Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9412230077
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Patrick County is 5-2 overall and if it wins any of its three final games, the Cougars will have the school's first winning football record.
Bill Dillon, the school's principal, might have been correct a few years ago when he forecast his school one day would compete with Piedmont District powers like Martinsville and Magna Vista. People laughed then, but they're smiling now.
First-year Patrick County coach Addison Kendrick has the school's third consecutive outstanding back. Andy Stanley had 1,407 rushing yards before Friday. Preceding him were Charles McClain, a second-team All-Group AA state player last year, and Winfred Hill, who had his career cut short by a neck injury two years ago.
Kendrick, an assistant coach when McClain and Hill were so strong, says work in the weight room has produced backs like the 5-foot-101/2, 170-pound Stanley.
It is now 11 years since Patrick County's Tim Goad was named Timesland's outstanding defensive player and went on to an All-ACC career with North Carolina. He's now a member of the New England Patriots.
That year, Patrick County was 0-10. It shows just how far the Cougars have come. Now, they have good records to go along with outstanding players.
BAD POLICY:When the Radford City school board grudgingly approved the Bobcats to drop to Group A status for athletics a year ago, the members put in the ruling that Radford High could no longer play Group AA schools in contact sports such as football and basketball.
This wiped out two old football rivalries with Christiansburg and Blacksburg and cost Radford some money.
As it turns out, this move that no other Group A school follows might cost Radford a spot in the VHSL playoffs. After losing to Giles, Radford still had a chance to finish 8-2, but won't win the new Three Rivers District championship.
Thus, Radford must make the Region C Division 2 playoffs as a wild card. This will be nearly impossible should either Patrick Henry-Glade Spring or Rural Retreat beat Lebanon and win all their other games. If that happens and George Wythe wins all its games, as the Maroons are favored to do, it means Radford is out while PH-Glade Spring or Rural Retreat, and Lebanon, Wythe and Giles are in the playoffs.
Had Radford played and beaten either Blacksburg or Christiansburg, it's likely the Bobcats would have had enough points to make it as a wild card without worrying about PH-Glade Spring and Rural Retreat losing to Lebanon.
The people who run the Radford schools were being overcautious, as many schools play one or two teams with bigger enrollments without dire consequences. By doing so, they might cause a lot of heartache for some youngsters and hard-working coaches.
ELUSIVE VICTORY: Parry McCluer coach Bob Williams, who retires at the end of the year, had 198 career victories before Friday with only unbeaten Bath County, Covington and Group AA rival Rockbridge County left on the schedule.
So Williams might not make the 200 mark unless the Fighting Blues pull an upset or two.
Williams, though, leaves with five state championships to his credit - the most of any Timesland coach by a large margin. He is likely headed to the Virginia High School Coaches' Association Hall of Fame, where he'll join his old mentor, former Lexington coach Pete Brewbaker, who was inducted last week.
TENNESSEE BOUND: Laurel Park, expected to be a Timesland boys' basketball power this winter, will not be in the second Salem Christmas tournament that will be sponsored by the Nations' Bank.
Instead, the Lancers are headed to the Scenic City tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., Dec. 21-23 at Brainerd, which usually competes for the Tennesee state title. Richmond's John Marshall, a Group AAA school, is another of the four out-of-state teams entered in that tournament.
LOOKING FOR PEOPLE: It was a perfect night for football for the two schools in Timesland that have shown so much interest in their teams' fortunes over the past decade.
It was Pulaski County versus Salem, a game that almost assures a crowd in excess of 10,000.
Check that. Make it the school in Timesland, Pulaski County, that shows the most interest in its team's fortunes. This year, forget a crowd of 10,000. Salem fans, according to the story after the Pulaski County game played Oct.14, may back off a little if their team isn't at or near the top of the standings.
Though Salem had won two straight after four opening losses, the fans didn't show in their usual numbers for the Spartans' shootout against the Cougars. This is akin to heresy considering past years and the rivalry this game generates.
Pulaski County, as usual, filled up its side of the stadium. That's understandable, since Pulaski County has lost only four games the past 21/2 seasons. Maybe Salem fans didn't have faith after their team was blasted 45-6 by the Cougars last year. That game, though, was played in Dublin against a Pulaski County team that might have been the best in the school's history in terms of sheer talent.
``The only disappointing thing of the night is that Pulaski County had more fans than we had,'' Salem coach Willis White said.
OK, Pulaski County is a Group AAA school with roughly 400 more students than Salem. Still, Salem pride for a home game has always counted and the Spartans, who seemed to be on the way back, had scored big in two victories to give their fans all the excuses they needed to come to the showdown.
The game did nothing to let the Spartans fans who didn't attend off the hook. Salem took it to Pulaski County before losing a 21-18 thriller that is arguably the best game played in Timesland so far.
``I was really disappointed because our kids have battled back from a lot of adversity,'' White said. ``It kind of seems it went unappreciated.''
White says he doesn't usually notice the size of the crowd. He's busy with game plans.
``The only reason I noticed is that I heard two of our kids, when they came off the field [after warmups], say, `Where are our fans?' We've been having good crowds. I'd hate to think our fans are front runners.
``I know we have some [front runners] like everyone. You like to think a majority of fans are diehard and they'll back you no matter what.''
by CNB