Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508310010
SECTION: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PAGE: 10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
One part of the Spartans future that end Anthony Myers thinks he does know is this:
"It's going to be a team year," he said.
Meaning that Giles will profit or perish as a unit.
"We don't have that one roll-over-them type of player," linebacker and fullback Brandon Steele said. "But we do have a lot of good players."
Giles used to have one of the aforementioned big boppers. Last year alone, tailback Raypheal Milton had 2,827 yards total offense (1,753 rushing) and had a hand in 36 touchdowns, 31 of which he scored himself.
Now that Milton has graduated, they're accepting this fact of high school life like adults in Giles County.
For the most part.
"It brings tears to my eyes," Giles coach Steve Ragsdale said, "and down my cheeks."
Ragsdale will pull himself together eventually. Once he does, he may realize that all is not as bad as it may have looked at first glance.
The Spartans may not have Milton or his twin brother Maurice - another breakaway threat at fullback, not to mention a linebacker and place kicker of good repute - but the lineup is sprinkled with veterans on both sides of the ball. These are veterans who have won 25 of the past 26 games and 35 of their past 38. Giles was stopped in the Group A Division 2 Region C title game with Lebanon and a 25-game winning streak was snapped.
Guys such as Steele, an All Timesland pick at linebacker who will be in the lineup at fullback for more snaps this year than he did a season ago. The hope is that Steele can bring the same zeal that makes him a fierce tackler to his assignment as a blocker and runner in the offensive backfield.
From previous stints in the backfield, we know he won't be easily felled.
Elsewhere in the Spartans single-wing backfield, Ragsdale has a number of players to mix and match. Senior Reggie Hoston, a converted wingback, will play tailback. He's among the team's best athletes and has size (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) and speed. Chris Ratcliffe was in for a lot of plays at tailback last year and he can also line up at wingback. Both he and Hoston can throw from either position.
Others who should see action in the backfield include Matt Whitehead and Jimmy Smith.
Another seasoned running back is Kevin Slusser, a talented athlete who did not play football last year. Slusser will join Ratcliffe and Hoston as the team's primary throwers.
Anthony Myers will be the main receiving threat at end.
"That kid can really catch the football," Ragsdale said. "He has a heck of a pair of hands."
The evidence: 24 snags, several bordering on the spectacular, for 379 yards.
Anthony's twin brother Aaron is out for football for the first time in several years, and he can catch , too. Jeremy Saunders and Emanuel Young off the junior varsity may also work into the mix.
On the interior offensive line, Giles is in pretty good shape with Alex Webb, a three-year starter, Jerod Dalton, and Zeb Bowden. Roger Simpkins, another former JV player, is the leading candidate at center. Webb, Dalton, and Bowden ought to start on the defensive line, too. Chris Ruth, a starter at nose guard last year, will also play somewhere on the defensive line.
Steele will again be at inside linebacker, but that is about all that was certain at linebacker during preseason practice. Either Michael Viars and Slusser can play inside or at strong safety.
Hoston will anchor the secondary.
Giles will challenge for the Three Rivers District title again, which means the game Oct. 13 with Radford should be very interesting. Giles played the Bobcats two tough ones last year, winning both including the playoff opener.
"Radford was the best team we played last year," Ragsdale said.
GILES
94 record:11-1 overall, 4-0 in Three Rivers District
Coach: Steve Ragsdale, 18th year
Returning starter:Brandon Steele, 5-10, 230, sr., lb, fb; Reggie Hoston, 6-1, 175, sr., tb, hb; Alex Webb, 6-3, 190, sr., g, dt; Anthony Myers, 6-2, 165, sr., end; Jerod Dalton, 6-2, 185, g, dt, sr., Zeb Bowden, g, dt, 5-8, 200, sr., Chris Ruth, 6-0, 190, ng, dt, jr.
Other key players: Chris Ratcliffe, 6-1, 160, tb, lb, jr., Kevin Slusser, 6-0, 165, tb, lb, sr., Chris Bales, 5-11, 175, p, bb, jr.; Matt Whitehead, 5-10, 155, fb, lb, jr.; Aaron Myers, 6-2, 165, e, lb, sr., Roger Simpkins, 5-9, 195, c, jr.; Michael Viars, 5-10, 200, fb, lb, jr.; Marty Midkiff, 6-0, 210, t, dt.
Outlook:Giles may not be as explosive offensively as it has been the past three years, with departed all-purpose threat Raypheal Milton at the controls, but the Spartans have tradition and pride, not to mention a substantial amount of talent. Look for the Spartans to grind it out and play ball control more than last year. The season could very well boil down to an early October bout with Radford, but even then, Giles might not be done with the Bobcats. The teams played twice last year, the second time in the playoffs.
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 1, Blacksburg; 8 at Floyd County; 15, Narrows; 22 at Auburn; 29, Christiansburg
Oct. 6 open; 13 at Radford; 20, Bland County; 27 at James Monroe (W.Va.)
Nov. 3, Grayson County; 10 at Shawsville.
by CNB