Saturday's matchup different from 2005 game

By STEVE CANNULI
Sports Editor
The teams are the same and their coaching staffs are basically the same and not much has changed in their offensive and defensive approaches, but Golden Lions head coach Chris Norman knows Saturday's Reidsville-Shelby 2-AA state championship game is different from two years ago.
"These are two different football teams from 2005," said Norman. "Our base offense and defense has not changed much, but we are different from two years ago. The one thing that has not changed about Reidsville is that they still have speed."
The two storied programs, who have combined to win 25 state championships, return very few players from that 2005 meeting - won by Shelby 26-18.
Despite all that, Saturday's title game still has the same feel.
"In the 2005 game, the kids really got after each other," said Norman. "It was a game between two class organizations and I have no doubt Saturday will be no different."
Trying to stop a Reidsville offense that has produced 742 points (49.5 per game) and 6,286 yards (419 per game) is something the Golden Lions' head coach knows is tough to do.
"You expect speed at the skill positions," he said. "They have speed everywhere. The first thing I said when I watched them on tape is 'wow.'"
One could say 'wow' when looking at the Shelby defense, a unit that has allowed only 7.8 points per game and has not surrendered more than 15 points in any one contest.
"We have hung our hats on defense," said Norman. "We have won a bunch of games we shouldn't have because of the defense."
Shelby's defense is going to have to do something that only Reidsville has done and that is slow down senior tailback Tayon Graves. Graves, who up until last week, saw little time in the second half of the first three Reidsville postseason games. Despite that, Graves has amassed 2,079 yards and 43 touchdowns - both career highs.
"If you want to put guys on the line of scrimmage, they say we'll throw it to these good receivers," said Norman. "If you want to play soft coverage, they'll hand it to 42 (Graves) 40 times and let him score 15 touchdowns."
The lone Reidsville starters from the 2005 meeting are Kerry Hammock, Marcus Pickard and Graves. For Shelby, only right tackle Casey Burnett and defensive tackle Quevalas Murray are back.
Linebacker Corey Brooks, Sr., 6-0, 171 pounds, leads the Golden Lions defense with 114 tackles and seven blocked kicks. Cornerback Roderick Black leads the team with six interceptions.
Defensive end Lanston Tanyi (Sr., 6-3, 230), a Shrine Bowl selection, and Calvin Gullatte (Sr., 6-4, 173) anchor the defensive end spots.
"Reidsville is not a one-dimensional football team," said Norman, who has compiled a 118-26-1 record to go along with three state championships. "The key to offensive football is making first downs and moving the chains. It doesn't matter how."
With Reidsville quarterback Ray Ray Butchee in the shotgun Saturday, the Golden Lions defense will have to be wary of a signal caller, who has thrown for 1,885 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 824 yards and 17 TDs.
"Both offenses start there, with the quarterback position," said Norman.
Where it all ends, no one knows, but someone on Saturday will be crowned 2-AA state champion.