Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 9, 1995 TAG: 9509110159
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
The Spartans, displaying amazing offensive efficiency, defeated Floyd County 38-10 in the Three Rivers district opener for both teams.
The Spartans (2-0, 1-1) scored on their first five possessions, quickly ending any suspense about the game's final outcome.
To start the game, they did do whatever they wanted.
Giles took the opening kickoff and marched 60 yards for the game's first score. Despite the complexity of the Spartans single wing attack, the opening drive was simple - snap the ball to Reggie Hoston and watch him go.
The 6-foot-1 tailback carried the ball on every play of the drive. Hoston took the snap on five consecutive occasions, the last of which was a 29-yard touchdown run, and gained all of the drive's 60 yards. Hoston converted the two-point conversion to give Giles an 8-0 lead.
The score started a stretch that would see the Spartans score on three consecutive offensive plays.
After forcing the Buffaloes to punt, after only three downs, Giles took the ball on the Floyd 40.
On the Spartans' next play from scrimmage, Kevin Slusser went 40 yards for the game's second score. Hoston then ran the conversion attempt, making the score 16-0 with 6:45 remaining in the opening quarter.
Once again, Giles stopped the Buffaloes on three downs. After a 24-yard Floyd punt, the Spartans took over on their own 41-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Hoston took the snap and handed off to Chris Ratcliffe, who waltzed 59 yards for the Spartans third touchdown.
Their fourth possession of the game, the last one for the Spartan starters, actually took 5:26, almost twice as long as any other Giles drive. But the end result was no different - a Giles touchdown. Slusser scored on a 9-yard scamper.
Michael Perdue, who rushed for a game-high 105 yards, closed out the scoring for Giles, with an 8-yard run with 8:16 remaining in the half.
While the first half was a struggle for the Buffaloes (0-2, 0-1), there were some positives to come out of the final 24 minutes. After being held scoreless in the season's first seven quarters (Floyd was shut out last week by James River), the Buffaloes` offense scored its first points.
With 7:37 remaining in the game, quarterback Craig Reed scrambled in from 9 yards out, diving over the line for a touchdown. Reed then completed a pass to Phillip Gillespie, for the two-point conversion.
Floyd closed out the scoring when Chris Nichols tackled Giles' Chris Hutchison in the end zone for a safety.
by CNB