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More on Giles

Coach, Steve Ragsdale: Steve Ragsdale began his tenure

at Giles High School at the start of the 1978 season.

Since that time, the son of legendary Narrows football

Coach Harry Ragsdale has established a history of his

own, leading the Spartans to two state titles and

numerous district and regional championships. Ragsdale

was sold on the offense that helped his father's team

become so successful. The single-wing offense has been

the backbone of Giles High School football ever since. Throughout

the 1980's and 90's, Giles High School has

become one of the most prominent high school football

programs in the state. In recent years, the Spartans

have owned both the Three Rivers District and Region C

Division II. The following is a summary of Spartan

Single-Wing Football under Ragsdale, who just wrapped up

his 23rd season at the helm of the Giles High School

football program.

On offense Coach Winfred Beale (District Coach of the Year in

`02) has all district center Eric Holfield returning, along with

2nd team all district selection at WR Alex Wilkens.

Honorable mention selection Abram Lance returns on the offensive

line. Chris Collins will contribute at RB and Ethan Mannon

at fullback. On defense all region selections Ethan Mannon (LB)

and Brandon Allen (DL) return with all district returnee Alex

Wilkens. Manning was the district defensive player of the

year last season. Collins will also play LB along with Brian

Carr. Eric Holfield will team with Allen on the front line

and Abram Lance and James Turner will be the defensive ends.

Coach Beale told us that he feels the strength of the team will

be the defense. Once the new offensive players gain needed

experience - watch out for the Buffs!

High School : In what may be a sign of a change, several

coaches in the district have picked Giles to win the

district. This is not a position that Floyd County will

give up without a fight. Coach Steve Ragsdale of Giles

told VirginiaPreps: "We should have good size. Overall team

speed could be a problem. Our numbers should be up with

approximately 40 juniors and seniors combined, which should give

us decent depth at certain positions. We have good

experience overall, but some real question marks at key

spots." The outlook on offense is positive since 9

starters return. Unfortunately the Spartans lost their best

offensive lineman (Gordon Oakes) but fellow all district

selection Zach Ratcliffe returns. The teams leading

rusher, Michael Farley (1,093 yards) reportedly has transferred,

but three year

starter Matthew Clarke at tight end returns. On the defensive side

of the ball there will be eight starters back including all

district selections Clarke (LB) and Thomas Olinger

(LB).

Radford: Entering his 34th season at Radford (259-99-6)

Head Coach Norman Lineburg and has an overall record of 290-136-8 in 40 years as

a head coach in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was selected to the

Virginia High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Last season, Coach Lineburg's

team reeled off 9 straight victories before running into Floyd

County and then the eventual state champion, George Wythe in the

playoffs.

Season Outlook:

OFFENSE

     Returning 3 starters on Offense two of which will

play the same position as last year.  Returning are

All-Timesland Receiver Terrell Dobbins (Sr. 6'4 195)

who snagged 32 receptions for 596 yards and 10

touchdowns in 2002.   Also returning are Tailback Josh

Dunbar (Sr. 5'5 167) who ran the ball 98 times for 499

yards and 7 touchdowns last year.  Senior Scott King

(6'0 232) returns on the offense but will be converted

to a FB from is '02 position of TE.  Senior Nathan

Charlton (6'3 180) will get the early nod at

Quarterback.  The interior line will be seven brand

new faces with the possibility of having 4 sophomore

starters.

DEFENSE:

     Defense looks to be ahead of the offense at this

point with 5 starters returning from last years unit

with a couple of players who did not start but seen

significant playing time in 2002.  Returning up front

will be Sophomore David Oliver (5'10 185) at Tackle.

In '02 David recorded 43 tackles, 5 sacks, and had 2

fumble recoveries.  Starting at the Nose position will

be Senior Alex Craig (6'1 210) who came on strong at

the end of last season with several key plays down the

stretch.  At the ends will be Sophomore Elliott Horton

(6'1 195) and Senior Galen Weyer (5'10 215).

Returning to quarterback the defense will be Senior

Scott King (6'0 232) who recorded 70 tackles and 2

interceptions in his first tour of duty at linebacker

last year.  Next to King will be Junior Matt Turner

(5'9 175) who had a solid season last year for the JV

squad and shows signs of having a natural instinct to

find the football.  At the outside linebacking spots

will be two new faces, juniors Drew Rigney (5'9 150)

and Justin Cox (5'6 145).  The secondary returns two

starters in Free Safety Terrell Dobbins (Sr. 6'4 195)

who had 52 tackles and 2 interceptions last season and

Senior Corner Trey Mitchell (5'9 156) who had 30

tackles and 3 interceptions.  Getting the nod at the

other corner will be Senior Alex Dickens (5'9 155).

SPECIAL TEAMS:

     Return First Team All-State Kicker Trey Mitchell

who converted all 7 field goal attempts in 2002 with 4

of those 7 outside of 40 yards.  He was also 36-38 on

PAT's.

Strengths:  Kicking Game and Defensive Unit.  Bobcat

Tradition

Weaknesses:  Youth and Inexperience.  Roster includes

11 Seniors, 13 Juniors, and 6 Sophomores.  Of those

players, 9 saw significant playing time last year at

the Varsity Level.  Returning 7 letterman off of a 40

member 2002 squad.

Outlook:

Dobbins should be outstanding, and Mitchell is as good a high

school kicker as you will find. Another key player will be Scott

King at LB and FB (moved from TE). Josh Dunbar is a returning

starter at TB. With little experience at QB and not much

size or experience upfront, the 'Cats will be challenged by more experienced

opponents. Never count out a Lineburg coached team.

Glenvar Coach Lee Johnson

from Glenvar told us: "We are real excited about the team

we have coming back this year. WE lost 13 seniors to

graduation but our younger players have worked hard in the

off-season to be ready for their chance. We were playing

much better football at the end of last season. On offense and

defense we will have a lot of youth who will get better with

experience. The thing we like about this team is their

work ethic and energy." Coach Ragsdale added that

"The Three Rivers District is a tough district and we have

some tough players. It should be interesting". Key

players for the Highlanders will be Dustin Pickle (RB/JR),

Dustin Denny (RB/SR), Cody Kidd (QB/JR), Max Crush (OL/JR) and

Carter Brown (RB/SO), on defense: Pickle (LB), Denny (LB),

Daniel Janosko (LB/JR), Daniel Ayers (DB/SO), Corey Reynolds

(DE/SO) and Levi Scott (DB/SO).

Eastern Montgomery coach Brett

McPherson told VirginiaPreps that he has ten starters returning

on defense and seven on offense. His two running back,

Josh Smith (1,100 yds / 25 TDs) and A. J. Trovata (715 yds) will

run behind a line that returns 4 starters. On defense the

entire secondary and linebacking crew return. Coach

McPherson indicated that his group has made a good effort in the

weight room during the off-season.

Auburn High School: Coach

Steve Wright told VirginiaPreps, "We have 4 of our 5

offensive line starters returning, but we have a question mark

at QB. We have young skill players with promise. On

defense we have 8 returnees that have good potential.

" As Coach Wright said, the offense will have

experience up front and young players at the skill positions and

on defense the speed will be above average, along with very good

experience.