ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 28, 1996 TAG: 9609300127
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
History will record that Salem defeated its guests from Blacksburg 34-14 on Friday night in the Indians' Blue Ridge District football debut.
Salem's players will leave the recitation of the details to others. Afterward, the Spartans shouted in unison all anybody needed to know.
``We came, we saw, we kicked their ''
That wasn't all that was kicked. The Spartans' Bret Gresham may have needed to ice his instep after belting two field goals and four extra points.
In short, the kicking game worked fine for the Spartans. So did everything else.
Start with the defense, which put the sleeper hold on the Indians (1-3). Blacksburg's night with the ball was bleak, aside from a couple of big plays early.
The Indians managed but six first downs total and 54 yards on the ground. The passing game (and three passers) heaved 123 yards worth of footballs, but 68 of that was on one play, a swing pass from Michael Crist to running back Michael Davis that turned into a touchdown that gave Blacksburg a 14-10 lead.
That was the high-water mark for the Indians, whose running game stalled.
``Other than Brookville, nobody else has, either,'' said David Crist, Blacksburg's coach. ``Salem is so powerful up front. On both sides of the ball.''
On the defensive side, the Spartans sacked quarterback Tommy LaForce three times and generally exerted their will at will.
``The whole defensive unit had a very good game,'' said Spartans defensive lineman Aaron Williams, who was in on two of the sacks.
If there was anything to complain about for Salem (3-1, 1-0), it was the six fumbles and four lost.
``Yes, but most of those were after the game had been decided,'' Crist said.
That didn't make Salem coach Willis White feel any better.
``And we were playing so well, too,'' he said. ``Just shows us we still have things to work on. For a power team like ours is supposed to be, fumbling like that is death.''
Salem didn't throw a pass in the second half as it put away the game. That rounded off the 240 yards on the ground it had. Brandon Poff, the Spartans' fullback, capped a 64-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring plunge. Matt Edwards closed the touchdown scoring with a 75-yard interception return.
The first half made for riveting entertainment for those who fancy offensive football. Salem took some good licks and still essentially was unstoppable. The Spartans trotted out five rushers, including quarterback R.J. Beckwith, who combined for 112 yards on the ground.
Beckwith added 96 through the air (on 8-for-11 passing), as well as a 4-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The impact player of the half for Salem might have been Gresham, who booted field goals of 28 and 30 yards, the last coming with one second left in the half. Salem led 20-14 at that point.
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS STAFF Ricky Eubanks (left) ofby CNBSalem is dragged down by Blacksburg defenders Ken Showman (center)
and Michael Crist during the second quarter of their Blue Ridge
District game Friday night in Salem.