The Roanoke Times: Sports

Clemson holds off wildcatting Cavs - roanoke.com

Virginia goes with an offensive switch that works well until it loses Mikell Simpson to injury.

CLEMSON, S.C. -- There was a wildcat on the loose Saturday, and for a while, it threatened to put a damper on Clemson's division-clinching celebration.

Actually, the Tigers had clinched a spot in the ACC championship game before taking the field at Memorial Stadium, but an anticipated walkover did not materialize.

Grimm night for Wolfpack - roanoke.com

Tech blasts N.C. State behind LB Cody Grimm's huge game and 397 yards from the offense.

BLACKSBURG -- Following Virginia Tech's 38-10 thumping of North Carolina State on Saturday at Lane Stadium, Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster offered a strong observation on linebacker Cody Grimm's performance this season.

Boykin grants Taylor comfort - roanoke.com

BLACKSBURG -- Originally, Tyrod Taylor planned to throw to tight end Andre Smith over the middle.

Then he saw flanker Danny Coale zipping across the field. Another option for the Virginia Tech quarterback.

Day after son's birth, Virgil shines - roanoke.com

BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech's Stephan Virgil picked a great time for what he called his "best game" of the season Saturday.

The Hokies' senior cornerback, whose season has been somewhat slowed by a knee injury he sustained in the fourth quarter of the Sept. 5 season opener against Alabama, forced a fumble and recovered another one in Tech's 38-10 romp over North Carolina State.

Wildcat set suits Simpson - roanoke.com

CLEMSON -- Mikell Simpson's legacy as a Virginia running back will be his knack for producing memorable moments when least expected.

That was certainly the case Saturday, when Simpson had 127 all-purpose yards in the first half and had UVa within three points of 18th-ranked Clemson in a game the Cavaliers would lose 34-21.

Johns Hopkins eliminates Tigers - roanoke.com

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY -- Johns Hopkins controlled possession of the ball for more than 26 minutes in the second half and eliminated Hampden-Sydney 23-7 in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Keydets' big offensive day not enough - roanoke.com

VMI finishes with 444 yards, but first-year team Old Dominion holds on in a high-scoring victory.

LEXINGTON -- On film, the trouble at VMI is clear.

Linebacker Emilio Calvin said that on every Monday this season when the Keydets settle in to watch game film with their coaches, they never get docked for lack of effort.

On the path to stardom - roanoke.com

Transferring to UVa re-energizes former Timesland great Catherine White.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Jason Vigilante was vacationing in Colorado -- or, maybe it was Oregon -- when he got word that Catherine White was interested in transferring to Virginia.

Vigilante, who serves as director for all of UVa's track-and-field and cross-country programs, hesitates when asked about his reaction.

Chargers fall in final to Gate City - roanoke.com

Bath County, winners of 24 straight, loses the final game 15-10 after taking a 9-8 lead.

RICHMOND -- Bath County's magic carpet ride met some anticipated turbulence at the Siegel Center on Saturday in the form of defending Group A champion Gate City.

Playing inspired volleyball in a two-hour test, the upstart Chargers extended the Blue Devils to the limit before bowing 21-25, 28-26, 23-25, 25-17, 15-10.

Demons even score with Titans - roanoke.com

Christiansburg avenges its regular-season loss to Hidden Valley and heads on to the region finals.

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.

Anderson Rhodes winner - roanoke.com

At some point, Jordan Anderson might be able to gauge the response to his selection as a Rhodes Scholarship winner.

That was a little difficult Saturday.

Well-wishers trying to get in touch with Anderson by cellphone were quickly shifted to voice mail.

For Martin, a career in the rearview mirror - roanoke.com

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Mark Martin chases a championship he doesn't need. He refuses to define himself based on titles won even if many others do.

Championships, though, once consumed him, ate at him and caused sleepless nights. No matter how hard he worked, how focused he was and how much he inspired his team, he couldn't win a championship in NASCAR's top series.

Include victims' message in safety class - roanoke.com

Ralph Graybill got the news midday Wednesday when he called his wife to check in from his deer camp in Botetourt County.

The evening before a hunter in Franklin County had shot at three Ferrum students after mistaking them for deer, killing one student and injuring another.

Season ends for Tech soccer - roanoke.com

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Virginia Tech's best women's soccer season ever ended thousands of miles away late Friday night.

Danielle Foxhoven and Kendra Chandhoke each scored twice and Portland beat the Hokies 4-1 in the third round of the NCAA soccer tournament.

Dale Jr. pines for more racing - roanoke.com

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Today ends what has been one of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s most frustrating seasons. Although he comes into today's race at Homestead-Miami Speedway 24th in the points, he's not ready for the season to end.

Duke crushes Radford - roanoke.com

The Blue Devils make a school-record 18 3-pointers to overwhelm Radford.

DURHAM, N.C. -- Of the college basketball teams who might be susceptible to a zone defense, Duke's not usually among them.

Radford, making a first trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday, was forced into the zone because of a shortage of big men. In response, the Blue Devils shot 56.3 percent from 3-point range to score more than half their points from distance while dismissing the Highlanders 104-67 before 9,314 fans.

Sene's return benefits UVa - roanoke.com

The center sets a new high after his 3-game suspension as the Cavs down Oral Roberts.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Assane Sene looked good in his season debut Saturday.

The Virginia center, who had been suspended for his team's first three games, scored a career-high eight points in the Cavaliers' 76-55 win over Oral Roberts at John Paul Jones Arena.

Liberty wins on big 'pick 6' - roanoke.com

Anthony Reynolds returns an interception 101 yards for a TD to give Liberty the lead.

BEDFORD -- Folks at Liberty High School labored long and hard to attempt to dry 100 yards worth of soggy football field this week.

So, Anthony Reynolds figured why not use it all?

And then some.