By William “Skip” Deegans
This 1962 photo was shot after the Rainelle Rangers won the state class A football championship by defeating
Sophia 32-7. They were the first Greenbrier County team to win a state football championship. Under Coach Bob
Zopp, Rainelle entered the game with a 20-game winning street over two seasons and an average of 28 points per
game. Rainelle’s quarterback, Junior Smith, scored on three runs and passed to Tim Hanley for the fourth
touchdown. For the most part, the first string had played together since junior high under Coach Darrell (Blackie)
Goddard. During the 1961 season, the Rangers were coached by Jim Hambrick who moved on to Herbert Hoover
High School. Hambrick was replaced by Zopp who had coached Meadow Bridge to a state championship in 1958.
Shown in the photo are (left to right): Unknown, Junior Smith, Rodney Thompson, and Coach Bob Zopp.
Photo courtesy of Greenbrier Historical Society, Virginia Meadows Collection.
Source: Beckley Post Herald.
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