ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608290016
SECTION: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PAGE: 2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
After having so little in common through the years, Blacksburg and Christiansburg Highs' football teams both will be in search of offensive lines as they take up residence in the Blue Ridge District.
Blacksburg and Christiansburg begin their first year as members of the Blue Ridge since the New River District expired at the end of last season. Both teams must be thinking that it sure would be nice to find some lineman as they begin their affiliation with a new league.
The Indians have a good start in center Sean O'Rourke and tackle Eric Snow.
``I think we can be good offensively as soon as the line starts coming together,'' Blacksburg coach David Crist said.
The Indians ought to be solid and deep in the backfield with quarterbacks Tommy LaForce and Michael Crist, and running backs Kenny Showman and Michael Davis. LaForce and Crist split time under center a year ago and that isn't likely to change this year.
LaForce was more the drop-back passer and Crist, the last of the coach's sons to play, the option guy. Michael Crist has shown improvement as a drop-back thrower during preseason drills.
Davis will be stepping in for last year's leading rusher, Tucker LaForce, at fullback. The exceptionally speedy Showman will be the break-away threat at tailback.
Defensively, the Indians will be stout behind the inside linebacking of Davis and Billy Vaught, who ought to be good for a truckload of tackles.
Tons of tackles was what made a name for Scottie Brubeck of Christiansburg last year. It isn't all that usual for a defensive back to lead a team in stops, and Brubeck pulled it off. That was by design. However, Brubeck is expected to be out for six-eight weeks with a knee injury suffered in a preseason scrimmage.
``We again want to free him up so he can make as many tackles as possible,'' Christiansburg coach Mike Cole said of his 1995 All-Timesland selection.
Once recovered, Brubeck ought to be a busy man because he'll be a likely target for the passing of quarterback Chris Epperly. Don't expect the sky to be leaking footballs wherever the Blue Demons show up next, but don't count on being bored either. Epperly will air it out regularly.
``We might throw it as much as we did when Darren Graham was the quarterback here,'' Cole said. ``We have a good quarterback and a lot of wide receivers. We want to take advantage of that.''
When the Demons stay earthbound, look for the ball to be in the hands of Eric Beasley, a 6-foot, 195-pounder who is the younger brother of former Christiansburg running back phenom Andra Beasley. More hard running will be coming from fullback Eric Schmucker, who proved to be an outstanding addition to the program after transferring from Pennsylvania last year.
Every team needs something about which to worry, and in Christiansburg's case, that is the offensive line. The only seasoned player up front is Corey Duncan, who will be moving from tight end to center.
Salem will be the clear favorite to win the league title. After all, the Spartans have never finished lower than first in the Blue Ridge.
``We're reloading,'' Spartans boss Willis White said.
Team strengths include a huge offensive line anchored by three-year starter Pierce Weikle (6-feet-2, 247 pounds) at guard and Travis Miles (6 feet, 273) at tackle. They ought to give new quarterback R.J. Beckwith plenty of time to get situated in his new role.
The defense should be murderous behind linebackers Jeff Akers and Matt Anderson and Jamie Garst, two sophomores, as well as defensive back Ricky Eubanks, a returnee from a secondary that set a school record with 19 interceptions last year.
Northside isn't as big as usual, but the Vikings can be expected to be their usual physical selves.
The new dimension for the Vikings this year is speed and quickness at all the skill positions in their signature wishbone offense. Nobody will be any speedier or quicker than quarterback Xavier Lee.
``This is a guy who God created to be an option quarterback,'' Vikings coach Jim Hickam said.
Halfback John Doss is the leading returning rusher with 436 yards and five touchdowns.
``This has been one of the best groups I've seen in terms of the effort expended during practice,'' Hickam said.
Lord Botetourt must find a way to put some backbone in a defense that yielded more than 28 points per game last year.
``If we do, we'll be good for three or four more wins,'' Cavaliers coach Andy Ward said.
Part of the plan involves installing a 5-3 alignment and moving exceptional athlete Wesley Cox in at linebacker. Cox will continue to be better known for his offense, where he led the team in rushing as a tailback a year ago. Cox had 1,437 overland yards and scored 90 points during the 1995 campaign.
A lot of the pressure will be taken off Cox if junior Keith Anderson turns out to be the quarterback Ward thinks he will be. Anderson, a 6-foot-3, 190-pounder, is hurt now and is expected to miss the first several weeks of the season.
William Byrd was the surprise of the league last year, going 8-2 during the regular season and finishing second.
``That team played extremely well together,'' Coach Jeff Highfill said. ``They didn't care who got it done as long as it got done.''
The Terriers aren't going to have much depth, like last year, and that worries Highfill. The one player they can't lose will be quarterback Frank English, who had over 1,700 yards total offense and nine touchdown passes. The same may be said for wide receiver Jamie Fuqua, who is likely to be English's primary passing target.
One position where Byrd will have some bodies to work with is running back, where Daniel Wagner, Ben Smith and freshman O.J. Thomason are available.
Alleghany, too, has an exceptional young quarterback in sophomore Shannon Johnson, a 6-5, 190-pounder. The problem for the Mountaineers as they try to bounce back from a depressing year will be to find a way to make up for the graduation loss of Oliver Jordan, the team's leading rusher, receiver, kick returner and tackler. Good news may be on the way. The sophomore and junior classes have numerous promising players.
Rockbridge County has only 12 seniors, meaning that of 42 players in the program, 30 will be back next year.
``In my nine years of coaching [the first four at old Natural Bridge], this is the youngest team I've been associated with,'' Wildcats coach Jamie Talbott said. ``It isn't even close. But despite their age, this is one of the most talented groups I've had.''
Troy Riley and Clay Hobson will be doing much of the ball carrying and they're both sophomores. The quarterback, Travis Clark, is a junior. Every skill position will be manned by an underclassman.
The big question marks will be on both the offensive and defensive lines, where inexperience abounds.
LENGTH: Long : 132 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. 1. Expected to shine for Blacksburg Highby CNBSchool: linebackers Michael Davis (left) and Billy Vaught. 2.
Expected to play key roles for Christiansburg (from left): seniors
Scottie Brubeck, Dallas Taylor, and Chris Epperly. Brubeck will lead
the defensive secondary, Taylor can play either end or in the
interior line, and Epperly will be the quarterback. 3. Coach Mike
Cole of Christiansburg says his team will exploit the skills of
quarterback Chris Epperly and a strong group of receivers to open up
the passing game more this year. (headshots) 4. Eric Snow\Tackle for
Indians. 5. Kenny Showman\Blacksburg running back. 6. Sean
O'Rourke\Blacksburg center.