varsity.roanoke.com

KYLE GREEN The Roanoke Times

Christiansburg football coach Tim Cromer (right) and Demon Ethan Thompson celebrate their team's win over Hidden Valley.

Hidden Valley's Austin Meyers watches the final minutes of the Titans' 28-3 Region IV Division 4 semifinal loss to Christiansburg on Saturday at Dwight Bogle Stadium.

Photos by KYLE GREEN The Roanoke Times

Hidden Valley's Josh Kite (20) breaks up a pass intended for Christiansburg's Ryan Fisher (right) as the Blue Demons' Greg Lee (32) and the Titans' Kolton Lescure (80) look on during Saturday's game, won by Christiansburg 28-3.

The difference in the two football games played this season between Christiansburg and Hidden Valley was like ... night and day.

Beaten by a touchdown the first time on a rainy October night, Christiansburg had its day in the sun Saturday, as the Blue Demons drubbed Hidden Valley 28-3 in a Region IV Division 4 semifinal at Dwight Bogle Stadium.

Christiansburg held Timesland rushing leader David Williams to 79 yards as Hidden Valley had more than three times as many punts (10) as points. It was a far cry from the regular-season game between the two River Ridge District rivals, when Williams ran for 278 yards in a 28-21 win by the Titans.

"The last time we played them, they just physically took it to us," Christiansburg coach Tim Cromer said. "We challenged the kids."

Several things were different this time.

Foremost, star linebacker Zach Weller suited up for Christiansburg (9-3) after missing the first matchup with an ankle injury. Weller took advantage of a newly installed defensive game plan to join tackle Aaron Linkenhoker and linebacker Drew Bibb in limiting the Titans to just 108 yards of total offense.

"We did put in a new package," Weller said. "We call it the 'diamond.' Our two inside linebackers lined up over the guards, and I was 5 yards off the ball behind them."

Christiansburg, which plays at Salem next week in the regional final, also had a dry field Saturday after rushing for just 50 yards in the mud in the first game. Greg Lee rambled for a game-high 88 yards on 18 carries, while Ryan Fisher and Zach Snell combined for another 114, as the Blue Demons piled up 207 yards on the ground.

The other factor was the play of quarterback Steven Wills.

A junior, Wills lost his starting job to sophomore Brenden Motley on the eve of the first meeting with Hidden Valley. On Saturday, Wills ran for two touchdowns and threw for another in a reserve role.

"It was tough, losing my starting position," Wills said. "But you've just got to look at it as a challenge. Brenden's a heck of an athlete. Me and him work great together. After that happened, we had no controversy between us. We make each other better. We complement each other real well."

Motley's 39-yard pass to Tyler Tennessen set up Wills' 3-yard TD run for a quick 7-0 lead. Wills added a 1-yard sneak for a 14-3 halftime lead, then hit wide-open tight end Alex Dunn on for a 31-yard TD pass and a 21-3 Christiansburg lead with 6:48 left in the third quarter.

Later, Wills somehow avoided four Hidden Valley defenders on a rollout and bought enough time to hit Josh Winkle for a 35-yard gain that led to an 11-yard TD run by Snell.

How did Wills possibly escape that rush?

"If I knew, I'd tell you," he said. "Our receivers didn't quit. Our linemen didn't quit. It was just a great job."

Cromer was effusive in praise of Wills.

"He gets 100 percent of the credit," the Christiansburg coach said. "The way that he's handled himself is what's allowed him to be in a position to do what he did today."

Hidden Valley (8-3) lost the field-position battle all day as Christiansburg punter Patrick Rasnake was a major weapon. The only time the Titans started a drive across the 50, it resulted in their only points on a 42-yard field goal by Kevin Draudt.

Otherwise, almost nothing went right for the home team.

"They came out and they were more ready to play than our guys were," Hidden Valley coach Scott Weaver said. "We didn't really come out and play very well in any facet of the game.

"The field position, we never had it all day. We blew three coverages and it cost us 21 points. Those kids are seniors. They're great kids. Every now and then they miss something. It just happened to be today."

It was the final game for Williams, who finished the season with a phenomenal 2,528 rushing yards. The Blue Demons were just the second opponent that held the 5-foot-10, 178-pound senior under 200 yards.

"I wasn't expecting that personally," Williams said. "The team had a great year. We should have been ready to play. Christiansburg was just the better team today."

Christiansburg 7 7 14 0--28

Hidden Valley 0 3 0 0--3

C -- Wills 3 run (Rasnake kick)

HV -- FG Draudt 42

C -- Wills 1 run (Rasnake kick)

C -- Dunn 31 pass from Wills (Rasnake kick)

C -- Snell 11 run (Rasnake kick)

C HV

First downs 13 7

Yards rushing 44-207 35-70

Passes C-A-I 4-8-0 5-14-0

Yards passing 106 38

Penalties-yards 2-25 6-55

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0

Punts-average 4-35.8 10-32.0

Individual statistics

RUSHING -- Christiansburg, Lee 18-88, Fisher 11-60, Snell 11-54, Wills 2-4, Weller 2-1. Hidden Valley, 24-79, Josh Kite 1-(-1), Simonic 10-(-8).

PASSING -- Christiansburg, Motley 2-4-0-40, Wills 2-4-0-66. Hidden Valley, Simonic 5-13-0-38, Williams 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING -- Christiansburg, Tennessen 1-39, Winkle 1-35, Dunn 1-31, Fisher 1-1. Hidden Valley, Powers 2-14, Josh Kite 1-(-12), Brand 1-8, Patterson 1-4.