More often than not, the Mohawk Bowl between Morgantown and University serves a dual purpose: It presents the winner with a huge, delicious serving of bragging rights for a year, but more importantly, it sorts out potential playoff seeding and impacts who will host playoff games.
This season, beyond the usual rivalry high-intensity stakes, both the 5-4 Hawks (No. 13) and the 4-5 Mohigans (No. 17) find themselves on the bubble in a fight for their postseason lives.
As Friday’s matchup at Pony Lewis Field approaches, here is how University got to this point. (Check out Morgantown’s season).
Game 1: John Marshall 35, University 28
The Hawks, ranked No. 5 in the state, opened the season on the road at John Marshall and were stunned (at the time) to limp home 0-1. A see-saw affair that included ties at 7, 14, and 21 apiece, the teeter eventually tottered back to the Monarchs for good in the third quarter on a long, 52-yard scoring pass to running back Charles McCool that put J.M. back in the lead at 28-21. And McCool wasn’t finished, as John Marshall forced a turnover on downs, then marched 66 yards to pay dirt, McCool’s 21-yard run his fourth score of the game to build the lead to 35-21 with just 7:34 left. UHS scored quickly, and blocked a field goal late for one last chance, but couldn’t move the ball.
Game 2: University 24, Parkersburg South 7
UHS rode a performance from Logan Holgorsen described by coach John Kelley as “magnificent” to earn their first win. The Bowling Green commit finished 25-of-33 for 339 yards and two touchdowns, and added 86 yards and another score on the ground. Amir Richardson and Parow both finished with 116 yards receiving. After a scoreless first quarter, a 16-yard Holgorsen scrambling touchdown run and a 71-yard scoring pass to Evan Parow put the Hawks in front by halftime. The Patriots got to within seven on a long TD pass in the second half, but a scoring connection to tight end Derek Richardson from the PS 19-yard line and a final Jonah Phares field goal sealed the win.
Game 3: University 40, Brooke 20
The Hawks’ first home game of the year turned out to be a relatively comfortable victory over the Bruins. Amir Richardson scored two first quarter TDs, but three Holgorsen interceptions allowed Brooke to tie the game in the first half. After a late rushing score from Ben Gribble before the half gave them the lead, UHS then shut down the Bruins offense and soared to victory in the second half, highlighted by a pair of Evan Parow TD catches.
Game 4: Wheeling Park 45, University 38
Back up to No. 8, UHS hosted No. 4 Wheeling Park, and the predicted high scoring fireworks lit up the scoreboard. Neither defense could control the prolific offenses, and after the first half ended 21-all, it became clear that the last team with the ball would likely take the win. The Hawks eventually took a 38-27 lead on a Holgorsen-to-Parow touchdown pass with 7:39 left, but Park scored, recovered a critical UHS fumble, then scored again with just 37 ticks remaining. A final WP fumble touchdown return ended it as time expired.
Game 5: Fairmont Senior 50, University 7
The Class AA powerhouse Polar Bears dominated at East-West Stadium to drop the Hawks below .500. And it started on the first play from scrimmage, a 76-yard Fairmont Senior TD pass, and their big play offense shredded UHS for 439 yards on just 40 plays. Kelley lamented the fact that his team was depleted due to injury, but more so that the effort wasn’t there. “We have to find a way to make the most out of our next four games … or we might not have a season,” he said.
Game 6: University 60 St. Albans 6
The Hawks righted the ship, especially on defense. UHS surrendered just 154 yards while also scoring 16 defensive points on a Christian Evans fumble return, an Andrew Myers interception and a safety. Amir Richardson and Joseph Williams each scored twice, but Holgorsen left the game early with a leg injury.
Game 7: Mountain Ridge (Md.) 34, University 13
Iosefa Pua’auli rushed for 210 yards and two TDs as the Miners’ Wing-T offense churned out 352 yards. The game could’ve been much closer, if not for 80 penalty yards and four interceptions from the Holgorsen-less Hawks. One pick came inside the 5-yard line, and the other turned into a pick-six. The loss left UHS at 3-4.
Game 8: University 46, Buckhannon-Upshur 19
The No. 13 Hawks were glad to be back home, and also glad to have Holgorsen back as well in the solid win. Despite the lingering effects of his high ankle sprain, the senior threw for 156 yards and four TDs — three to Parow in the second quarter — to lead UHS back to .500. The improving Hawks defense also limited the Bucs’ first team offense to very little success.
Game 9: University 50, Preston 0
Firmly in playoff mode, the Hawks again dominated a young, struggling opponent to jump to 5-4. Parow enjoyed a huge night, hauling in seven catches for 195 yards and five TDs as PHS double-covered Richardson most of the game. DUHS limited the injury-depleted Knights to just 98 yards.
