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MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Christiansburg High School football coach Tim Cromer (left) talks to his players as Zach Weller (center) gets ready to run a play during practice. "We've got very good defensive players," Cromer says. "But let's put this in perspective. Weller has that experience. He's a four-year starter. He calls all our signals. He was an all-state middle linebacker last year. He has the athletic ability to play anywhere we want him. That's the kind of player he is."

KYLE GREEN The Roanoke Times

Christiansburg High School fullback Zach Weller (center), gets taken down at the 1-yard line by Hidden Valley football players during Christiansburg's 28-3 win last week. The Blue Demons face Salem at 7:30 p.m. tonight for a shot at the regional crown, with Weller's defensive contributions vital.

| Ray Cox

ray.cox@roanoke.com, 381-1672

CHRISTIANSBURG -- As the Blue Demons were preparing for their rematch with River Ridge District rival Hidden Valley in last week's VHSL Group AA Division 4 Region IV semifinal, the focus of discussion was how Christiansburg would handle the Titans' ace running back David Williams.

He'd wielded the torch as Hidden Valley scorched the Demons 28-21 on Oct. 16, rushing for a backbreaking 278 yards and two touchdowns.

Three weeks ago in his last outing prior to the playoffs, Williams scored four times while running point on a 340-yard overland attack as the Titans stopped archrival (and one of tonight's Division 3 regional finalists) Cave Spring 28-21 in the last game of the regular season.

Knowing all that, Christiansburg's radio announcer had a bold prediction about the Hidden Valley-Christiansburg Round II.

"I like Christiansburg in the rematch," said Chuck Altizer, also a freelance writer for The Roanoke Times.

"They're playing well and a healthy Zach Weller will be worth 100 yards off Williams' rushing total this time."

Although the radio man was on the dollar on the first prediction -- the Demons demolished the host Titans 28-3 -- he was off on his second prophesy. The defense didn't hold Williams to 100 yards fewer than his rushing total in the first game, it limited him to almost 200 fewer. The hard-running Williams finished with 79 yards on 24 carries. The Titans netted 70 as a team.

Weller, the merciless middle linebacker, is now more or less free of pain after a serious Achilles pull/sprained ankle in Game 6 caused him to miss the first Hidden Valley clash entirely.

As the Demons face another rematch at 7:30 p.m. tonight with a visit to Salem and a shot at the regional crown, Weller and his fellow defenders could be the difference.

In postseason victories over Bassett and Hidden Valley, Christiansburg has yielded nine points total.

"And the TD Bassett scored, late in the game, was on a fumble return," Christiansburg coach Tim Cromer said. "The only offensive points we've given up is a field goal."

So the claim could plausibly be made that Weller's presence was a major factor in a 200-yard reduction in Hidden Valley's offensive effectiveness last week.

That may be too simplistic, the way Weller sees it.

"This year, it seems like the focus is so much better," he said. "Everybody knows their assignments and not just everybody but ever-y-body knows the assignments, second team, too."

Meaning, there are no indispensable players, the ace middle linebacker included.

"If somebody goes down, I hate to say it, but we could just put somebody else right back in," Weller said. "Like when I got hurt, Matt Cruz stepped in and did a great job. He had 21 tackles against Hidden Valley."

Not lost was this on the coach.

"We've got very good defensive players," Cromer said. "But let's put this in perspective. Weller has that experience. He's a four-year starter. He calls all our signals. He was an all-state middle linebacker last year. He has the athletic ability to play anywhere we want him. That's the kind of player he is.

"You add a great player to an already good defense and you've got the chance to have a great defense. His impact is overwhelming, really."

After returning to the lineup after sitting against the Titans the first time, Weller played two games at reduced capability.

The stretch was the roughest of the season for Christiansburg -- which endured a three-game losing streak to Hidden Valley, Salem, and Cave Spring, yielding 94 points in the process.

"I don't think it was a coincidence," Cromer said.

By Weller's estimation, he wasn't back close to his old ways until the Blacksburg clash the last regular-season game.

"Before that, I was basically picking a spot and going to it because I couldn't move laterally," he said.

Guess right, and it works out; wrong, and an opposing running back has an empty hole and a chance to make a play.

"I hate to say that but that was the way it was," Weller said.

Weller was particularly frustrated with the way things went in the first Salem game, when the Spartans rallied from two touchdowns down to claim a three-overtime 45-43 thriller.

Hard-nosed with his analysis as he is at the line of scrimmage, Weller rated his effectiveness in that game as "no good."

Somebody else might tell you Weller on one wheel is better than a lot of others on two. In any event, the Demons are looking forward to the Salem rematch.

"We'll work on our pass coverage this week," said senior Michael Miller, one of the five linebackers in Christiansburg's three-man front defense.

"Once we get that out of the way, our inside linebacker can take out the running. It'll be a pretty good deal."

With end Aaron Linkenhoker anchoring the defensive line and Brenden Motley keying the defensive backs, Christiansburg's linebackers have piled up the ballcarriers and the numbers.

Among Weller (team-leading 147 tackles), junior Drew Bibb (141), senior Jared Looney, junior Ethan Thompson, and Miller, they've combined for 534 tackles, 43.2 percent of the team total of 1,235.

All concerned believe the move to an almost pure two-platoon offense-defense approach this year has been a huge benefit. The Demons have been able to do so because of unprecedented depth, Cromer has said.

"It keeps us healthy, it keeps us rested and ready to play defense," said Looney, whose 96 stops rank fourth on the team. "It helps us to play to our best potential every game."

All the defensive players also have an offensive position.

Weller, for example, can play fullback and will probably do so increasingly if the Demons continue. Motley has been getting the majority of snaps at quarterback. Yet for most defensive players, that is their primary role.

The spirit of teamwork has taken firm hold.

Said Thompson: "We're all playing downhill now."