Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 2, 1994 TAG: 9412020033
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The only verity that one could depend on was that there was no telling what was going to come next.
Yet with all the maddening injuries, lineup changes and odd developments, the offensive line has been as steady as the rhythm of a freight train rolling down the tracks.
And you were wondering how a .500 team (6-6) could be host of the state Group AA Division 4 semifinals 1:30 p.m. Saturday against Amherst County?
The predominant reason is that when all others were losing their heads, Blacksburg's offensive linemen were quietly using theirs to clear obstructions to the Indians' attack.
"That's been the most consistent part of our team this year,'' Blacksburg coach David Crist said.
Consistency often comes with experience, and these linemen certainly have that.
Center Tim Schnecker, guard Nathan Brown, tackles Ryan Baird and Kevin Morozoff, and tight end Lincoln Hopkins are all seniors who started in last year's semifinal loss to Rustburg. The rookie of the group is guard James Scanlon, a sophomore pressed into service when incumbent Kip Kenyon was injured earlier in the season.
Certainly they are a battle-tested bunch - Baird and Schnecker have started since they were sophomores - but that is not the extent of it. First of all, they have size - with the exception of Hopkins, a sinewy 170-pounder, and Morozoff, who is of similar heft, they all weigh 210 or more. Schnecker comes in at 6-foot-2, 245, Brown goes 6-1, 265. They also have intelligence.
"With our blocking schemes, you have to be pretty smart to grasp them,'' Crist said.
Perhaps most importantly, they have talent, particularly Schnecker.
"Of all the ones we've had here, he'd rank in the top group in terms of talent,'' Crist said.
Baird and Morozoff don't rank too far behind. The quick-footed Baird, the strong, silent type, can play both guard and tackle and rarely misses an assignment. Morozoff has superior technique and may be the team's best pass blocker, which is one of the reasons he's survived against mostly bigger players.
Typically of Blacksburg, they're well prepared.
``Good coaching from Coach [Vaughn] Phipps,'' Schnecker said of the offensive line professor.
``He hands out the blocking assignments on Monday ... '' Hopkins said.
``.. And you better know them on Tuesday,'' Schnecker said. "Every week he makes sure we know everything about every situation until you have no questions. There are no questions.''
There were all kinds of questions about Hopkins when he started out. Basically, he willed himself into the lineup with a terrific work ethic.
``I can remember telling him as a sophomore that I didn't know when he'd play, but because of his work habits, he would play at some point,'' Crist said.
Play he has. Not only is he a clever blocker with an uncanny ability to read defenses on the fly, but he's caught 19 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown.
Hopkins can give partial thanks to his line mates for that. So sound has been their pass blocking that quarterback Greg Shockley has been sacked only four times in 12 games.
Three of those belonged to Richlands, whom the Indians played twice, the last time in a 35-26 victory in the Region IV championship last week. On each of those occasions, Richlands was stunting its linebackers and there were more attackers than blockers to stop them. The other sack came against Giles in the season opener.
``And that was a running back's fault,'' Baird said.
Not that Baird or the other linemen are down on their backs.
``They've really picked it up in the last three weeks,'' Schnecker said.
They all have.
``Practice has been a lot more intense in the last three weeks,'' Baird said.
So too have been the circumstances, which Blacksburg would never have experienced in the first place if not for the guys up front.
by CNB