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Raider head coach, flanked by assistants Russell Stump (left) and Paul Burdette, talks to his team after the game. |
By JIM COOPER
Sports Editor - This is the time of year around here when high schoolers traditionally put away the pads and helmets and get out the roundballs and wrestling headgear. Fittingly, all of the above are mentioned in this week’s notes from the local sports scene.
A few items to tie a bow on the Roane County High football season:
Although they managed a non-losing regular season at 5-5, the Raiders did finish with a loss to complete their first losing record since an 0-10 mark in 2002, coach Tom Hardman’s first year.
No one would question that the program has come a long way in the past five years, with all non-losing regular seasons, one big-school LKC championship and a pair of playoff berths during that stretch.
Hardman thinks the offensive line was the key to this year’s team, good and bad.
“That’s really something we’ve got to pay attention to in the years to come,” he said. “As the O-line goes, so the team goes.”
The Raiders figure to return four of five starters up front next year. Center Seth Williams was the only senior.
The coach also noted that this year’s team did a good job of handling adversity, both on the field and off. They recovered after their playoff hopes were seemingly dashed at least three times and also dealt with deaths and illness involving people close to the program.
“I think our guys have grown into young men during the course of the season and that’s a big deal,” Hardman said.
And finally, you can expect to see seven Raiders on the LKC first team when it is announced in the near future. If that seems like a lot, you’re right. This year for the first time, the conference honors were split into Class AA and Class A teams.
Some information has trickled in concerning the scrimmage situation for RCHS basketball teams.
The Lady Raiders are set to visit George Washington on Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. and then take in the women’s game at the Charleston Civic Center that night featuring WVU and defending national champ Tennessee.
Roane will also host Herbert Hoover at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 29. That evening will also include a joint Meet the Team event with the Raider boys beginning at 5:30.
The boys are reportedly going to scrimmage Hannan and Charleston Catholic, although the dates and times have not been finalized.
The Raider wrestlers are set to open their regular season on Dec. 14 when Williamstown, Wirt County and George Washington travel to Spencer.
The quad is the first test in what has to be the toughest schedule in RCHS history. More on that later.
