ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 15, 1996 TAG: 9611150041
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
There's a refreshing difference about this year's high school football playoffs and it comes in two words - Staunton River.
While the usual array of Timesland names such as Salem, Pulaski County, Giles, Parry McCluer, Martinsville and Magna Vista are in the playoffs beginning tonight, it is the upstart Golden Eagles who have pushed their way into the spotlight.
Tonight at 7:30, the Golden Eagles are in their first playoff game at home against banged-up Lord Botetourt. On the horizon for the winner of this Region III Division 4 semifinal game is the survivor of Northside at Salem, two Blue Ridge District schools that always seem to be playing each other in various sports with something on the line.
``We're going to try to line up and play. We've never had one [playoff game], so we don't know how to act,'' kidded Staunton River coach Bob Gray. ``They've got a rusher who has gained 2,000 yards on 250 carries and he's just now getting beat up.''
Indeed, the health of Wesley Cox, who is nursing a separated shoulder suffered last week, will have a lot to do with how well the Cavaliers fare.
If Cox plays, three of the top four rushers in Timesland will be on the field in Moneta. Cox has 1,981 yards to rank first ahead of the Golden Eagles' Kevin Martin with 1,518 yards and Jarrett Ferguson, who in nine games has 1,358 yards.
Salem beat Northside 41-18 during the regular season and both coaches - the Spartans' Willis White and the Vikings' Jim Hickam - say there haven't been many changes since then.
However, Hickam has made one shift that might prove to be a key, playing John Doss and Xavier Lee more in the defensive backfield. The Spartans' passing game burned Northside in the first meeting when Doss, the Vikings' running back, and Lee, the quarterback, were concentrating on offense.
``I don't think it's hard for us to get focused,'' said White. ``In the playoffs, you can't pick and choose whom you play. You have to play whoever you're matched up with.''
Hickam said Salem might not be dramatically improved since the two teams last met, ``but I think we're a lot better.''
At look at other playoff matchups involving Timesland teams:
Gar-Field at Pulaski County (Division 5, Northwest Region): The visitors bring Raymond Gee (255 carries for 2,117 yards rushing) to face the Cougars, who haven't lost a home playoff game this decade.
``It's hard for me to imagine someone rushing for 200 yards a game. The thing with Gee is their offensive line. They run behind players weighing 246, 280 and 234 pounds,'' said Pulaski County Joel Hicks.
Craig Hodge leads the Cougars with 1,145 yards.
Carroll County at Grundy (Division 4, Region IV): The Cavaliers lost 8-7 at Grundy in September and hope to turn the tables on the unbeaten Golden Wave. Of Carroll County's six victories, three came against Group A competition.
Magna Vista at Martinsville and Bassett at Gate City (Division 3, Region IV): Magna Vista beat Martinsville 29-0 during the season, but the Warriors are coming off a 28-12 upset loss to Bassett.
Magna Vista, ranked No.1 in the state until the loss, pits Travis Preston (1,389 yards) against Martinsville's Manti Venable (1,046 yards) in a matchup of two of Timesland's better rushers.
Bassett must stop the new No.1 team, Gate City, which is led by 6-foot-9 quarterback Josh Shoemaker and coached by former Virginia Tech player Nick Colobro. The Bengals hope Carl Watkins (1,370 yards rushing) can spark another upset.
PH-Glade Spring at Giles and Grayson County at Chilhowie (Division 2, Region C): Giles alternated at No.1 with Strasburg (Division 1) much of the year, but finished the regular season second in the state.
``This team has surprised me all year long. I didn't anticipate us being 10-0 at this point,'' said Giles coach Steve Ragsdale.
Grayson County finished 5-5, but won the Mountain Empire District. This contest will be played Saturday afternoon.
Bland County at Parry McCluer and Pocahontas at Rural Retreat (Division 1, Region C): The Fighting Blues are back in the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Parry McCluer lost the season opener at Radford and after that the only setback was to Group AA Harrisonburg. The Blues won four games by a touchdown and another in overtime on a field goal, so they can survive a close one.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB