Welcome to the final edition of Roanoke Rewind for the 2015 High School football season. We are down to just 12 teams remaining in the entire state, and four of those schools are from our area. It was far from easy, but Riverheads, Galax, Lord Botetourt, and Salem survived to reach their respective State Championship games. Before we look ahead, let's take a look back at the weekend that was in the 434 and the 540.
This is Sparta:
Facing by far its most difficult challenge of the season to date, Salem did what Salem does on Saturday afternoon. The third-ranked Spartans made the short trip to Jefferson Forest, and left with a decisive 42-21 win to repeat as 4A West Regional Champions.
Both Salem and Jefferson Forest entered Saturday's contest averaging nearly the same amount of points, but the Spartans, behind mammoth fullback Alex Ramsey, out gained the Cavaliers 428-342. Ramsey bulldozed the Cavs on the ground, gaining 118 yards off of 19 carries. While Ramsey was the star on the ground, sophomore quarterback Noah Beckley got it done through the air. Starting the biggest game of his young career, Beckley threw for 220 yards, and tossed a trio of touchdowns to three different receivers.
As impressive as Salem was on offense, the Spartans pulled off the near-impossible on defense. Salem became just the second team in the last two years to hold the JF wishbone attack to under 30 points. The Spartans limited explosive tailback Navy Jones to just 133 yards, with 71 of those yards coming on one play.
Undefeated Salem will face Lake Taylor in the 4A State Championship game for the second straight season.
The loss marked the Cavaliers' second defeat in the last two years. Congratulations to Navy Jones, Cam Miller-Trent and the rest of this historic senior class.
Making History:
The weekend wasn't all bad for teams named 'Cavaliers.'
Lord Botetourt has been exceptional all season, but the Cavs may have delivered their finest performance of Jamie Harless' four-year career in Daleville.
Somehow, some way, Botetourt stonewalled Hopewell, one of the top offensive teams in the state, in a 28-17 Cavalier victory.
Hopewell came into Saturday's contest with a reputation for being able to put up points, but junior Garrison Mayo set the tone for the entire afternoon on the Blue Devils' second pass play of the contest. With Hopwell threatening, Mayo picked off Cameron Hill, and raced 80 yards for the first touchdown of the game. Mayo made plays on both sides of the ball, including a 49-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
The Cavaliers rode the momentum of Mayo's game-chaning play to jump out to a 28-3 lead at intermission. Hopewell finally found the end zone twice in the second half, but the Botetourt defense stepped up when it needed to to slam the door on the visitors. Looking to close out the game, the Cavaliers dropped Hill on fourth down late in the fourth quarter, ending any chance of a Blue Devil comeback.
The victory propels Lord Botetourt into the state title game for the first time in school history. The Cavaliers will face Conference 31 foe and defending champ Magna Vista in Lynchburg on Saturday.
Ready to Run:
This weekend's 1A State Championship game will be a matchup of two teams that love to pound the rock.
Riverheads racked up over 400 yards of offense in a 31-20 victory over George Wythe. A trio of Gladiators each rushed for over 90 yards, highlighted by 165 from Harrison Schaefer. Schafer's biggest run of the day was 32-yard touchdown on 4th and 12, to help Riverheads close to out the game.
The Gladiators were a model of consistency on offense, converting five out of seven fourth down attempts.
On the other side of the bracket, Galax made the LONG trip across the state and topped Essex 35-20.
The Maroon Tide clinched their first trip to Salem since 2009, and denied Essex its fourth straight berth in the process.
This is Sparta:
Facing by far its most difficult challenge of the season to date, Salem did what Salem does on Saturday afternoon. The third-ranked Spartans made the short trip to Jefferson Forest, and left with a decisive 42-21 win to repeat as 4A West Regional Champions.
Both Salem and Jefferson Forest entered Saturday's contest averaging nearly the same amount of points, but the Spartans, behind mammoth fullback Alex Ramsey, out gained the Cavaliers 428-342. Ramsey bulldozed the Cavs on the ground, gaining 118 yards off of 19 carries. While Ramsey was the star on the ground, sophomore quarterback Noah Beckley got it done through the air. Starting the biggest game of his young career, Beckley threw for 220 yards, and tossed a trio of touchdowns to three different receivers.
As impressive as Salem was on offense, the Spartans pulled off the near-impossible on defense. Salem became just the second team in the last two years to hold the JF wishbone attack to under 30 points. The Spartans limited explosive tailback Navy Jones to just 133 yards, with 71 of those yards coming on one play.
Undefeated Salem will face Lake Taylor in the 4A State Championship game for the second straight season.
The loss marked the Cavaliers' second defeat in the last two years. Congratulations to Navy Jones, Cam Miller-Trent and the rest of this historic senior class.
Making History:
The weekend wasn't all bad for teams named 'Cavaliers.'
Lord Botetourt has been exceptional all season, but the Cavs may have delivered their finest performance of Jamie Harless' four-year career in Daleville.
Somehow, some way, Botetourt stonewalled Hopewell, one of the top offensive teams in the state, in a 28-17 Cavalier victory.
Hopewell came into Saturday's contest with a reputation for being able to put up points, but junior Garrison Mayo set the tone for the entire afternoon on the Blue Devils' second pass play of the contest. With Hopwell threatening, Mayo picked off Cameron Hill, and raced 80 yards for the first touchdown of the game. Mayo made plays on both sides of the ball, including a 49-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
The Cavaliers rode the momentum of Mayo's game-chaning play to jump out to a 28-3 lead at intermission. Hopewell finally found the end zone twice in the second half, but the Botetourt defense stepped up when it needed to to slam the door on the visitors. Looking to close out the game, the Cavaliers dropped Hill on fourth down late in the fourth quarter, ending any chance of a Blue Devil comeback.
The victory propels Lord Botetourt into the state title game for the first time in school history. The Cavaliers will face Conference 31 foe and defending champ Magna Vista in Lynchburg on Saturday.
Ready to Run:
This weekend's 1A State Championship game will be a matchup of two teams that love to pound the rock.
Riverheads racked up over 400 yards of offense in a 31-20 victory over George Wythe. A trio of Gladiators each rushed for over 90 yards, highlighted by 165 from Harrison Schaefer. Schafer's biggest run of the day was 32-yard touchdown on 4th and 12, to help Riverheads close to out the game.
The Gladiators were a model of consistency on offense, converting five out of seven fourth down attempts.
On the other side of the bracket, Galax made the LONG trip across the state and topped Essex 35-20.
The Maroon Tide clinched their first trip to Salem since 2009, and denied Essex its fourth straight berth in the process.
