Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410210022
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
Be assured that Spartans coach Steve Ragsdale has the proper words.
``Give Raypheal the football.''
Those sort of instructions are beyond reproach in view of the results Milton has had.
Milton, the snap, crackle and pop of the Spartans attack, figured to be slowed down some last week against Radford. The Bobcats have a stout defense, big, strong and fast, and they've always found ways to slow the Giles single-wing offense down better than most.
Milton treated the Bobcats defenders as though they were so many cones on a defensive driving course. Operating for the most part between the tackles, Milton churned out 236 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns as the Spartans won their 20th-straight game, 36-21.
Milton didn't have a great night throwing the ball - he had an uncharacteristically paltry 33 yards through the air - but he did toss three two-point touchdown conversions. On the downside, he also hurled a couple of interceptions, one of which Foster Ridpath returned for a touchdown.
The passing improved in the second half.
``I was rushing in the first half,'' he said. ``I don't know why. I had plenty of time. But my linemen told me that they were going to protect me and I came out ready to go in the second half.''
Milton had 111 of his rushing yards after the break. The line, as usual, was magnificent.
Ends Mark Farrier and Anthony Myers, guards Brandon Steele and Alex Webb, and tackles David Greever and Zeb Bowden with Michael Clark alternating in, did the good work.
``Raypheal sits across from me [in the Giles dressing quarters] and I always tell him, `We'll get them out of the way if you carry the mail,' '' Steele said.
Milton carried the mail, the freight, the load and his team's hopes. Against Radford, that was doing something.
''They had some pretty big old boys,'' Milton said. ``The secondary was quick flying to the ball and they hit hard when they got there.''
It appeared that on many occasions, Milton had little or no room in which to run. He said that wasn't really the case.
``They were crashing the hole, but my line was staying low and getting the job done. They always rise to the occasion.''
As does Milton.
Other notable performances:
Andra Beasley of Christiansburg rushed for 171 yards, 127 of that to go with in four touchdowns in the second half as the Blue Demons downed Glenvar 35-14.
Pulaski County's Tim Davis had 111 yards on 20 carries and scored two TD's in a 21-18 victory over Salem.
Chris Briggs of Shawsville had 148 yards and a TD in only nine carries and Auburn's Bradley Hudgins carried 24 times for 160 yards and two scores as the Eagles beat the Shawnees 27-12.
by CNB