Blacksburg's Hard Hitter
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Sports Editor larry@gaffneyledger.com
      Rashad Earls is listed at only 5-foot-9 and 150 lbs. on the Blacksburg Wildcat roster. But, in reality, no one plays a bigger role for his team. Earls lines up at wide receiver and cornerback and plays on special teams - and he's productive in all three roles.
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Improved Vikes renew rivalry with Indians
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Sports Editor larry@gaffneyledger.com
      Straining to see every play until the final seconds almost has been required of fans when Gaffney and Spartanburg meet on the football field. Gaffney edged the Vikings, 14-7, last season. The two storied programs renew their rivalry today at the Reservation.
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LEDGER FOOTBALL EXPERTS
      Let's see how our Ledger Staffers pick 'em this week!
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BRIEFS
      Gaffney's Josh Gallman shot a second round 2-under 70 to finish at even-par at the Hartford Hawks Invitational and in a tie for ninth. It marked his 19th career top-10 finish, including 13 in NCAA Division I. USC Spartanburg finished 11th in the tournament.
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Photo
     PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Gaffney defensive lineman Coby Beckham displays his Burns Chevrolet Player of the Week award for his performance against Byrnes on Friday.
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Where are the WINS?
Many of sport's biggest stars are without a victory as the 2008 Cup season rolls on
By RICK MINTER Cox News Service
      One of the perplexing aspects of the 2008 Sprint Cup season is how three former champions, still in the prime of their careers, have run 29 of the scheduled 36 races without winning. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth are in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, but they've done it without winning races.
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NUMERICALLY SPEAKING
      75 Most lead changes at Talladega Superspeedway (May 6, 1984). 10 Victories at Talladega by Rick Hendrick, tops among car owners. 8 Years between Bobby Hillin Jr.'s last two starts in the Nationwide Series (2000 at O'Reilly Raceway Park and last week at Kansas Speedway).
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Racing community remembers Newman
      The NASCAR community, like all of motorsports, lost a great friend last week with the passing of actor/racer Paul Newman, who died at age 83. NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick issued a statement expressing his appreciation of the Hollywood icon.
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Rick Minter's OBSERVATIONS
Key story lines as NASCAR heads to Talladega.
      Key Chase races ahead This weekend's AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway and the Oct. 19 TUMS QuikPak at Martinsville Speedway generally are considered the two "wild card" races in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
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