MORGANTOWN — It would be all too easy to tell you the story of Eric Snyder’s first-ever victory as a high school football head coach, one that came Friday night after University High dispatched of Buckhannon-Upshur 49-0 at Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium.
The victory came with Snyder getting ice water dumped on him afterward, something he was all too happy to take.
“It actually helped me relax my back,” Snyder said. “I was so tense all week and during the game. It’s the pressure I put on myself.”
There was still a sense of shock in the moments following the win, Snyder said. It had nothing to do with the ice and everything to do with the amazing touchdown grab sophomore Hayden George came up with late in the second quarter.
Snyder wasn’t alone, as George’s 30-yard, one-handed diving grab in the end zone likely had the referee standing just a few feet away in disbelief.
“I knew I could get to it,” said George, who finished with four catches for 127 yards and two scores.
He might have been the only one who felt that way.
“I felt he took too sharp of an angle on the post pattern,” Snyder said. “I thought the ball was going to go over his head.”
Snyder was already looking at his play sheet to figure out his next call when he heard a gasp and then cheering from the crowd.
“I looked up and saw the officials signaling a touchdown,” Snyder said. “I couldn’t believe it. That was an absolutely fantastic catch.”
It came off the arm of sophomore Harrison Helbig, who was making his first varsity start in place of the injured Jack Byrer.
Even that comes with a story, as Helbig stepped right in and completed 10 of 16 for 221 yards and three touchdowns.
Helbig and George built some chemistry as freshmen on the UHS junior varsity team a year ago.
“I told him all week if he needs me, I got you,” George said.
Did he ever.
The Hawks (1-1) had already built a 35-0 lead when Helbig launched the ball 30 yards on a tight spiral right down the middle of the field.
George had a step on the Buckhannon-Upshur defender, but appeared to need a miracle.
“When I dove, I felt the ball hit dead in my hand,” he said. “I actually kind of bobbled it, but was able to bring it in. When I caught it, I was so happy.”
It’s the kind of play UHS coaches have seen from George before in practice.
“He’s one of those kids who is obsessed with football,” Snyder said. “He’s a football junkie. He’s made some pretty good plays in practice, but nothing quite like that. That was special.”
The Hawks were able to take advantage of a struggling Buccaneers (0-3) team that has yet to score a single point this season, having been outscored 158-0 so far.
Freshman Brody Kehler rushed for 80 yards on nine carries and scored twice, one on a 30-yard run that came on a bad snap.
Kehler simply picked the ball up from the ground, cut to the right, broke a tackle and won a foot race to the end zone.
Glenn Brown scored two times, one on a 1-yard rush and another on a 22-yard push-pass reception from Helbig.
And University’s defense held B-U to just 77 total yards in pitching the shutout, as safety Luke Byrer came up with two interceptions.
All of it will settle into Snyder’s memory bank on his first win, but then there was the catch.
“Yeah, I think I can make one better than that,” George said with a smile.
Box score
Buckhannon-Upshur 0 0 0 0—0
University 14 28 7 0—49
SCORING SUMMARY
UHS— Glenn Brown 1 run (Brady Goodenow kick)
UHS— Brody Kehler 30 run (Goodenow kick)
UHS— Josh Jorge 9 run (Goodenow kick)
UHS— Kehler 11 run (Goodenow kick)
UHS— Hayden George 56 pass Harrison Helbig (Goodenow kick)
UHS— George 30 pass from Helbig (Goodenow kick)
UHS— Brown 22 pass from Helbig (Goodenow kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: University—Kehler 9-80 2 TD, Jorge 6-30 TD, Jeremiah Robinson 4-18, Derrick Kosinski 2-7, Brown 1-1 TD, Helbig 3-(-22), Team 1-(-19). Buckhannon-Upshur—Eli Watkins 12-23, Dawson Tenney 9-32, Chase Hacket 2-7, Colton Wendling 2-5, Alex Wamsley 1-6, Daniel Hedrick 5-0.
PASSING: University—Helbig 10-16 221 3 TD. Buckhannon-Upshur Tenney 1-10-2 4, Kaiden Marks 0-1.
RECEIVING: University—George 4-127 2 TD, Brown 3-53 TD, Kehler 1-18, Logan Deel 1-12, Kaleil Lewis 1-11. Buckhannon-Upshur Kellen Wolverton 1-4.
