MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The inimitable American humorist Mark Twain once quipped “There are lies, darn lies, and statistics.”
Most college and high school football fans – and certain veteran University High football coaches – would add another category to this dubious list: Rankings. For Friday night it was John Kelley’s 1-0 Hawks who hosted Jefferson in their COVID-delayed home opener as, surprisingly, the No. 1 Class AAA team in the state.
And when all was said and done, the WVSSAC ranking computers seemed to have engaged in some considerable fibbing, or at least the formulas utilized didn’t have nearly enough data, because the visiting Cougars jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, then thwarted a valiant Hawks comeback with a fourth-quarter extra point block to earn a hard-fought 14-13 victory.
Jefferson (2-3) took the opening kick and proceeded to shred the University defense on a 15-play, 70-yard drive highlighted by the precision timing pattern passing of quarterback Sammy Roberts. The JHS line dominated, an 8-yard slashing scoring run from fullback Christian Blowe the capper. On their first opportunity, the Hawks’ offense immediately turned the ball over on a strip-sack, but the defense held for a turnover on downs. However, a quick three-and-out by UHS was followed by a second Jefferson touchdown drive, the nine-play, 50-yard finished off by a 15-yard strike from Roberts to tight end Nathan Muhle.
University, thrilled that the disastrous first quarter was over – UHS was outgained 140 to -1 – got back in the game with a quick-strike, 61-yard drive on six plays. The deficit was halved on a gorgeous post route connection from quarterback Chase Edwards to speedy wide receiver T.T. Brooks. Both teams exchanged turnovers with UHS’s Joey McBee using superior tip-drill hands to pick off a pass, punts and turnovers on downs to close out the half.
A 65-yard return of the second-half kickoff from Daminn Cunningham set the Hawks up just 14-yards from the end zone, but a costly procedure penalty on first and goal from the 1-yard line led to a crucial fourth-down stop by the Cougars. The rest of the third quarter was controlled by the defenses and the field position battle was finally overcome by the Hawks early in the final frame. Their best drive of the night, covering 81 yards in 13 plays, led to a clutch fourth-down crossing pattern TD pass from Edwards to Brooks. In what turned out to be the game-deciding moment, a sluggish extra point attempt was blocked by Jefferson.
The Cougars ate six minutes off the clock but finally were stopped on downs on the Hawks 15 with 3:07 on the clock. After a pass interference first down, UHS was unable to move the ball, and after the turnover on downs, Jefferson’s workhorse running back Evan Tewell – who gained 146 yards on 25 carries – picked up one last first down to run out the clock.
After the game, Kelley had nothing but praise for JHS, especially their talented quarterback.
“I thought Roberts was the difference,” he said. “He was really nailing his timing throws early on, and their line was outplaying us on both sides. We finally woke up in the second quarter, and I thought our defense did a tremendous job, especially in the second half, especially considering where the offense put them with turnovers and poor drives. I felt like we were the better team for about 2 ½ quarters, but we couldn’t put the ball in the end zone.
“Maybe we came out a little flat, and maybe that ridiculous ranking motivated them a little bit. But football is a game of execution, and with all the mistakes we made throughout this game – mistakes we didn’t make last week – we pretty much executed ourselves.”
The Hawks are scheduled to play Buckhannon-Upshur next Friday, but the opponent and location are to be determined based on the county COVID status updates.
BOX SCORE
Jefferson (2-3) 14 0 0 0 – 14
University (1-1) 0 7 0 6 – 13
(JHS Christian Blowe 8 run (Oren Humphries kick)
JHS – Nathan Muhle 15 pass from Sammy Roberts (Humphries kick)
UHS – T.T. Brooks 25 pass from Chase Edwards (John Coleman kick)
UHS – Brooks 9 pass from Edwards (kick blocked)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
PASSING
JHS – Roberts 21-43-1 168 1TD.
UHS – Edwards 15-23-0 144 2TD
RUSHING
JHS – Evan Tewell 25-146, Blowe 3-18 TD, Keyshawn Robinson 1 –(-4), Roberts 3-(-14) Total 32-146 TD.
UHS- Eliki Barner 11-82, Daminn Cunningham 4-25, Colin McBee 1-2, Joey McBee 1-(-3), Edwards 8-(-3) Total 25-103.
RECEIVING
JHS – Spencer Powell 7-98, Caysen Lanza 2-22, Muhle 1-15 TD, Hayden Terris 1-12, Isaiah Fritz 1-8, John Gidley 3-8, Robinson 3-4, Tewell 3-1
UHS – Brooks 7-83 2TD, Drew Burton 3-26, Cunningham 1-17, J. McBee 1-8, Elija Jackson 1-6, Barner 1-3, Sage Clawges 1-1
INTERCEPTION
UHS – 1 (J. McBee)
