DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711130271

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 12   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   56 lines

WHEN PANTHERS WANT TO SCORE, IT'S ``YOU GO, GIRL''

One of the top running backs in the city's 10-under flag football leagues is - and isn't - everything you'd expect.

This tailback is fast, has natural moves that can't be taught, and has nearly 900 yards in nine games. Pretty good stuff considering that she's new at playing organized football.

That's right - SHE!

Ashley Miles is something to watch and heading into the city's flag football invitational tournament for teams finishing second and third in their divisions, teams will be seeing plenty of her.

The Green Run Panthers finished second in their league with a 6-2-1 record and Ashley was a major factor.

She's averaged two touchdowns a game, and coupled with older brother and quarterback P.J. Miles, the team has been pretty hard to beat. The Panthers won their last regular season game 38-6.

It was 38-0 until the last kickoff of the game, a play where Ashley really showed what makes her so good.

The opponent's return man had burst through the middle and was on the way to the end zone when Ashley took off after him, some 30 yards behind. To the amazement of everyone, she caught the ball carrier at the 3, dove for his flag at the 1 and got it just as he crossed the goal line for his team's lone score. Three more yards and she would have stopped him.

``She's awesome.'' said her mom, Janice Foster, a former athlete at Green Run High. ``This is her first year in organized sports. She wants to sign up for basketball and we'll probably get her in track.

``She just loves to run.''

It shows.

In the third quarter, Ashley took a pitchout from her brother and swept to the right sideline for a 6-yard score. The opponents might just as well have sat and watched. There was no catching her once she made the turn.

``Football is my favorite sport,'' she said. ``Because. . .because I'm a running back. I like getting the ball and I score a lot of touchdowns. It makes me happy.''

Ashley's talent obviously runs in the family, as P.J. returned one interception 65 yards for a score and ran a sweep 40 yards for another with his sister leading the blocking.

An honor roll student in the fourth grade at Plaza Elementary, Ashley had better enjoy all the flag football she can in the playoffs and next year. She won't be allowed to play tackle.

``She understands that I won't allow it,'' said mom. ``She knows other sports and I think she's probably an aspiring track star. She runs all the time and really loves it. When someone teaches her how to run properly, I think she'll be something else.''

On the football field, she already is. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Ashley Miles KEYWORDS: FLAG FOOTBALL

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