By STEVE CANNULI
Sports Editor
For the sixth year in a row and the 13th time overall, the Reidsville Rams will be hosting a prep football game on Thanksgiving weekend. This year the Rams will host St. Pauls at Community Stadium in a NCHSAA 2-AA quarterfinal playoff game.
This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools and the 74th different opponent to battle the Rams.
"It's fun to be playing this time of the year," said Reidsville head coach Jimmy Teague from his home Tuesday night. "Everyone associates Thanksgiving with football and there's a lot at stake right now."Teague said heading into the team's 2006 Thanksgiving weekend game, "home field advantage is a big factor, especially around this one [weekend]."
The Rams' first taste of turkey and football took place in 1969 when Reidsville defeated Mount Airy, 35-12 to win the Western 3-A Championship. One year later, the Rams defeated Pisgah, 10-7 at Kiker Stadium to repeat as state champion.It took 20 years for Reidsville to appear in another Thanksgiving weekend game.
In 1990, the Rams lost a 21-16 thriller to Southern Nash - the first of three straight 'turkey weekend' losses.
Reidsville got back on track in 1998 with one of its two most dramatic and memorable Thanksgiving weekend wins.
The Rams scored a 34-33 win over two-time defending state champion Clinton and current Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker. The other win was last season's 30-29 last-second victory over Newton-Conover, when many of the Ram faithful had made their way to the parking lot in the face of defeat.
Following a loss to Southwest Onslow (47-13) in 2000, the Rams have gone on their current five-game Thanksgiving weekend winning streak. Reidsville's 1998 win over Clinton was special because the Rams had their championship hopes dashed three previous times in the decade in the third round.
The win, at that time, got Reidsville to its furthest point in the state playoffs since the 1970 Western 3-A State Championship - won by the Rams, 10-7 over Pisgah.Trailing 21-14 late in the first half, the Rams got a second quarter touchdown pass from Josh Duncan to Kenyon Laughlin (11 yards) that tied the game at 21-21 heading into halftime.
Clinton, despite 401 yards rushing - 203 from Parker on 25 carries, could not overcome three fumbles.The Rams won although they were outgained, 475-339. Victor Slade's nine-yard touchdown run and a 19-yard touchdown reception by Isaiah Robinson from Duncan gave the Rams a 34-27 lead. Duncan was 12 for 22 for 239 yards and three touchdowns. With 2:03 remaining, Clinton turned a Reidsville interception into a Bryan Peterson TD run and narrowed the deficit to 34-33.
Having already missed one extra point earlier in the game, Brent McGirt missed wide right on the game-tying PAT - due to a low snap from center. McGirt had converted 29 straight heading into the game.
"Their three turnovers helped a great deal," said Teague, following the game. "We never stopped them but two or three times; they stopped themselves."
Clinton, which had won 20 straight games, finished the season at 12-1.Reidsville, which is in search of its 16th state championship and 21st state championship appearance, found itself in another historic game last season.
Newton-Conover stood toe to toe with the Rams on a muddy Community Stadium field in the 2006 quarterfinal playoff game. A 16-point third quarter got the Red Devils back into the contest (leading 23-17), after falling behind early 14-0.
With 4:31 left in the game, Reidsville led 24-23 following a one-yard plunge from quarterback Ray Ray Butchee. Marc Tuttle added his third extra point to go along with a 22-yard field goal in the third quarter.
The Red Devils answered back with a Devon Danner 25-yard TD run that came with just 1:34 left. After a pair of big catches from Julius Graves that got the Rams into Newton territory, Graves was hit from behind and fumbled, turning the ball over to N-C with 56 seconds left on the clock.
At that point, Ram fans headed for the parking lot, the Newton-Conover band began to play "Na na na na, hey, hey, hey goodbye" and the P.A. announcer at the Burlington Cummings game announced that Newton-Conover would battle their Cavaliers the following week. That's when the "Miracle in the Mud" happened.
With a 29-24 lead, the Red Devils had the ball at their own 45. Reidsville had its full allotment of timeouts; prompting N-C head coach Nick Bazzle to try to run for the first down instead of taking three kneel-downs and punting. After two plays netted the Red Devils four yards, the visitors were faced with a third and six from N-C 49.
With 43 seconds left on the clock, Newton fullback Brian Sullivan was stacked up at the line of scrimmage by E.J. Foster, Larry Blackwell and Kwame Graves. Just then, Reidsville linebacker John Connally yanked the ball out and raced down to the N-C 2-yard line. Butchee scored on the next play, giving the Rams an improbable 30-29 lead.
Jordan Gunter intercepted Danner on the Red Devils' last-ditch effort and the Rams were on to the state semifinals.
"You can't play in a better atmosphere than we played tonight," said Teague following last year's game. "That's what high school football is all about."Like in 1998, the opposing team's fumbles - two by Newton-Conover - helped the Rams record their dramatic victories.
Reidsville is 8-4 all-time on Thanksgiving weekend.