MORGANTOWN — Good things, they say, come in threes.
The original Star Wars trilogy, the Three Little Pigs, and University High’s wide receiver triplets of Jaeden Hammack, Sage Clawges and Elija Jackson.
Those three wide receivers have accounted for 1,194 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns. To put that into perspective, the Hawks (8-0) have thrown for just over 2,000 yards as a team and 27 touchdowns. So, it’s safe to say that Friday’s annual Mohawk Bowl will be tied to the success of the UHS wideouts.
“This is the ninth game of the year, and everybody thinks this is the greatest game. It’s a wonderful event, but (Morgantown) is going to do their thing and we are going to do our thing,” UHS head coach John Kelley said. “They are over there worried about how they are going to stop our receivers and we are over here worried about how we are going to stop their Wing-T.”
Once again, the veteran coach puts things in perspective. There’s no secret University’s chances of its first win in this rivalry since 2017 is going to be tied to the ability to throw the ball with its three-pronged receiving attack.
Each one of them provides a different skill set and each one of them has had success this season.
Clawges, a junior, leads the team with 501 yards receiving. He’s second on the team with eight touchdowns and uses his 6-foot-5 frame to make some amazing catches. He also admits being a stereotypical diva wide receiver.
“I like looking nice,” Clawges said with a laugh. “I like winning more but looking nice is a big part of that.”
Quarterback Chase Edwards said Clawges provides a great target with his frame and athleticism.
“If need be, I know I can throw the ball anywhere and he will go up and get it,” Edwards said.
The fastest among the trio is the senior, Jackson, who leads the team with nine touchdowns and 29 catches for 458 yards. He said he enjoys being the mentor to Clawges and Hammack.
“These are my sons,” Jackson said. “I taught them how to play football. I taught them how to shake ‘n’ bake and be shifty on the field.”
None of them may be shiftier than Hammack, a junior, who has 235 yards on 16 grabs with four touchdowns. He also has the best grasp of the offense, according to offensive coordinator Eric Snyder, and might be the most unselfish.
“If I don’t get the ball, it just means someone else is getting a chance,” Hammack said. “We can’t get too high or too low, just have to worry about the next play.”
That humble attitude comes across in all three receivers, but don’t let them fool anyone. They are very competitive and all three want the ball — on every play.
“They are all very skilled,” Edwards said. “But on every single play, they are all telling me they are open and they’re probably not wrong.”
Kelley even goes as far as to call this the best group of receivers he has had during his 35-year career at UHS.
“I’ve never had this many who we can put out there and just say go ahead and double that guy, because we have others who are just as good,” Kelley said. “That’s why we have been successful this year, because any one of them can get the job done.”
All three aspire to play at the next level. Clawges already has an offer from West Liberty, Hammack has interest from Delaware State, and Jackson has flown under the radar, but Kelley said he expects some college is going to get a steal.
Snyder, in his first year as the UHS offensive coordinator, said he knew there was talent at the wide receiver position when he took over. However, he didn’t know it was at this level.
“They add that extra dimension that makes this work,” Snyder said. “They can make people miss or make difficult catches. The fact is, we have multiple threats that can help us put six points on the board.”
Of course, none of this works if the offense isn’t clicking as an entire unit. That means that the offensive line is blocking, Edwards is comfortable in the pocket, and the receivers are running the correct route at the right time.
Much of that timing was developed over the summer when the receivers, along with Edwards, spent time at the field by themselves.
“I trust them,” Edwards said. “That trust has to be there. They are a special group and that makes it easy on me.”
By ERIC HERTER
TWEET @dompostsports
