ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 9, 1996 TAG: 9611110116
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
The scene on the field told the story. It was a tale of two teams whose seasons took them in two different directions. On one side of the field, the Blacksburg Indians huddled together on bended knees, tears flowing down the faces of many. On the other side, the William Byrd Terriers swarmed together as they jumped for joy, hugging one another and screaming in relief.
William Byrd's 31-8 win over Blacksburg on Friday capped a five-game season-ending stretch in which the Terriers needed five consecutive wins to keep hope for a playoff spot alive - and they got them. Byrd lost its first two games this season, and now waits as others determine its fate.
Byrd needed victories by both Bassett and Glenvar in other games to assure them of a spot in the Division 4 Region III playoffs. Bassett pulled off the upset of No.1 Group AA Magna Vista, but Glenvar lost. Now Byrd will get in the playoffs only if Lord Botetourt beats Northside today.
Blacksburg's first season in the Blue Ridge District ended in three consecutive blowout losses.
``All we can do is take care of ourselves, the things we can control,'' Terriers coach Jeff Highfill said. ``We can't worry about what Lord Botetourt and Northside do. All of these guys deserve a chance to go to the playoffs. If the season is finished all I can say is the seniors went out the right way.''
William Byrd wasted little time getting started. The Terriers (7-3 overall, 6-2 district) strung together a 14-play drive in the first quarter that consumed nearly 10 minutes of the clock. Quarterback Frank English and running back O.J. Thomason did the majority of the work, alternating carries on nearly every play.
Thomason broke free on third-and-four from the Indians' 46-yard line on a scamper down the left sideline. Thomason was wrapped up by Blacksburg's Ken Showman 39 yards later, giving the Terriers first-and-goal at the 7. English, the all-purpose go-to man for William Byrd, capped the drive on fourth down with a 4-yard run on a quarterback keeper around left end.
English led William Byrd's offensive attack with 135 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns. He also completed five of seven passes for 130 yards. Thomason finished with 14 carries for 76 yards.
``He's been doing it for four years,'' Highfill said of English. ``We just hope he hasn't finished his career yet.''
Down just 6-0 to open the second quarter, Blacksburg (3-7, 2-5) continually suffered from its own miscues. Driving at the William Byrd 27-yard line, Indians quarterback Tommy LaForce misread the defense on third-and-eight and was intercepted by Jamie Fuqua at the 2-yard line.
The Terriers capitalized on the mistake, advancing to the Indians' 13-yard line with just under three minutes remaining in the half. English found wide receiver Chris Bush wide open in the right corner of the end zone for a 13-yard score with 2:33 to go.
Blacksburg again found itself in scoring position after a 51-yard kickoff return by Benji Machingo set the Indians up at the Terriers' 39-yard line. One play later running back Michael Davis took the snap at the 31-yard line and rumbled all the way to the William Byrd 2 before losing the ball. The Terriers recovered the fumble to end the first half.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB