Cross getting the top position.
The private schools will decide a state volleyball champion this fall, with the finals and semifinals to be held on the Raiders' courts Nov. 12, after four first-round games at the homes of the highest-ranked teams.
SOUTHWEST FOOTBALL: Before taking over as head football coach at Roanoke Catholic, John Cooke turned out a Group A Division 1 state football champion at Jonesville in 1988. How does this unbeaten Catholic team rank with that Jonesville squad?
``I've never thought about it,'' Cooke said. ``Jonesville had a 6-foot-2, 235-pound fullback who played in the [Virginia High School Coaches' Association] All-Star game that summer and signed to play with East Tennessee.
``I know that P.J. Moyer [who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards this year] could have played on that team. Many of these kids could have played on that team.''
Look at Catholic, and you see signs of Southwest Virginia football where the running game is key.``That's right, we were a running team [at Jonesville],'' Cooke said. ``We ran first, and passed second. There's a similarity here at Catholic.
``The big thing is that we had more players at Jonesville than I do here. On a one-game shot, it would be interesting. We didn't have the speed on Jones that we have on Catholic.''
STAT OF THE WEEK: When Salem polished off William Byrd 46-44 last week in girls' basketball, the Spartans were the model of consistency. They attempted 12 shots each quarter.
by CNB