SALEM -- Two years ago, the Altavista football program suffered through a 2-8 season.

The miserable 2007 campaign was all but forgotten, however, when the white and orange clad Colonels left Salem Stadium on Saturday with their first ever Group A Division 1 state championship, which came with a 27-7 victory over Region D champion J.I. Burton.

Johnny Wimbish led Altavista's offensive attack, compiling 143 rushing yards, including two 39 yard scoring runs. The senior also completed six of eight pass attempts for 72 yards and a touchdown.

"We're trying to start a new trend," Wimbish said of the Colonels' new found football prestige.

Altavista coach Mike Scharnus emphasized his team's effect on the surrounding area.

"It's great for the community," he said. "This place is a big story for Altavista because they've been pounded for so many years and now we're able to...you know, smile."

"I think [Wimbish] made a difference for us offensively," Schernus continued. "He did some things that allowed us to make some plays...He has taken over this playoff run for the most part and done what he's capable of doing, which is run the football, and he threw the football the best he's done all year today.

Perhaps Wimbish's most impressive play was a 31 yard touchdown pass with 5:38 remaining in the second quarter that put Altavista up 14-7. Facing a fourth down and 26, Wimbish rolled out and found receiver Mike Robinson in the end zone amidst triple coverage for the touchdown.

"I just turned out to the left and just threw it and when I seen him catch it I was shocked," Wimbish said. "I didn't know what to do."

Maybe most impressively, Altavista was in large part without their best defensive player, Chris Clark, who left in the first half of the Colonels' state semifinal contest against West Point with a foot injury.

Clark made the most of the time he did get though, breaking up two passes and stripping the Raider ball carriers twice.

"He was our defensive ignition switch," Scharnus said. "He's the hardest hitter I've ever coached...if he's not the single A defensive player of the year, there's a mistake somewhere."

Wimbush also showed admiration for his teammate.

"The only way he wasn't going to play is if they had to amputate his leg," he laughed.

Martinez Miles, J.I. Burton's offensive spark plug, was also playing with a flat tire. The senior sat out of practice this week due to an injury received in the Radiers' 2-0 semifinal win over Holston.

Miles, a 2,000 yard rusher on the season, was held to just 56 yards on 15 carries. He was responsible for two of Burton's five fumbles.

"I came out here for my team," he said. "When you have fumbles and turnovers and everything ain't going your way, it's tough to win."

The Raiders turned the ball over five times, twice inside the Altavista 20 yard line.

"We didn't play our best today, but that happens in the game of football," he said.

Hurt or not, Wimbish credited the Colonels defense for marring Miles' production.

"We just kept hitting...we was going to play him like he was 100 percent," he said. "You can't take nobody light, whether they're injured or not."

As far as winning a state championship goes, Wimbish seemed to be pretty enthused over that as well. Before the trophy presentation, the senior sped across the field in front of the Altavista stands and slid triumphantly across Salem's turf.

"It feels like a million bucks," he said.

1 2 3 4 T

Altavista 7 14 0 6 27

J.I. Burton 0 7 0 0 7

Scoring Summary:

A - Shellhorse 9 run (10 kick)

JIB - Bates 2 run (1 kick)

A - Miller 31 pass from Wimbish (10 kick)

A - Wimbish 39 run (10 kick)

A - Wimbish 39 run (kick failed)

A JIB

First downs 12 8

Yards rushing 212 144

Passes C-A-I 6-8-0 1-7-1

Yards passing 85 66

Penalties-yards 3-20 3-30

Fumbles-lost 2- 4-

Punts-average 4-19.0 2-35.0

Individual statistics:

RUSHING - Altavista, Wimbish 19-143, Shellhorse 6-28, Clark 4-19, Myers 3-10. J.I. Burton, Martinez Miles 15-56, Malik Miles 10-27, Pennington 1-6, Crowder 1-3, Rice 1-3, Bates 4-(-5).

PASSING - Altavista, Wimbish 6-8-0-72, Adams 1-1-0-9. J.I. Burton, Crowder 1-5-0-66, Bates 0-2-1-0.

RECEIVING - Altavista, Miller 3-59, Robinson 2-16, Jordan 1-5, Payne 1-1. J.I. Burton, Goins 1-66.