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

DATE: SATURDAY, September 23, 1995                   TAG: 9509240006
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: CHRIS KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RINER                                LENGTH: Medium

SPARTANS ROUT AUBURN 51-24

When the Giles Spartans are inevitably challenged, their biggest problem may be lack of playing time - for their first team.

For the third time in as many weeks, the Spartan starters were pulled before the end of the first half, as Giles rolled over Auburn 51-24 in Three Rivers District action.

``That is a concern, especially conditioning-wise.'' Giles coach Steve Ragsdale said of the lack of time his first unit has spent on the field. ``But that is a nice problem to have.''

As for Auburn coach Steve Wright, he saw no reason for Ragsdale to be concerned.

``They made believers out of us,'' Wright said. ``They are a class-act football team. They execute everything to perfection; unless somebody has something I don't know about, they are unstoppable.''

The Spartans had scored a combined total of 80 points in the opening half of their previous two games, and more of the same was forthcoming Friday at Auburn High School.

Auburn (2-2, 1-1) received the opening kickoff but was forced to punt, after picking up one first down. It was all downhill from there.

Reggie Hoston took the ensuing punt and ran untouched up the left side of the field for an 84-yard touchdown, to open the floodgates. Hoston carried in the conversion to make the score 8-0.

After stopping the physically overmatched Eagles on three plays, Giles (4-0, 2-0) regained possession on the Auburn 42. In fine Spartan tradition they wasted very little time reaching the end zone.

After gaining 8 yards on their only pass, Chris Ratcliffe scampered 36 yards for a touchdown on the next play. After the Kevin Slusser conversion Giles led 16-0 with 6:56 remaining in the first quarter.

To further put the Spartans' domination into perspective, consider this - they ran only 12 plays in the first half, 11 of which were run by the first unit. Giles has averaged scoring 39 points, in the first half of its past three games.

NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.

Keywords:
FOOTBALL

by CNB