Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 4, 1993 TAG: 9311040166
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NARROWS LENGTH: Medium
The Narrows High linemen dynamited yawning rifts through Floyd County's front barrier of defense and Whitey Blankenship ran through them.
"The line just played outstanding," said Blankenship reflecting on the Green Wave's key 30-15 Mountain Empire District victory last week. "They showed a lot of heart and a lot of guts, I know that."
Blankenship showed a lot of running ability as a consequence. Blankenship finished with 246 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries.
The Green Wave halfback survived the massive workload substantially intact.
`'To me, it didn't seem like 36 carries; I thought it was more like 25 carries," he said. "I didn't get tired. Saturday morning, I was stiff, though. My legs were dead."
Narrows, on the other hand, is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the district and very much alive for a Group A Division 1 Region C playoff berth.
The Green Wave line - both offense and defense - was showered with high praise from everybody from Floyd County coach Winfred Beale to Narrows boss Don Lowe to Blankenship himself. Clearly, the up-front guys of tight end Henry Minton, alternating tackles Jarrett Rhodes and Aaron Wall on one side and Jason Buckland on the other, guards Brian Ballard and Shannon Harman, and center Aaron Buracker did outstanding work.
Throw in fullback Brett Mosley, too, because he was the point man in all of Blankenship's upfield advances. Mosley also had a great night running the football himself, piling up 121 rushing yards and a touchdown.
"Brett's got to get his carries, too," Blankenship said.
One of the main issues for Narrows in the week before the game, aside from the playoff implications, was its upset loss at home to the Buffaloes last year.
"They're a team that you have to respect," Blankenship said. "They can beat you before you can bat an eye. Last year, we had a 13-point lead at halftime and thought we had the game won. They came out in the second half and just kicked our tails, it was as simple as that."
Blankenship considered his obligation to recall to one and all those circumstances this year.
"Being a captain, I wanted everybody reminded what it was like walking off that field after being beat at our own homecoming," he said. "We went to the dance after that and it wasn't much like a homecoming at all."
The tables were turned with authority this time.
"Floyd was well-coached and tough," Lowe said. "This game was a war. Every yards Whitey got, he earned."
Other noteworthy performances:
Pulaski County's Carl Lewis carried 13 times for 163 yards and four TD's in a 63-21 victory over Northside.
Andra Beasley of Christiansburg had 106 yards rushing and a TD in a 49-14 loss to Salem.
Blacksburg's Greg Shockley completed 16 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two TD's in a 16-15 loss to Heritage.
by CNB