Time to honor legendary coach Alan Cantrell for his induction into the sports hall of fame.

Time to defend winning records. 17-1 for the top-ranked girls; 15-2 for the boys.

So how did they do? Girls beat Giles 94-49 with 18 points from Emily Boothe and 15 from homecoming queen Krista Cox.   Boys demolished Giles 97-68, thanks to 35 points from Caleb Tanner (including nine three pointers) and solid performances from the rest of the them.

More photos and Roger Mannon’s stories in next week’s Floyd Press.

Anyone who follows Floyd County High School girls’ basketball knows this is no place for sissies when the Lady Buffs take the court.

The varsity girls’ team took two victories in their holiday tournament last week, beating Patrick County 76-46 on Tuesday and Bassett 64-33 on Thursday.

Full story and more photos in Thursday’s Floyd Press.

Both the girls and boys cross-country track teams at Floyd County High School qualified for the state meet Wednesday at the regional finals near Hillsville.

The girls team finished second and boys clocked it at third.

Both teams posted strong showings.

More photos and a complete story in next week’s Floyd Press.

Powerhouse Radford was expected to roll over Floyd County with ease on a cold, windy Saturday after weather postponed the Buffaloes final home game of the season from Friday night.

But the outcome proved as unpredictable as the winter October blast.

The scrappy Buffaloes held the Bobcats scoreless in the first half and went into the locker room tied 0-0.

Radford scored first in the second half but Floyd County used a turnover to score late in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.

Roger Mannon’s full story and more photos in Thursday’s Floyd Press.

Floyd added a field goal in overtime but Radford scored and won 13-10.

Shots from Tuesday night’ home FCHS volleyball finale.

Volleyball is always a fun sport to photograph. It has lots of action and a healthy dose of passion from players, coaches and fans.

There’s also beauty and grace in the young athletes who compete in the sport.

It’s a tough, often rough-and-tumble game that showcases the competitive nature of the players and the intensity of the game.

Floyd County High School’s varsity volleyball team has struggled this season, scoring its first win recently but the JV team has scored some impressive wins and lost a 2-1 nail biter against Giles Thursday night.

The success of the JV team holds lots of promise when the young players move up to the varsity squad.

But win or lose, the passion of the players comes through each time I watch them play and have the pleasure of photographing them in action.

Which means I have as much fun as the players on the court.

And while it may be a sport limited to young women in Virginia high schools, it’s not a genteel game.

In other words, it’s no place for sissies.

More photos in next week’s Floyd Press.

After a morning of rain — sometimes hard-driving downpours — the skies cleared Friday afternoon and things looked good for Floyd County High School’s homecoming came against Fort Chiswell.

But the skies opened up again right as the game started and fans headed under umbrellas and hoods and any protection they could find.

The rain also put a damper on Floyd County’s offense and defense as Fort Chiswell jumped out to a 14-0 lead.  After a penalty call wiped out a long touchdown pass the Buffaloes finally got on the board by recovering a fumble and scoring shortly afterwards but the point after failed when the kicker slipped on the wet field, leaving the score at 14-6.  Another drive stalled with a fumble and Fort Chiswell added a field goal to lead 17-6 at the half.

Still, Floyd County was in striking distance, trailing 17-12 when the game entered the fourth quarter but Fort Chiswell broke the game open with a touchdown pass, an intersception return for a touchdown.

Final score: 30-12.

Floyd has next Friday off, giving them two weeks to prepare for a road game at Glenvar.

Roger Mannon’s full story and more pictures in next week’s Floyd Press.

First quarter touchdown

If you believed the high school prognosticators, Floyd County didn’t have a chance against George Wythe Friday night.

But the Buffaloes jumped out to a 7-0 lead with a touchdown on their first possession and lead 13-7 after a touchdown pass from quarterback Gus Underwood.

Underwood threw three TD passes, including a 57-yarder in the fourth quarter but GW overpowered Floyd County and won the hard-fought game 31-19.

Floyd heads into next week’s homecoming game against Fort Chiswell with a 1-3 record but a good effort against George Whythe Friday night, coming off a 62-0 pasting against Patrick County last week, showcases the team’s potential.

The team improves each week and has rebounded from lopsided losses against Christiansburg and Galax in the first two games of the season.

Stay tuned. There’s still plenty of football to come.

See you at homecoming next Friday.

A quick, early-evening storm sent members of  musical group Windfall scrambling to cover equipment and attendees of Hotel Floyd’s Thursday Night concert series under cover just as the show was set to begin but the skies soon cleared for a beautiful evening of favorites from the popular foursome.

I’ve been an unabashed fan of the music of Dave Fason, Michael Kovic, Kari Thomas-Kovic and Rusty May since returning to Floyd in 2004 and first hearing them play at the old “Spring Into Summer” event in front of the county courthouse that year — back when they were called “Brother Wind.”

I’m also a fan of what Jack and Derek Wall have accomplished with the Thursday Night summer music at the Hotel Floyd pavilion.  The free concerts have become an integral part of what makes Floyd unique.

By the time darkness settled over the Hotel pavilion and the sky turned a deep, beautiful glowing blue, those who waited out the weather were treated to an enjoyable mix of traditional and original music from a group that is itself a mainstay in Floyd’s music scene.

If you haven’t taken in the free concerts at Hotel Floyd this season, do so before the 2011 series ends its 2011 run.  Rain or shine, it’s a treat.

Although Floyd has evolved into more than just a Friday Night town, the night at the end of the traditional work week is still a special time.

Friday night is when the visitors come to town for the Jamboree and the music in the streets.

Friday night is when you find the kids dancing in the Country Store alongside the older folks.

Friday Night’s centerpiece is the jamboree and the street music but it is only part of the story.

Friday Night is usually music night at Dogtown Roadhouse.

You can also find music at Oddfellas Cantina.

Friday night is a special night in a special town.

Some folks work overtime to find fault with Floyd. I seldom see those naysayers on the streets on Friday nights. What I do see is a lot of people having a good time and enjoying a unique evening in a unique place.

That’s the magic of Floyd.

I shot these photos last Friday night after stopping in downtown following the football season opener at FCHS.  The video below is raw footage shot and some of it will be used in an updated documentary about the Friday Night Jamboree.