ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 8, 1996 TAG: 9612100044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
IT'S BEEN A LONG road to the top for Salem quarterback R.J. Beckwith.
Salem quarterback R.J. Beckwith never played football until he was a sophomore in high school.
For two years, he was the scout team quarterback, running plays of other teams and serving as practice fodder for his teammates.
In the first game of his senior year, after he had won the starting position, he nearly lost it all when Brookville shut out Salem 20-0 and the offense was nearly non-existent.
Thirteen weeks later, Beckwith had passed for nearly 1,500 yards and held his position as starting quarterback. In the Group AA Division 4 state title game Saturday, Beckwith threw two touchdown passes and ran an efficient offense in a 20-12 victory over Sherando for the state crown.
After it was over, he hugged his coach, Willis White, and said, ``I'm glad I won it for you.''
White said after the Brookville debacle, it crossed his mind to change quarterbacks with young signal callers Jamie Garst and Andy Mullins in the wings. ``But I never change anyone after one game. If you start one game, then you're good enough to start two games.''
Still, Beckwith knew his job was in jeopardy.
``Before the Brookville game, I had taken most of the snaps in practice. After Brookville, I started splitting time with Jamie. I knew if I didn't do a good job that next week [against Pulaski County], they'd put somebody [else] in there,'' said Beckwith.
With that kind of pressure, Beckwith guided Salem to a 27-14 victory over the Group AAA Cougars. Brookville was forgotten and the offense got the jolt it needed.
The road to the state title was not easy for Beckwith. He ran the scout team for two years and winning a state title was the furthest thing from his mind.
``Playing on the scout team is the toughest job in football,'' said White. ``Anyone who does that deserves a shot.''
Beckwith found out last summer that he had the starting job and happily discussed it with friends as he watched the Salem Avalanche, thinking of another dream of his, to play professional baseball.
``I never thought after the Brookville game that we could win the state title. I still had hopes of being a good football team,'' said Beckwith. ``But Coach White told us that if we would come together as a team, we could play for the state title.''
WEATHER FACTOR: Sherando coach Walter Barr said the weather was a great equalizer, but he didn't blame it for his team's defeat.
What surprised him was Salem's passing. Beckwith threw for 89 yards, but the two touchdown passes opened up the running game.
``We knew they'd try to control the ball,'' said Barr, who watched the Spartans eat up time with lengthy second-half drives. ``We just didn't think they'd throw the ball that much.''
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN Staff. Salem quarterback R.J. Beckwith (16)by CNBlooks for running room in Saturday's state title game against
Sherando.