The
Locker Room
November
7, 2001
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Week Eleven by Ardent Cougar Region
III District Standings
Before the season began, I noticed that Salem had an off week before our game this year (again, just like in 2000), and did not like the implications, though at the time I did think it was good that at least we would time to rest before the playoffs, should we make it. It's quite fortunate that our off week is now. Alan Wheeling, Chris Hardin, and Josh Calfee (perhaps others I am unaware of, as well), need the time to heal, or at least rest. We all hope that the Cougars will have a full strength team next week, ready to face the playoff challenges. The Blue Ridge District is tough. Northside is the highest rated team (ranked 22nd!) for the whole state in Gilliam's Overall Ratings, whose losses outnumber their wins. As I hinted at last week, they're better than their record! We still won the district, outright. We're still the top seed in the playoffs. I know that we are all a little disappointed about not getting an undefeated season, both last year, and this year. But, put things in perspective. The 1982 Team went undefeated, but lost in the Region Final. The 1989 Team also went 10-0, but bowed out in the first round. The 1993 Team won 13 in a row (21, stretching back to the previous year), but lost to Annandale in the Championship Game. On the other hand, the 1992 State Championship Team started out 4-2, with losses to E.C. Glass (shutout, at home!) and Salem, before ripping off 8 consecutive victories, culminating in a 35-20 defeat of 13-0 Thomas Dale. It's not about being perfect in the regular season. It's about winning in the playoffs. Triumphing, when the chips are down, and the stakes are high. Being fans, we sometimes do things that players and coaches cannot afford to do, like being curious about potential future matchups. If you want to look ahead to possible opponents for whichever team wins the Region III Championship, Gilliam's Division 4 Playoff Analysis has information for the races in the other three regions. Also, I have Gilliam Rating information for each of the other regions in this chart. Most of all, just relax this week. Find yourself a good game to see Friday night, and simply be a spectator, for once. Blacksburg travels to play William Byrd. If the Indians win, they lock up the second seed in the playoffs, and will host Salem in a rematch of an exciting (though sloppy) game that Cougar Fans got to see, the night before the Fleming game. Either way, both teams, along with Salem, are in, thanks to Jefferson Forest's upset of Amherst. The Spartans travel to play Lord Botetourt. Myself,
I think I'll take a trip over the bridge crossing the New River, and see
the Radford Bobcats host the Floyd County Buffaloes. Both teams are
8-1 (each lost to Giles, whose only loss this season was the opener to
Blacksburg), and have shots at being the top seed with a win, or possibly
sitting at home for the postseason with a loss. For more information,
check out Gilliam's
Division 2 Playoff Analysis.
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It is said that lightning never strikes twice, in the same place. You'd have a difficult time convincing Cougar Fans of this. For the second year in a row, a 9-0 Cougar team lost its final regular season game, just missing an undefeated season. Northside pulled off the upset, defeating PC 34-24, in a thriller. The score was tied at the half, and neither team led by more than 10 points. Dwayne Saunders scored twice and QB Justin Beckner tied the game late in the first half, on an 80-yard run. Highly recruited Justin London (whose father sang one of the best renditions of the National Anthem I have ever heard) rose to the occasion for the Vikings, on both sides of the ball. He scored twice in the final 3:02 of the game, on runs of over 40 yards, sealing the win. Alan Wheeling left the game in the 2nd Quarter with a severely sprained ankle. Chris Hardin played hurt, and Josh Calfee was in and out of the game with leg cramps. Both Calfee and Jeremy Porter rushed for over 100 yards each, Josh (106 yards) scoring once, and Jeremy (166 yards) scoring twice. John Hedge had a 45 yard field goal. Joey Radcliffe did a good job at QB, after Alan was helped off the field, including completing a key pass to Greg Cobbs, which led to a score. It was a tough contest, and even considering the Cougar injuries, the Vikings deserve credit for a very well played game. The only turnover for either team came at the very end, with PC striving to score, and time running short. I mentioned the 'lightning never strikes twice' saying. This past week, the New York Yankees stunned the Arizona Diamondbacks, winning two consecutive extra inning games, after tying the score in the bottom of the 9th, with a pair of 2-out, 2-run homers. Sunday night, the Diamondbacks turned the tables, taking Game 7 of the World Series, and the World Championship, with a 2-run rally in the bottom of the 9th. I would not say that this loss was totally insignificant for the Cougars, but just as Arizona was not defeated in the end, PC is still the Blue Ridge District Champion, and still the top seed in the playoffs. It's not who strikes with the most surprise, but who strikes last, that counts. Previous 2001 Articles: FTB
Week One
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