With playmakers and gamebreakers all over the field, you might not consider line play as a deciding factor for tonight's showdown between George Washington and South Charleston.
With playmakers and gamebreakers all over the field, you might not consider line play as a deciding factor for tonight's showdown between George Washington and South Charleston.
But what's up front will count when the Patriots (1-0) and Black Eagles (1-0) collide at 7:30 at Oakes Field in South Charleston.
"That's going to be one of the keys to whoever wins the football game,'' said SC coach John Messinger. "Offensively, I think we're pretty solid. Defensively, we're solid. Personally, I think it might boil down to whose offensive lineup steps up. I feel like we can score some points if our line steps up.''
Both teams had to rebuild their offensive fronts after suffering heavy graduation losses. It didn't seem to bother either side in its opener as SC, the two-time defending state champion, swamped Huntington 44-7 and GW blasted Woodrow Wilson 55-12.
"They're young on the line, and so are we,'' said GW coach Steve Edwards Jr. "I was watching film of their line, and it does a pretty good job. And ours continues to get better and it does a good job, too. It may be even up front and may still come down to the playmakers, and the guys making plays. You always hope they don't make one more than you do.''
That's about what it came down to last year, as South Charleston edged George Washington 28-21 in the regular season, a game in which both teams seemingly held momentum deep in the second half. SC scored on Walter Obey's 15-yard run with 38 seconds left, breaking a 21-all tie.
"Our athletes match up well with their athletes,'' Messinger said. "We may have a height advantage, but I can't say we even have half-a-step speed advantage. At the skills positions on offense, it's a toss up. I just think it's going to come down do which young linemen start coming of age early. I know Stevie's thinking the same thing.''
SC's offense is led by Kennedy Award winning quarterback Tyler Harris, running back Ray Coleman and receivers Pierria' Henry and Moe Makhene. All played large roles the last two years as the Black Eagles won 27 of 28 games.
For the Patriots, Nick Britton returns at quarterback, Felix Mollett and Ryan Switzer at running back and Cody Clay and Eric Aluise at receiving positions.
"I'll tell you, they didn't lose any skill,'' Edwards said of the Eagles. "Their skill people are very talented, and you have a good leader in Tyler, and you have to find a way to neutralize some of their quickness and playmaking ability and slow it down. I don't think you ever stop it, but if you slow it down and get a little bit of luck on your side, and make some plays yourself, you have a chance.''
Article Preview
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
GW, SC put it on the line tonight
With playmakers and gamebreakers all over the field, you might not consider line play as a deciding factor for tonight's showdown between George Washington and South Charleston.
But what's up front will count when the Patriots (1-0) and Black Eagles (1-0) collide at 7:30 at Oakes Field in South Charleston.
"That's going to be one of the keys to whoever wins the football game,'' said SC coach John Messinger. "Offensively, I think we're pretty solid. Defensively, we're solid. Personally, I think it might boil down to whose offensive lineup steps up. I feel like we can score some points if our line steps up.''
Both teams had to rebuild their offensive fronts after suffering heavy graduation losses. It didn't seem to bother either side in its opener as SC, the two-time defending state champion, swamped Huntington 44-7 and GW blasted Woodrow Wilson 55-12.
"They're young on the line, and so are we,'' said GW coach Steve Edwards Jr. "I was watching film of their line, and it does a pretty good job. And ours continues to get better and it does a good job, too. It may be even up front and may still come down to the playmakers, and the guys making plays. You always hope they don't make one more than you do.''
That's about what it came down to last year, as South Charleston edged George Washington 28-21 in the regular season, a game in which both teams seemingly held momentum deep in the second half. SC scored on Walter Obey's 15-yard run with 38 seconds left, breaking a 21-all tie.
"Our athletes match up well with their athletes,'' Messinger said. "We may have a height advantage, but I can't say we even have half-a-step speed advantage. At the skills positions on offense, it's a toss up. I just think it's going to come down do which young linemen start coming of age early. I know Stevie's thinking the same thing.''
SC's offense is led by Kennedy Award winning quarterback Tyler Harris, running back Ray Coleman and receivers Pierria' Henry and Moe Makhene. All played large roles the last two years as the Black Eagles won 27 of 28 games.
For the Patriots, Nick Britton returns at quarterback, Felix Mollett and Ryan Switzer at running back and Cody Clay and Eric Aluise at receiving positions.
"I'll tell you, they didn't lose any skill,'' Edwards said of the Eagles. "Their skill people are very talented, and you have a good leader in Tyler, and you have to find a way to neutralize some of their quickness and playmaking ability and slow it down. I don't think you ever stop it, but if you slow it down and get a little bit of luck on your side, and make some plays yourself, you have a chance.''
Click here to sign up for a one month subscription.
1 Month Online + Print Delivery
$31.99
Click here to sign up for our Premium subscription package.
With playmakers and gamebreakers all over the field, you might not consider line play as a deciding factor for tonight's showdown between George Washington and South Charleston.
But what's up front will count when the Patriots (1-0) and Black Eagles (1-0) collide at 7:30 at Oakes Field in South Charleston.
"That's going to be one of the keys to whoever wins the football game,'' said SC coach John Messinger. "Offensively, I think we're pretty solid. Defensively, we're solid. Personally, I think it might boil down to whose offensive lineup steps up. I feel like we can score some points if our line steps up.''
Both teams had to rebuild their offensive fronts after suffering heavy graduation losses. It didn't seem to bother either side in its opener as SC, the two-time defending state champion, swamped Huntington 44-7 and GW blasted Woodrow Wilson 55-12.
"They're young on the line, and so are we,'' said GW coach Steve Edwards Jr. "I was watching film of their line, and it does a pretty good job. And ours continues to get better and it does a good job, too. It may be even up front and may still come down to the playmakers, and the guys making plays. You always hope they don't make one more than you do.''
That's about what it came down to last year, as South Charleston edged George Washington 28-21 in the regular season, a game in which both teams seemingly held momentum deep in the second half. SC scored on Walter Obey's 15-yard run with 38 seconds left, breaking a 21-all tie.
"Our athletes match up well with their athletes,'' Messinger said. "We may have a height advantage, but I can't say we even have half-a-step speed advantage. At the skills positions on offense, it's a toss up. I just think it's going to come down do which young linemen start coming of age early. I know Stevie's thinking the same thing.''
SC's offense is led by Kennedy Award winning quarterback Tyler Harris, running back Ray Coleman and receivers Pierria' Henry and Moe Makhene. All played large roles the last two years as the Black Eagles won 27 of 28 games.
For the Patriots, Nick Britton returns at quarterback, Felix Mollett and Ryan Switzer at running back and Cody Clay and Eric Aluise at receiving positions.
"I'll tell you, they didn't lose any skill,'' Edwards said of the Eagles. "Their skill people are very talented, and you have a good leader in Tyler, and you have to find a way to neutralize some of their quickness and playmaking ability and slow it down. I don't think you ever stop it, but if you slow it down and get a little bit of luck on your side, and make some plays yourself, you have a chance.''
Even the kicking game seems too close to call. When the teams met in 2007 and 2008, they traded 13-12 regular-season victories as extra points proved hard to come by.
But now, each team feels confident in its place-kicker - Dakota Sanders for SC and Ansh Kumar for GW. Sanders has booted six field goals and 59 extra points last year and this year. Kumar, the Patriots' kicker since 2008, has drilled 72 PATs and one field goal.
Neither coach would hesitate to call on his placement specialist to win the game.
"He could be a difference-maker for us,'' Edwards said of Kumar. "He could be huge for us. We haven't had the chance to use him [for field goals] as much as we'd like to. Sometimes we try to set him up and we score a touchdown. It's not that we don't have confidence in him. We have all the confidence in the world. He can make things happen for us if we get the snap and the hold and give him time. He's worked hard on it, too.''
Sanders booted a 36-yard field goal for SC during last week's win in Huntington.
"Dakota's a real plus for us,'' Messinger said. "He's a senior, and he's pretty confident. And we have confidence in him whenever we get inside the 35. But the Kumar kid can flat knock the laces off it, too. He's pretty darn accurate.''
The forecast for tonight calls for a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
This article is available only to our premium digital content subscribers.
GW, SC put it on the line tonight
With playmakers and gamebreakers all over the field, you might not consider line play as a deciding factor for tonight's showdown between George Washington and South Charleston.
But what's up front will count when the Patriots (1-0) and Black Eagles (1-0) collide at 7:30 at Oakes Field in South Charleston.
"That's going to be one of the keys to whoever wins the football game,'' said SC coach John Messinger. "Offensively, I think we're pretty solid. Defensively, we're solid. Personally, I think it might boil down to whose offensive lineup steps up. I feel like we can score some points if our line steps up.''
Both teams had to rebuild their offensive fronts after suffering heavy graduation losses. It didn't seem to bother either side in its opener as SC, the two-time defending state champion, swamped Huntington 44-7 and GW blasted Woodrow Wilson 55-12.
"They're young on the line, and so are we,'' said GW coach Steve Edwards Jr. "I was watching film of their line, and it does a pretty good job. And ours continues to get better and it does a good job, too. It may be even up front and may still come down to the playmakers, and the guys making plays. You always hope they don't make one more than you do.''
That's about what it came down to last year, as South Charleston edged George Washington 28-21 in the regular season, a game in which both teams seemingly held momentum deep in the second half. SC scored on Walter Obey's 15-yard run with 38 seconds left, breaking a 21-all tie.
"Our athletes match up well with their athletes,'' Messinger said. "We may have a height advantage, but I can't say we even have half-a-step speed advantage. At the skills positions on offense, it's a toss up. I just think it's going to come down do which young linemen start coming of age early. I know Stevie's thinking the same thing.''
SC's offense is led by Kennedy Award winning quarterback Tyler Harris, running back Ray Coleman and receivers Pierria' Henry and Moe Makhene. All played large roles the last two years as the Black Eagles won 27 of 28 games.
For the Patriots, Nick Britton returns at quarterback, Felix Mollett and Ryan Switzer at running back and Cody Clay and Eric Aluise at receiving positions.
"I'll tell you, they didn't lose any skill,'' Edwards said of the Eagles. "Their skill people are very talented, and you have a good leader in Tyler, and you have to find a way to neutralize some of their quickness and playmaking ability and slow it down. I don't think you ever stop it, but if you slow it down and get a little bit of luck on your side, and make some plays yourself, you have a chance.''
