The Roanoke Times from Roanoke, Virginia • 19

i Sports No 22 Virginia Tech 16 East Carolina 3 No 27 1 hough the champagne 3 game skid avoided See TECH 4 See YANKEES 7 QB Taylor gets Tech back on its feet See MCARLING 4 Opposing coaches take notice of Barnette ductive running quarterback and second leading rusher behind tailback Darren Evans Entering Thursday Tay Are you a River Ridge Dis trict football coach who has burned the midnight oil trying to find a way to defend Stephen Barnette? Do the late nights watch ing the senior receiver flash ONLINE Catch the Varsity Cast at varsityroanokecom for this game of the week: Roanoke Catholic at North Cross Also get updated scofes at twittercomtimesland Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor runs for a touchdown in the second quarter increasing the Hokies' lead to 13 0 Ik MORE INSIDE Robert Anderson picks tonight's winners Page 3 THE ROANOKE TIMES RIDAY NOVEMBER 6 2009 Associated Press Johnny Damon (left) and Joba Chamberlain celebrate after the Yankees won the World Series title on Wednesday NEW YORK The sign men were out bright and early at the Yankees minor league complex sticking vinyl strips with a fresh white over the that had been up on the board for nine long years to mark the total of World Series titles Wind caused a few prob lems at the I limes complex in Tampa la but eventually the numbers were posted along with a new in what had been an open blue space below a ton of manager Joe Girardi said on WAN radio later in the day a sense of relief because you know that you could rest your mind a little bit for a Turmoil and turnover ceased in Yankeeland at least for the moment A 7 3 victory over Philadelphia on Wednes day night had brought the title back to the Bronx etching the names of Alex Rodriguez Hideki Matsui Johnny Damon CO Sabathia and others into the long list of champions "Every World Series victory is special but this one is espe cially sweet coming in the first year in our new home" owner George Steinbrenner said in i statement Even though the chiblious was still wet with champagn Thursday and the triumphant parade through the Canyon of Heroes was a day away atten tion already was turning to the future Girardi said he was likely to switch from uniform No 27 to No 28 next year signifying the next quest But which players will the Yankees add for their title defense? Are the likes of John Lackey and Matt Holliday in the mix? you have got to get after general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday By Randy King randykingroanokecom 981 3126 pus in Huntington WVa so they could drive to home games In the spring of 2007 the Barnettes showed up in Salem eighth grade year we had a lot of Stephen Barnette said remember Reggie saying to me a couple of times do we have to Plenty of opposing coaches arc asking the same thing Stephen Barnette has developed into See BARNETTE 3 By Robert Anderson robertandersonroanokecom 981 3123 Salem standout receiver Stephen Barnette is a nightmare for defenses across Timesland GREENVILLE NC It pretty but Virginia Tech will take it and run acing the prospects of losing a third straight game for the first time in six years the 22nd ranked Hokies went back to the basics and slugged their way past East Carolina 16 3 on Thursday night at Dowdy icklen Stadium Riding a career high 179 rushing ya rds by redshirt freshman tailback Ryan Williams Next game Virginia Tech at Maryland Nov 14 1 pm miss Taylor forcing the other team into when he finished as the most pro mistakes Taylor finding the end zone with his legs Includimi the one sack against him Taylor was credited with 11 rushing lor was the Hokies fourth leading rusher attempts for 61 yards in the Hokies 16 3 victory at East Carolina That might not sound like much until you consider what averaged this year coming into this one: 188 rushing yards per game total nearly nailed his average from last year (615 per game) Photos by JUSTIN COOK I The Roanoke Times Tech defender Rashad Carmichael (right) takes down East Carolina's Dwayne Harris (17) Thursday night at Dowdy icklen Stadium in Greenville NC Littlepage discusses Groh QB Sewell doubtful Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage says he will evaluate head football coach Al Groh at the end of this season UVa starting quarterback Jameel Sewell is listed as doubtful to play against Miami on Saturday PAGES Yankees to relish The Hokies get back to winning ways as freshman tailback Ryan Williams rumbles for a career high 179 rushing yards across the video screen leave you bleary eyed and sleep deprived? Blame Mar women's basket ball program If the Thun dering Herd recruited Alix Barnette three years ago her younger brothers identical twins Stephen and Reggie might not be in Salem today The Barnette family was living in Chapel Hill NC when they decided to move closer to the Marshall cam TIMESLAND TOP 10 1 Salem 9 0 2 ranklin County 8 1 3 Liberty 8 1 4 William leming 6 2 5 Cave Spring 8 1 6 Northside 7 2 7 Hidden Valley 6 3 8 Christiansburg 6 3 1 9 Jefferson orest 5 4 10 ort Chiswell 8 1 3 STEPHANIE KLEIN DAVIS The Roanoke Salem receiver Stephen Barnette is averaging 215 yards per catch on 32 receptions and has caught five touchdown passes and a stout performance by its defense Tech washed away the misery of back to back losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina the past 20 days It was sweet redemption for Williams Last Thursday in Blacksburg the hard running back lost a fumble for the first time in his college career that set up a game winning field goal that enabled UNC to beat the heavily favored Hokies GREENVILLE NC Some might consider it ugly or desperate or remedial But for quarterback Tyrod Taylor running the ball is none of those things And for Virginia Tech a necessity We saw it atrain Thurs dav nitrht somethin we seen enough of this year: Tay lor in the open field making defenders 1 liursday talk of next season has begun Associated Press Aaron Mcarling aaronmcfarlingroanokecom 981 3124 or more coverage thisseason from the Virginia The Hokies often trumpet game reacj passing efficiency this season which ranks 12th in the nation a good The lnsiders thing for sure a sign of progress But blog and see a photo gallery at roanokecom iw Mm' fj I MMiH'lrMr gwSX laBc I ManibrgH 1 JjfHBBL CiMBR wT I ttiiLT wi ly Jr Mi ffliIBMMr mt si Hi IM I MlHp i iHMHnL 'i iMlliWIIHI1 1 Br i I JBli i wi ir I I I ft Wg MiWQWIHRI a II 'M TEKW TMTirl 20 asj I 1 A IjpiiWIiWIMtHrr Ju uJ I i 5 1 I I i Efe aaal 5 EiSlKl 'L EWV I fe I i i I 1 As A 4 i 1 BIB to.