varsity.roanoke.com

The irresistible force vs. the immovable object.

Timesland rushing leader David Williams of Hidden Valley against Christiansburg's hit-anything-that-moves linebacker Zach Weller.

What a matchup to look forward to tonight in Christiansburg.

Only it's not going to happen.

Weller will miss the first full game of his four-year career tonight after straining an Achilles' tendon in the first half of the unbeaten Blue Demons' 26-19 River Ridge District victory at Pulaski County.

Christiansburg coach Tim Cromer said Weller suffered the injury after intercepting a pass. Weller's absence could make it much more difficult stopping the no-frills running style of Williams, who has gained 1,414 yards in just six games.

Junior Matt Cruz will start in Weller's place.

"We played the whole second half without [Weller] last week," Cromer said. "We'd played good enough team defense that we should be OK."

Weller's absence will not be Christiansburg's only lineup change.

Cromer said sophomore Brenden Motley will start at quarterback against Hidden Valley (4-2, 1-0) in place of junior Steven Wills.

Motley was a huge factor in last week's win. Not only did he make 13 tackles, block two extra points and ice the game with a late interception, the 6-foot-4, 175-pounder completed 2 of 2 passes for 44 yards and ran for 27 yards in the second half.

"We've used them both in most of our games this year, but Brenden will start," Cromer said. "We want to go ahead and see what he can do at the beginning of the game."

Christiansburg -- one of only three remaining unbeaten teams in Timesland along with Salem and Roanoke Catholic -- is itching for a victory over Hidden Valley.

The Titans have beaten the Blue Demons each of the past two seasons, helping prevent Cromer's team from making the Region IV Division 4 playoffs on both occasions.

This year, with at least two extra at-large berths available in Region IV, it appears at least four of the five Division 4 teams will make the playoffs.

That should take some of the pressure of Christiansburg, which ranks second in VHSL Rating Scale points behind Salem in Region IV Division 4.

"I think it probably does if you're looking at the playoffs," Cromer said. "But right now we're not looking past this game. We're just going week to week. We have not done a good job of that in the last couple years.

"We've done some things to cause us to fall, things that were kind of internal."

The River Ridge altered its scheduling order in 2009. For the first time, Christiansburg's first River Ridge game was not against Salem.

The Spartans have beaten the Blue Demons 41-0, 35-0 and 25-0 in the last three years.

"We've always opened with Salem," Cromer said. "That makes it more difficult. In this league, it's just nice to get a 'W.' That was a great road win last week."

Inside the numbers

Williams is one of four Timesland running backs with more than 1,000 yards rushing so far in 2009.

The others are Staunton River's Meech Coles (1,256), Fort Chiswell's Chris Rodriguez (1,100) and Northside's Philip Scott (1,093).

Three quarterbacks -- James River's Jordan Talbott (1,369), Eastern Montgomery's Shawn Christian (1,248) and Cave Spring's Josh Woodrum (1,034) have more than 1,000 yards passing.

The three receivers with the most catches in Timesland all play for Group A schools: East Mont's Brad Wooten (33 receptions), Grayson County's Eric Harvey (32) and James River's Chris Ware (31). All three are juniors.

George Wythe's Brandon Atwell is Mr. Versatility. He has 581 yards rushing in six games and has caught 15 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns. Atwell also is a perfect 15-for-15 on extra points and has kicked a 36-yard field goal.