Paul Blazer quarterback Sam Hunter hands off to Matt McLeod, who has four touchdowns in his team's first two games.
A matchup born out of necessity is starting to look like an early-season showdown.
George Washington and Paul Blazer, schools located 66 miles apart, match swift starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Ashland, Ky., in an interesting interstate game.
The Patriots opened their season last week with a 61-0 conquest of South Charleston, a Class AAA power that had won 40 of its previous 43 games. Ashland, meanwhile, has outscored Kentucky foes Lawrence County (36-16) and Raceland (58-12).
All of which should make for good theater Friday night in the Bluegrass State. But just how did this production come about? Simple. Each needed a game.
"Sixteen teams in our conference, and we couldn't get 10 ballgames,'' said GW coach Steve Edwards Jr. of the Mountain State Athletic Conference.
"We had to go searching, and we kind of found each other on the Internet, I guess. We put out there that we needed a game, and they were also looking to fill a spot. We happened to hook up on the right date.
"It's a good thing for both of us. They've had to travel 31/2, sometimes four hours to play, and sometimes on a Saturday. This is just down the road from each other. It's closer for us than going to someplace like Greenbrier East, even Beckley and Parkersburg sometimes. The dates just happened to fit. They're coming down here next year, and maybe if it works out we can keep [playing] all the time.''
Edwards admitted the game does present some different situations. For one, the Patriots are playing a program they know little about - although each team has seen the other play already this season and the two exchanged game tapes.
"The familiarity is not there with the program,'' Edwards said, "and what their coaches like to do, like you have for the teams around here. But everybody has their tendencies. Hopefully it works both ways, and it will not be too much of an advantage for either one of us.''
A glance at the numbers would indicate a high-scoring game is in store.
A matchup born out of necessity is starting to look like an early-season showdown.
George Washington and Paul Blazer, schools located 66 miles apart, match swift starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Ashland, Ky., in an interesting interstate game.
The Patriots opened their season last week with a 61-0 conquest of South Charleston, a Class AAA power that had won 40 of its previous 43 games. Ashland, meanwhile, has outscored Kentucky foes Lawrence County (36-16) and Raceland (58-12).
All of which should make for good theater Friday night in the Bluegrass State. But just how did this production come about? Simple. Each needed a game.
"Sixteen teams in our conference, and we couldn't get 10 ballgames,'' said GW coach Steve Edwards Jr. of the Mountain State Athletic Conference.
"We had to go searching, and we kind of found each other on the Internet, I guess. We put out there that we needed a game, and they were also looking to fill a spot. We happened to hook up on the right date.
"It's a good thing for both of us. They've had to travel 31/2, sometimes four hours to play, and sometimes on a Saturday. This is just down the road from each other. It's closer for us than going to someplace like Greenbrier East, even Beckley and Parkersburg sometimes. The dates just happened to fit. They're coming down here next year, and maybe if it works out we can keep [playing] all the time.''
Edwards admitted the game does present some different situations. For one, the Patriots are playing a program they know little about - although each team has seen the other play already this season and the two exchanged game tapes.
"The familiarity is not there with the program,'' Edwards said, "and what their coaches like to do, like you have for the teams around here. But everybody has their tendencies. Hopefully it works both ways, and it will not be too much of an advantage for either one of us.''
A glance at the numbers would indicate a high-scoring game is in store.
GW ran for 356 yards in its opener and piled up 458 overall. The Tomcats average 452 yards, 314 of which come on the ground.
"I'm not really sure how they'll attack us,'' Edwards said, "but they run multiple stuff, and they'll probably run what they usually run. They run the counter trey, the spread, the wing-T, some I-formation.
"They're well coached and really solid. [Coach Leon Hart] runs a good program. He's been there nine years and those kids have been successful since he's been there. I really think this is one of the best teams they've had there for a long time, and they play with a lot of confidence.''
The Tomcats sport plenty of offensive weapons, led by quarterback Sam Hunter, a fourth-year starter. Hunter has completed 18-of-26 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, and has rushed for 110 yards and two more scores on 15 attempts.
The balanced rushing attack is led by Chris Prichard (17 carries, 200 yards, TD), Matt McLeod (20 carries, 173 yards, four TDs) and Aaron Elam (six carries, 91 yards, TD). The top receivers are 6-foot-3, 180-pound Cody Withrow (eight catches, 121 yards, TD) and Malik Massey (four catches, 71 yards, TD).
"They're bigger than we are,'' Edwards said, "and their size is going to be a factor for us, I think. They've got nice team speed, too, but I think we can match up with them there.''
GW will doubtlessly rely on elusive junior running back Ryan Switzer, who burst out of the blocks last week with 262 yards and four TDs on 16 carries. His scores covered 31, 61, 33 and 6 yards, and he also caught a 79-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Bell.
Fullback Dustin Crouser added three TDs on just five carries (37, 1, 11 yards) and he covered 78 yards on his attempts. Bell tried just four passes, but completed three for 102 yards with one pick.
Crouser also had eight total tackles from a linebacker spot to lead GW's defense.
Reach Rick Ryan at 304-348-5175 or rickr...@wvgazette.com.
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