Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 13, 1995 TAG: 9511140031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A brisk wind. Crisp tackling. And genuine emotion - from the players, parents and coaches.
Such was the imagery woven through three games of the Roanoke Valley Sandlot Super Bowl at William Byrd High School on Sunday afternoon.
This year's playoff games, sponsored by the Youth Committee of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, included teams from Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Botetourt County, Salem, and Bedford.
In the Division I-Juniors game, the Northwest Raiders Blue shut out Optimist 15-0 to complete an undefeated season.
``These kids came out here and executed well,'' said coach Kevin Baker. ``We had 11, 12 and 13 year-olds on this team, but the 11 year-olds stepped up. They didn't play like they were 11.''
Northwest, which defeated Optimist 26-6 during the regular season, held their opponents deep in their own territory most of the game.
Jonathan Smith scored on a 10-yard run for the Raiders in the second quarter. Tony Yancey Jr., returned an interception 31 yards for another touchdown minutes later. Optimist (11-3) thwarted two other Raiders' drives by recovering fumbles near the goal line.
``We didn't score enough points,'' said Optimist assistant coach Brian Elswick. ``That's what `Guts' would have said.'' The late Bob ``Guts'' McLelland, a local sandlot football legend, coached the Optimist for several decades.
A little deception proved to be the difference in the Division II-Juniors game, as the Cave Spring Knights defeated the Vinton Raiders 16-8 in overtime.
Knights workhorse Spencer Christley lined up to attempt a 20-yard field goal on Cave Spring's final play of overtime. But quarterback and holder Brad Miller pitched the ball to Christley, who scooted around left end for his second TD of the game.
The Raiders were then given four cracks from the 10, but on the first play, the Knights' Stephen Selvey recovered Brad Lafon's fumble in the backfield and clinched the victory.
``We put [the fake field goal play] in for this game,'' said Cave Spring coach Bobby Jones. ``We were going to run it at the end of regulation, but decided not to. We kinda got burned by not trying it.''
Vinton's William Hensely blocked Christley's 23-yard field-goal attempt with 23 seconds left in regulation.
Both Cave Spring and Vinton entered the game unbeaten, having played to a scoreless tie in the regular season. The Knights finished 8-0-2; Vinton was 7-1-2.
Chris Gould scored on a 50-yard gallop in the first quarter for Vinton. His apparent 46-yard touchdown run late in the game was nullified by a holding penalty.
The Salem Eagles catapulted to a three-touchdown first-half lead and downed the West Salem Cardinals 23-8 in the Division III-Juniors nightcap. The Eagles were bolstered by rushing touchdowns from Andrew Kingery, Justin Smith, and John Maxwell.
``We played defense, blocked, and executed what we practiced all year,'' said Eagles coach Mike Henry, whose team finished 10-0, a complete turnaround from last year when his squad was winless. Four of the Eagles' wins this season came at the expense of the Cardinals (6-4).
``I don't know what it is about these guys,'' said Cardinals coach Stephen Pendleton, referring to the Eagles. ``They must have a hex over us.''
by CNB