varsity.roanoke.com

BLACKSBURG - William Fleming High School's football team is formidable enough after a normal work week. Given a couple of extra couple of days to prepare, the Colonels are even better.

Delayed by ill weather last weekend, Monday's nondistrict game with Blacksburg was two days late. Because of a scheduling conflict at Victory Stadium, the Colonels even lost their home game when the game was moved to the Bruins' field. No worries for the Colonels, though.

Propelled by a dominant second half and a wide-open offense, Fleming clobbered Blacksburg 35-14.

The score was deadlocked at 14-14 at the break, but after that, it was all Colonels (2-1). The Bruins (1-2) had but two first downs and 76 total yards in the second half.

"Our defense came to play big in the second half tonight," said Dere Hicks, who played both quarterback and defensive back for Fleming.

Blacksburg's cause was hindered by three turnovers. After quarterback Daniel Smith's 3-yard sneak and Will Matthews' extra-point kick tied the score at 14 with three seconds left in the first quarter, the Bruins were ineffective offensively.

"That's a fair assessment," Blacksburg coach David Crist said. "I'd say the guys in the blue shirts [Fleming] had a lot to do with that."

Hicks was again the match that lit the fuse for Fleming. He had 255 yards of total offense, completing 15 of 20 throws for 221 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored a TD.

As its foes have noted previously this season, these aren't the same old Colonels. For one thing, they operate the majority of the time out of a shotgun set with anywhere from three to five wideouts.

"We have him to thank," said Hicks, pointing out assistant coach Al Holland Jr., a former Fleming quarterback credited with the installation of the new offense.

And what does that offense provide?

"Freedom," Hicks said. "Freedom to make plays. Freedom to make things happen."

Hicks had TD tosses of 15 yards to Dwayne Priest and 20 to Darryl Gresham in the second half. In between, Hicks scored himself on a 1-yard plunge with 6:44 left.

"We made a couple of adjustments and the players played harder," Fleming coach Keith Smith said. "Offensively, they played well the whole game."

Priest had eight carries for 84 yards and a touchdown and also caught three passes for 23 yards. His heads-up play to go to the open spot in the end zone while Hicks was scrambling for time resulted in a 15-yard touchdown catch.

"Fleming has gone to their strength, which is their speed," Crist said.

Blacksburg 7 7 0 0 - 14

William Fleming 7 7 7 14 - 35

B-Sales 17 run (Matthews kick)

WF-Robertson 50 pass from Hicks (Dempsey kick)

B-Smith 3 run (Matthews kick)

WF-Priest 4 run (Dempsey kick)

WF-Priest 15 pass from Hicks (Dempsey kick)

WF-Hicks 1 run (Dempsey kick)

WF-Gresham 20 pass from Hicks (Dempsey kick)

BHS WF

First downs 9 17

Yards rushing 59 170

Passes C-A-I 8-22-1 15-20-0

Yards passing 88 221

Penalties-yards 3-25 3-30

Fumbles-lost 4-2 3-3

Punts-average 6-38.3 3-36

Individual statistics

RUSHING - Blacksburg, Sales 16-39, Gregory 3-11, Jennings 2-7, Turley 1-2; William Fleming, Priest 8-84, Hicks 12-63, Curtis 7-19, Logan 1-7, Alexander 1-1, Thompson 1-(-4).

PASSING - Blacksburg, Smith 8-21-1-86, Sales 0-1-0-0; William Fleming, Hicks 15-20-0-221.

RECEIVING - Blacksburg, Doss 2-43, Jennings 4-39, Sales 1-2, DiSalvo 1-4; William Fleming, Robertson 2-61, Ashford 3-42, Thompson 2-34, Curtis 2-32, Hicks 3-23, Fleming 1-20, Hairston 1-9."Fleming has gone to their strength, which is their speed."

DAVID CRIST

Blacksburg coach