ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 30, 1996 TAG: 9612020093
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Home field advantage can be huge in playoff football.
Giles has it, Grundy had it while Salem and Rural Retreat always were on the road.
The Virginia High School League planned to implement neutral sites for state semifinal and championship games this year. A team might be the host school, but it could not play the game on its home field. Instead, it must play somewhere else in its region..
The VHSL delayed implementation of the rules for semifinal games and said that only 1996 championship contests had to be held at neutral fields. Thus, Grundy, Giles and Appalachia were set as host schools in playoff games involving Timesland teams today.
The Salem-Grundy game was moved to Tazewell County last Monday. So the Golden Wave (12-0) lost a big advantage against Salem (10-2).
Giles (12-0), which welcomes Powell Valley (9-3) in Group A Division 2, and Appalachia (9-3), which plays host to Rural Retreat (10-2) in Group A Division 1, kept their home field advantage. All games start at 1:30 p.m.
The Salem-Grundy game was switched Monday with several reasons cited.
``The VHSL just said we had bleachers on one side. Even though we seat 5,000, we'd have to bring in portable bleachers. They felt Salem would bring too many people and they didn't want everyone sitting on one side,'' said Grundy football coach and athletic director Greg Rowe.
Salem was happy to play at a field that is 75 minutes closer to home and escape one that was in bad condition last weekend when the Wave overwhelmed Abingdon 42-8 in the Region IV championship game.
``The Grundy site had been approved earlier, but they had [a lot of] rain last week and had to play on a muddy field. Their field deteriorated where we asked them if it was suitable to play on it and they eventually admitted it wouldn't be in good enough shape,'' said VHSL programs supervisor Larry Johnson.
Rowe admits the field was torn up after the Abingdon game but ``we could have rolled it. But as far as I know, the field condition wasn't mentioned [for the change],'' he added.
``I know Grundy is disappointed they didn't get to play at home. I understand that, but as far as a playing field, Tazewell is a lot better. I think both teams ought to have a good field to play on. I don't think the field should decide the game,'' said Salem coach Willis White.
In the back of everyone's mind is the 1992 state semifinal game in which Richlands upset Salem on a perfectly awful field in which the Blue Tornado also were caught using illegal cleats.
``I'm upset [the game was moved],'' said Rowe. ``It was our first-ever chance to play a state game here. Our community is upset. It seems just like another slap. We're always getting things like that done to us on this end of the state.''
Giles' field was also muddy at one time during the week of regional championship games. It has dried out and is in good shape for the semifinals.
``We really manicure our field, so that sometimes when your field is in bad shape, it's in good shape to a lot of people,'' said Giles coach Steve Ragsdale.
``Our field turned out to be good Friday [of the regionals]. It got cold enough to freeze it up. This time of year, when a field is wet, it's hard to dry out.''
If the three Timesland teams win today, Salem and Rural Retreat will play in their home territories next week at neutral sites while Giles will hit the road. The Spartans are likely to use Victory Stadium in Roanoke.
Winning will be tough for all three teams. Grundy has a strong passing-running attack.
``They throw the ball well and they do it often. They catch the ball really well. They're also big and strong up front. Their skill people aren't the quickest we've seen, but they're talented and their quarterback [Jason Copenhaver] is probably as good as we've seen all year,'' said White.
Copenhaver has passed for 1,112 yards while running back David Scammell has run for 2,016 yards. ``We haven't played a team where their basic offense is the pass and they work their running game off that,'' said White.
``Salem has a super defense and they don't make any mistakes. they have a fullback, tailback and quarterback [R.J. Beckwith] who can throw the ball. They have the entire package,'' said Rowe.
Beckwith has thrown for more than 1,000 yards but no Spartans runner has averaged as much as 60 yards a game. It's been tailback by committee with a different leader each week.
Powell Valley beat Giles 28-6 last year on the way to its second consecutive state title, but the Vikings had state player of the year Thomas Jones at running back. Now Jones' younger brother, Julius, is at running back and has rushed for 1,215 yards.
``Giles has an outstanding defensive team that is a lot quicker than it was last year. It gives you a fit because it has more trapping power. I can't tell any difference in their backs from last year,'' said Powell Valley coach Phil Robbins.
Chris Ratcliffe and Shaun Vaught have rushed for more than 2,000 yards between them out of Giles' single wing.
The Rural Retreat-Appalachia battle matches a pair of outstanding running backs. The Indians' Gene Fields, a junior, had a big year in which he set all kinds of school rushing records while Appalachia's Travis Clark ran for 302 yards on 23 carries in a 48-8 blowout of Thomas Walker last week.
LENGTH: Medium: 97 linesby CNB