No. 3 UHS makes quick work of No. 14 Washington, 62-7
Trending
MORGANTOWN - Harrison Helbig admits there was a statement to be made, one that came at some perceived disrespect toward the No. 3 University High football team.
"We definitely wanted to prove that we were seeded right and that we were undefeated for a reason," the Hawks' star quarterback said. "People say we had an easy schedule, but we just played who was in front of us every week."
The statement was made in the form of one big play after another Friday night, as the Hawks easily moved into the Class AAAA quarterfinals following a 62-7 victory over No. 14 Washington inside Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium.
The Hawks (11-0) will host No. 6 Huntington in next week's second round. The Highlanders defeated Woodrow Wilson, 49-10.
What UHS displayed against the Patriots (3-8) was more of a NASCAR race - minus the left turns - than your normal football game.
The Hawks needed all of one play to score their first touchdown and it was pretty much off to the races from there.
"We're getting potent play after potent play and explosive play after explosive play," UHS head coach Eric Snyder said. "You can't tell the guys to save it. Everyone has gotten bigger, faster, stronger for us. It's Year 2 of this offense. We have much better communication and understanding. Our lineman understand so much better than they did last year of what we want and how this offense operates.
"When you add in the depth of playmakers we have, we expect to have some explosiveness."
That explosiveness saw the Hawks run all of 40 plays - including the second half with second and third stringers on the field - which added up to 416 yards, or 10.4 yards per play.
UHS receiver Hayden George - two weeks removed from catching the winning touchdown in the Mohawk Bowl - had the most efficient game.
He touched the ball just three times ... and scored three touchdowns.
"When I get the ball, I feel like there is a good chance of scoring every time," George said. "I just have to do my best with the smaller amount of touches I get."
Following a muffed Washington punt, George hauled in a 27-yard pass from Helbig on the Hawks' first play from scrimmage. He added a 36-yard TD reception with 3:16 left in the first quarter for a 20-0 lead. His night was capped off with a 39-yard punt return for a touchdown that gave UHS a 55-0 lead at the half.
"I've seen him a lot, but sometimes he still amazes me," said Helbig, who completed 6 of 10 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns. "On that punt return, he was just flying past guys and making others miss. He's definitely fun to watch."
Others got in on the action, too. UHS running back Brody Kehler had 105 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just eight attempts. Jaedyn Katchur added 94 yards on six carries and scored on a 68-yard run to open the second quarter.
The UHS defense also did its job by limiting Washington to just 73 total yards. Easton Gearde came up with an interception, Washington quarterback Neil Powell was sacked three times and the Hawks also recovered a punt in the end zone for a touchdown after the ball was snapped over the punter's head.
It all added up to the Hawks moving on to the next round, where it will be a rematch of last year's second-round game against Huntington. The Hawks pulled out a 35-28 victory in last season's matchup.
"It was a great game and we had a lot of energy in that one last year," George said. "Honestly, it was probably one of the most fun games I've ever played in. They're coming here this year and they're going to want to do what we did last year. We just have to stay focused and not let that happen."
Box score
Washington 0 0 7 0 - 7
University 20 35 7 0 - 62
SCORING SUMMARY
UHS-Hayden George 27 pass from Harrison Helbig (kick failed)
UHS-Brody Kehler 1 run (Brady Goodenow kick)
UHS-George 36 pass from Helbig (Goddenow kick)
UHS-Kehler 68 run (Goodenow kick)
UHS-Fumbled punt recovered in end zone (Goodenow kick)
UHS-Colton Lawless 32 pass from Helbig (Goodenow kick)
UHS-Jaedyn Katchur 54 run (Goodenow kick)
UHS-George 39 punt return (Goodenow kick)
UHS-Nico Maisel 9 run (Goodenow kick)
W-Phillip Shields 6 pass from Neil Powell (Carter Quinn kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Washington-Allen Casey 16-57, Xavier Mack 7-19, Phillip Shields 1-0, Team 1-(-20), Powell 7-(-32). University-Kehler 8-105 2 TD, Katchur 6-94 TD, Maisel 5-34 TD, Chase Barbabella 2-13, Max Vitale 2-8, LJ Valentine 1-(-3), Micah Mayle 1-(-2).
PASSING: Washington-Powell 5-14-1 49 TD, Quinn 0-1 0. University-Helbig 6-10 144 3 TD, Maisel 2-3 8, Mayle 2-2 15.
RECEIVING: Washington-Shields 3-17 TD, Mack 1-25, Brayden Zanella 1-7. University-George 2-66 TD, Kyle Weaver 2-28, Colton Lawless 1-32 TD, Kaleil Lewis 1-21, Branden Custer 2-8, Dylan Meadows 1-15, Jaxon Matthews 1-0.