Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 22, 1995                   TAG: 9509220050
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV10   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RAY COX
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LOOK FOR TOUGH HIGH-SCHOOL PLAYOFFS AS WINTER ARRIVES

This is not to convey the impression that we're editorializing in favor of ice storms, frozen pipes and the potential loss of the end of one's nose.

Nor is it an attempt to support Santa Claus over his stern adversary, the Grinch.

Yet verily we say again, then:

Come on, December.

And we don't want to give you the idea that we'd rather skip the splendor of the fall foliage, frost on the pumpkin or a trick-or-treating tummy ache.

Still, may there be no mistake whatsoever as to our position on this issue:

Come on, December.

Hurry the 12th month because those high school football playoffs are going to be killer this year, particularly on the Group A Division 2 circuit.

Having not seen a soul anywhere east of Radford, we'll tell you right now: We know who's going to win the Division 2 shoot-'em-up.

Actually, that's not entirely true. We have it narrowed down to three teams. They know who they are.

Giles.

Radford.

Powell Valley.

Those from the suburban enclaves of Northern Virginia, or Richmonders with a heavenward tilt of nose or Tidewater sophisticates may condemn us for our hopeless provincialism.

But they haven't been tackled by Brandon Steele of Giles or been lighted up by Larnell Lewis of Radford or gotten a good look at Powell Valley's Thomas Jones.

Nobody in the state can hang with those three teams.

We guarantee it.

The only bad part of the deal, the way we see it, is that only one of the three will make it to the championship game. The other two will have been eliminated in the Region C playoffs (either Radford or Giles) or in the state semifinals.

By virtue of being the defending state champion and having the record-setting Jones (4,012 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns in his last 17 games) along with a veteran cast, Powell Valley would have to be handicapped as the favorite. Giles, the champ two years ago and a loser of one game in its last 30, is right there too. Radford has a top-drawer team but has not established that it can beat either of the other two. The Bobcats are 0-4 against Powell Valley and Giles since the start of the 1994 season and face an Oct. 13 rematch with the Spartans.

Such handicapping is for recreational purposes only, of course.

The postseason is going to be good. You can bet on it

Come on December.

SCIENTIFIC: Pulaski County is playing Science Hill of Johnson City, Tenn., in football for the first time. A hasty scouting report:

Science Hill has been at least to the quarterfinals of the AAAAA state playoffs the last three years. A year ago it won its conference, the Big East, and is expected to do so again this year.

Quarterback Matt Wilhjelm has thrown for 750 yards and seven touchdowns in four games while completing 71.5 percent of his passes. John Crow and Brad Fields had combined for 29 receptions and 264 yards through three games. Leading rusher Brian Lewis has 475 yards in four games.

The Hilltoppers (3-1) are coming off a 21-14 upset loss to Sevier County, Tenn.

Now you know.

\ Ray Cox is a Roanoke Times sportswriter.