TIM HAYES
Bristol Herald Courier
Outside linebacker Tandom Smith helped Roanoke College earn the school's first varsity football win since 1942 on Saturday with a 23-7 victory over Virginia University-Lynchburg in front of 5,643 fans at Salem Stadium.
"It was awesome," Smith said. "Having that many people come out to support us made it better."
However, that wasn't the only historical milestone experienced over the weekend by the George Wythe High School graduate.
He became Roanoke's first-ever Old Dominion Athletic Conference football player of the week on Sunday when he was cited as the league's top performer on special teams.
That was a result of a punt he blocked that was recovered by teammate Brayden Andrews in the end zone for Roanoke's first touchdown with 13:14 remaining in the first quarter.
Smith also starred on defense, making a team-high nine tackles.
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"Emotions were intense," Smith said. "Everyone was fired up ready to go but also stayed levelheaded."
Smith started on both sides of the ball at GW and as a dual-threat quarterback was a catalyst as the Maroons finished as 2022 VHSL Class 1 state runner-up.
At Roanoke, he has all the makings of a tackling machine.
"I loved offense but the feeling while being on defense is something else," Smith said. "It's you versus the opponent. Defense is definitely my favorite."
Bluefield State's boot
Bluefield State's Joey Dales kicked a 39-yard field goal and made all five of his extra point attempts in Saturday's 38-31 non-conference football victory over Concord.
The ex-Graham High School standout has scored 13 points through the season's first two games.
Senior linebacker Jaden Keller (Tennessee High) recorded three tackles for the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday in their 44-20 loss to Vanderbilt.
Ferrum trio
Daniel Hutton (Chilhowie), Yubrenal Isabelle (Graham) and Dasean Lucas (Abingdon) made contributions for the Ferrum College Panthers on Saturday in their 42-7 football loss to the Virginia Military Institute Keydets.
Hutton averaged 38.4 yards on seven punts, Isabelle notched three tackles and Lucas made one stop.
Thatcher's status
Tennessee High graduate Thatcher Hutton averaged 30 yards on three punts for the Presbyterian Blue Hose on Saturday in their 39-38 overtime football win over Furman.
Bluefield's best
Freshmen Kylee Sturgill (J.I. Burton) and Katie Barrett (John Battle) helped Bluefield University earn a 25-6, 25-6, 25-10 season-opening volleyball victory over Sweet Briar College on Sept. 2.
Sturgill dished out 19 assists and served five aces, while Barrett had three digs.
Gibson digs it
Gracie Gibson hustled her way to 34 digs for the volleyball team at Alice Lloyd College on Aug. 26 in a four-set loss to Kentucky Christian.
Through the first nine matches of the 2025 season, the ex-Union High School star has tallied a team-high 142 digs for the Eagles.
Goodwin still good
Hannah Goodwin (Chilhowie) is still dominating at the net for the volleyball team at Bob Jones University.
She has 125 kills, 29 blocks and 16 aces through the season's first nine matches.
Goodwin slammed down 22 kills against Methodist on Aug. 29 and the following day notched nine blocks against Averett.
Abingdon harriers
Rives Boltwood and Gregory Poisson are among the former Abingdon High School distance runners competing at the next level.
Competing for Furman University on Aug. 29, Boltwood placed 12th at the Upstate Eye Opener in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The sophomore crossed the finish line of the men's 8K race in 25:04.3.
Making his debut for Boston University on Friday in the Friar Cross Country Invitational in Attleboro, Massachusetts, Poisson navigated the 6K course in 19:12.59 in finishing 24th.
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