ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 17, 1996 TAG: 9610170090
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BUCHANAN
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
It looks as if things are finally going as planned for the James River High School football team.
The Knights expected to challenge for the Pioneer District title this season. Returning 12 seniors off last season's 7-3 team that barely missed the playoffs, they had a good reason to be optimistic.
However, James River's optimism turned to frustration when Travis Blankenship and Billy Joe Carter suffered injuries early in the season. The Knights (3-3 overall, 2-0 Pioneer) opened the season with three straight nondistrict losses.
Those three games were "real frustrating because of all of the high hopes that we had," said James River coach Doug Ross. "When you go 0-3, you start to scratch your head and wonder what could I have done differently."
Carter, who plays fullback and linebacker, got a separated right shoulder before the season and missed the first three weeks.
During that time "I cried every day," said Carter. "We had high hopes leading up to this season. This is my last year. And to see your team lose and there is nothing you can do hurts."
The injury to Blankenship, who plays quarterback and safety, occurred after the season-opening loss to Floyd County when he bruised his left (nonthrowing) shoulder during tackling drills. He was only allowed to play offense for a couple weeks.
With the injuries, the Knights have had to lean heavily on Brian Leflore. The senior switched to tailback after being selected all-district at flanker last season.
"But he really stepped it up a lot for us [during the first three games]," said Ross of Leflore. "He did a lot of great things for us. He was the kick returner, our leading receiver and our punter. He tried to keep it from getting too out of hand."
Ending the losing streak by himself, however, was impossible. He missed having Blankenship and Carter by his side.
"I would talk to the younger guys and tell them, 'You all got to step it up,'" Leflore said. "They didn't seem to listen."
Blankenship agreed.
"It was aggravating when you have five or six guys out there giving their all, and the rest of the team was just out there to be there."
Things changed after James River lost 35-7 to Lord Botetourt on Sept.13. Before boarding the bus, Carter called a team meeting.
"He told them that we could win seven straight games," Ross said.
The Knights, with their top guns back, took Carter's words to heart against Glenvar on Sept.28. They faked the extra-point kick and completed a pass for the two-point conversion for a 15-14 last-second win.
But Carter said the game was unofficially over when Highlander running back Lynwood Twine left the game.
"We were trying to get to him all game," Carter said. "One play Brian took his ankle out from under him. That gave him a bad wheel. Then a couple of plays later, Brian took his kneecap out. That gave him a bad hubcap. Then later on in the game, I hit him in his chest. I knew he was out and that we had the game won."
One week later, Carter reinforced his must-win message right before the district-opener against Bath County.
"I told [my teammates] if we don't win this game, then we don't win districts," Carter said of defeating the defending state champions. "And if we lose, then they better turn in their equipment tonight because if we didn't win that game then there is no need to play anymore."
James River pulled off one of the biggest victories in Ross' 19-year career, crushing Bath County 29-0 as Leflore rushed for a game-high 212 yards and a touchdown.
"I knew that we were going to beat them, but I didn't think I was going to have a game like that," Leflore said. "The holes were wide. Every time I got the ball I went untouched until I reached their secondary."
The Knights came back and defeated Covington 28-7 last Friday night.
"Now we have a goal of going up to Parry McCluer [Friday] and spoiling their homecoming," Carter said. "Our second goal is to make the playoff."
This doesn't sound anything like a team that started the season 0-3.
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY/Staff Injuries have plagued James River thisby CNBseason. Brian Leflore (left) has been under pressure to cover for
teammates Travis Blankenship (center) and Billy Joe Carter.