Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511210019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
The Spartans were ruthlessly convincing Saturday in a 20-7 victory in the opening round of the Group A Division 2 Region C playoffs, but that is not to say that one should be left with a misleading impression of this year's Bobcats.
``They were a different team,'' Giles lineman Alex Webb said. ``They were definitely harder to beat the second time.''
To which his teammate, Reggie Hoston, a tailback and defensive back, offered a second:
``Yes, they were,'' he said.
But who was to say that the Spartans themselves had not grown more rugged since hammering Radford 37-0 in early October?
Giles (11-1) matched the ferocious Bobcats (8-3) body blow for haymaker and still had plenty left.
``I thought we played extremely well on defense, but Giles is just so tough,'' Radford coach Norman Lineburg said.
Giles entertains Lebanon at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in an eagerly awaited repeat of last year's regional final won by the Pioneers. Lebanon creamed Grayson County 53-0 Saturday.
``Let's face it: the defense won this game game for us,'' Giles coach Steve Ragsdale said.
Radford's one big play was a 60-yard zone-splitting TD toss from sophomore quarterback Adam Artrip to Derrick Chapman when the outcome was no longer an issue. While holding the Bobcats to 55 yards on the ground, Giles gobbled up five turnovers, including three interceptions, two of those for touchdowns.
It was Hoston's pickoff and subsequent 32-yard return down the right sideline for a touchdown just 52 seconds into the second half that put Giles on the board first. For a brief moment, Hoston could take his mind off the difficult day he had with the passing game. The single wing tailback scatter-armed four interceptions of his own, all those coming (with minimal damage resulting) in the first half.
``I had to get that interception; I had to get it,'' he said. ``I'd thrown too many interceptions.''
Two of them were claimed by Giles defensive back Kevin Slusser, who may have polished off the Bobcats for good when he stepped in to pick off an Artrip heave and returned it 27 yards for a score with 3:14 still remaining in the third quarter.
That came one play after an eight-play 20-yard room service touchdown drive provided by a fumbled snap on a punt by Radford's Larnell Lewis. Hoston crashed over from 4 yards out to add to a rushing total that would escalate to 122 before the end of a mostly gray but pleasant day.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB