varsity.roanoke.com

CHILHOWIE -- To run the single-wing offense successfully, Giles has to win first and second down in order to get favorable third-and-short situations.

Chilhowie never allowed it to happen until the game was decided Friday night in the Region C Division 2 semifinals.

Repeatedly forcing the Spartans into third-and-long spots, the Warriors grounded the single wing until they had built a comfortable lead en route to a 35-17 win.

Second-seeded Chilhowie (10-1) travels to No. 1 seed Floyd County, a 15-14 winner over George Wythe, for the regional title next Friday. Giles finishes its season at 6-5.

To first-year coach Mike Williams, there was no mystery why the Warriors won.

"They're 10-1," he said. "That's a good football team we played. They got some penetration on our offensive line and we kept going into third and long."

Giles scored first when Virginia Tech-bound kicker Cody Journell hit a 41-yard field goal just over five minutes into the game, but it would be its only lead.

The Spartans managed just 42 yards offensively in the first half and didn't gain a first down in the second quarter. Journell's slip-and-fall on a fourth-and-5 play from the Chilhowie 42 on the first play of the second quarter was the downfall's beginning.

Mixing power runs with timely long passes, the Warriors scored touchdowns on their next two drives for a 14-3 halftime lead.

Chilhowie pulled away in the third quarter as tailback Alex Russell (20 carries, 137 yards) pounded away at Giles' front eight.

Russell's 1-yard scoring run at the 2:32 mark increased the margin to 21-3.

"After we got over the first few plays on offense," he said, "we executed like we can. My line was great ... I love them to death."

After Travis Robertson's 5-yard TD run with 10:50 left got the Spartans within 21-9, the Warriors promptly marched 80 yards in nine running plays, with Tuff Williams scoring on a 10-yard sweep with 7:08 left to extinguish Giles' last hope.

"Fantastic 48-minute effort," Chilhowie coach Larry Russell said of his team's performance.

Fullback Justin Gautier finished with 111 yards in 15 carries, mostly coming after Chilhowie led by 18 points. Journell was held to 34 yards on 15 attempts and sat out part of the second half with a hand injury.

Giles 3 0 0 14--17

Chilhowie 0 14 7 14--35

G -- FG Journell 41

C -- Jackson 13 run (Russell kick)

C -- Russell 18 pass from Jackson (Russell kick)

C -- Russell 1 run (Russell kick)

G -- Robinson 5 run (run failed)

C -- Williams 10 run (Russell kick)

C -- Adams 87 fumble return (Russell kick)

G -- Bane 3 run (Journell run)