ROANOKE TIMES Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512040080 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO DATELINE: BIG STONE GAP SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
At this point, somebody brings up Powell Valley High School and thoughts immediately turn to running back sensation Thomas Jones.
Jones has been and continues to be sensational, but he isn't the only reason the Vikings stand on the verge of their second straight Group A Division 2 state football championship.
Defense and the kicking game, flavored with a sweet dose of Jonesian running, was the Powell Valley recipe for a 28-6 victory over guest Giles on an unseasonably balmy Saturday in the state semifinals.
The Vikings (13-0) yielded an 80-yard Giles scoring drive that followed the opening kickoff but then held fast the rest of the way.
Still, the Spartans (11-2) trailed by only one point, 7-6, going into the fourth quarter. Jones' interception of Chris Ratcliffe's wingback pass at the Giles 34 was the start of the final stage of the Spartans demise, though.
Giles stopped Jones on a subsequent fourth down attempt from the 16, the second time the Spartans had denied him on fourth down, but the resulting field position was a difficult one.
Three plays later, Giles faced its own fourth down situation with a yard to go. Tailback Reggie Hoston slipped in the backfield and was stopped for no gain.
The next play, Jones broke free for a 24-yard scoring run. With Jason McCoy's second conversion kick, Giles was in serious peril with 5:23 left to play.
It wasn't long before Powell Valley took control for good. A sack of Hoston and subsequent fumble recovery gave Powell Valley the ball at the 18. Jones ripped loose to score on the next play. Hoston, who was held to 46 yards rushing after carrying for 242 the week before, was sacked and fumbled away the ball the next Giles possession. The Vikings immediately went for the throat with a 18-yard scoring pass from quarterback Ryan Witt to Todd Zirkle.
Jones polished off a 30-carry, 253-yard day with an 84-yard scoring run with 1:22 left.
"I hated it that he got that last run,'' Giles linebacker Brandon Steele said. "Now people will think that he ran all over us.''
Some people may indeed have been left with that impression. Jones wasn't one of them.
"Giles played great on defense,'' he said. "They were very physical. We're used to physical games, though. I attribute that to our playing in the Lonesome Pine District.''
One reason the Spartans were so physical was because they had Steele, their defensive leader. Steele twisted a knee a week ago in the 35-14 victory over Lebanon in the Region C final and underwent surgery Tuesday to remove cartilage. It wasn't known whether he would play until game time. He played every defensive series. "That was amazing,'' Giles coach Steve Ragsdale said.
"It was my decision to play,'' Steele said. "It was so swollen yesterday that I couldn't have played. But today, it felt all right and I didn't want to let my teammates down.''
Take Jones' yards out of the Powell Valley offense and the Vikings had 80 yards. Giles was asking too much of its defense in the end because the offense never really got going after the first drive.
"They were awesome on defense,'' said Hoston, who played his last Giles game. "They popped me good a few times.''
Giles ended with 229 total yards, 186 of that on the ground. With the Vikings keying on Hoston, fullback Kevin Slusser rushed for 72 yards including a 27-yard scoring run, but had only one carry after halftime because of a sprained ankle.
Chris Ratcliffe, the wingback, added 55 yards rushing and had 17-yard touchdown called back in the first quarter because of a holding penalty.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB