MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — University (3-5) looks to stay on the winning path this week against bordering rival Preston (2-6) after blowing out Buckhannon-Upshur last Friday, but both teams are fighting for more than just a win — they want to make the playoffs.
Although late in the season, it looks as if John Kelley has finally found some sense of calmness at the quarterback position, starting freshman Chase Edwards for the first time Friday and moving Joseph McBee to his natural position at running back. Edwards had a three-touchdown night against the Buccaneers, throwing for 150 yards and two touchdowns, while adding the final score on the ground in addition to 45 yards.
One may not see a 45-yard run game as impressive, but one also needs to understand that Edwards isn’t traditionally a running quarterback, coming out of a spread system at Mountaineer Middle School.
“I’m actually starting to pick up on the option better,” Edwards said to The Dominion Post’s Justin Jackson. “They were crashing the middle on us, so we went to the outside. They were keying on our pitch man, so I kept it most of the time. Well, there were a couple of times I probably could have pitched it, but I kept it.”
When asked about the system change, UHS coach John Kelley told Jackson that he credits his assistant Shane Ziats for helping Chase develop in the Hawks’ offense so quickly. He also credited the freshman’s high football IQ, experience and confidence in the role as making the process easier than it normally would be.
“We needed a win because we’ve been working hard and came up short,” Kelley said. “On paper, it was a game we technically should have won, and after the first series, things went our way and we took advantage of it. It’s a good way to head into the final part of the season.
“Chase is more comfortable (after Friday), and the more success he has, the more it’ll build his confidence. Joey is too valuable to us and he willingly agreed to go to running back, so that helped us and Chase out. Those two work together pretty well. By now, if we didn’t have success running, it we should probably be in trouble, and I think — especially in the Buckhannon game — people think if they take the first and pitch keys away from us that Chase being a freshman wouldn’t hurt them, but that’s not true. He truly gives us the triple-option.”
Preston coach Jonathan Tennant has watched the Hawks run the triple-option in film plenty up to the meeting and has been focusing heavily on that this week in practice.
“We know them well … it’s always a fun game,” Tennant said. “They’re one of the most even teams we’ll see all year as far as run and pass. We haven’t seen a team this balanced since Week 2 against North Marion.”
After defeating the run-heavy Washington Patriots — a single-wing offense — the Knights look for their defense to do the same against better runners. On offense, Tennant switched up his offensive line to give his runners just as good of a chance. Tennant has also brought his Knights defense back to what it naturally is — a 4-2-5 team.
“J.J. had a phenomenal game — he sees the field so well,” Tennant said. “Gribble will be back at 100% this week, (too). It’s a one-two punch we’re looking at, plus we’ve got skill on the outside that can (break) the UHS defense.”
With the early-season lack of production out of the pocket, the Hawks have relied heavily on senior Logan Raber to keep the offense alive. So far this year, he has 114 rushes for 728 yards and six touchdowns — three coming on Friday behind 12 carries for 122 yards.
“Logan is the guy that makes us go, if he’s not successful, then there’s not much else we can go to,” Kelley said. “He’s beaten up pretty bad, so he’ll be a little limited Friday. But his presence on the field offensively and defensively makes us go. We’re to the point that if they take Raber away from us, we’ve got other weapons now that they can’t do that.”
Opposite of Raber, clad in black and grey, is Colton Rosenberger.
Even with his star wideout, Tennant switches up his calls as much as possible against a stifling Hawks’ secondary.
“Colton can stretch the field, but those are low percentage plays,” Tennant said. “We’ll try to shorten the passing game because of their pressure.”
“Rosenberger is a tremendous football player. He scares me,” Kelley said. “They present a problem because they can line up in a power formation and get you to put eight in the box. Then you have to know where Rosenberger’s at every single time because they’ll play-action you and get the ball to him. Now they’re using him in different places and letting him run the football.
“For the first time as long as I can remember, this is the most meaningful game against Preston. They’ll win their final two games, and they know if they get us, then they’ll get into the playoffs,” Kelley said. “It’s very meaningful to both teams, and we have to win this one before we worry about the next one.”
