CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- South Charleston and George Washington football entered 2010 with question marks along the offensive line.
Coaches John Messinger and Steve Edwards Jr. will find out tonight just how much more work needs done to get their respective fronts where they want them to be before heading into the middle of the season.
"We made some mistakes, but not as many as usual in the first week, and we made fewer mistakes than we made the week before that," Edwards said of GW's performance in an opening-week rout of Beckley and its comparison to the Patriots' performance at the Mountain State Athletic Conference Grid-O-Rama on Aug. 20.
"What we want is to keep moving forward like that. If we do, I think we'll be in good shape."
The rivals face off at 7:30 tonight at Oakes Field in South Charleston.
Both teams possess a wealth of skill-position talent. SC has Kennedy Award-winning quarterback Tyler Harris, 1,400-yard rusher Ray Coleman and a handful of top-notch receivers, headlined by senior Perry Henry.
GW has All-State second team quarterback Nick Britton, All-State first-teamer Felix Mollett at running back, West Virginia University-committed Cody Clay at tight end and a slew of pass catchers ranging from utility backs Ryan Switzer and Duran Workman to senior Eric Aluise and sophomore Malik Hampton.
"Their receivers run great routes. That's the first thing that jumps out at you when you look at them," Messinger said. "The thing is, they're fast too. If we have any advantage there it's with our height, but we're not any faster than they are. If you let one of those guys get by you, you're chasing their rear end all the way to the end zone."
Messinger acknowledged that it will be his team's play on the line that determines the outcome.
"I think we've got a pretty good line. What it's going to come down to is which team's offensive line is able to establish itself against the defensive front of the other," he said. "If we do that, I like our chances."
South Charleston has lost one game since October 2007. I don't think the second loss is coming tonight. SOUTH CHARLESTON 27-20
Other games tonight (rankings in weekly Daily Mail state poll):
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- South Charleston and George Washington football entered 2010 with question marks along the offensive line.
Coaches John Messinger and Steve Edwards Jr. will find out tonight just how much more work needs done to get their respective fronts where they want them to be before heading into the middle of the season.
"We made some mistakes, but not as many as usual in the first week, and we made fewer mistakes than we made the week before that," Edwards said of GW's performance in an opening-week rout of Beckley and its comparison to the Patriots' performance at the Mountain State Athletic Conference Grid-O-Rama on Aug. 20.
"What we want is to keep moving forward like that. If we do, I think we'll be in good shape."
The rivals face off at 7:30 tonight at Oakes Field in South Charleston.
Both teams possess a wealth of skill-position talent. SC has Kennedy Award-winning quarterback Tyler Harris, 1,400-yard rusher Ray Coleman and a handful of top-notch receivers, headlined by senior Perry Henry.
GW has All-State second team quarterback Nick Britton, All-State first-teamer Felix Mollett at running back, West Virginia University-committed Cody Clay at tight end and a slew of pass catchers ranging from utility backs Ryan Switzer and Duran Workman to senior Eric Aluise and sophomore Malik Hampton.
"Their receivers run great routes. That's the first thing that jumps out at you when you look at them," Messinger said. "The thing is, they're fast too. If we have any advantage there it's with our height, but we're not any faster than they are. If you let one of those guys get by you, you're chasing their rear end all the way to the end zone."
Messinger acknowledged that it will be his team's play on the line that determines the outcome.
"I think we've got a pretty good line. What it's going to come down to is which team's offensive line is able to establish itself against the defensive front of the other," he said. "If we do that, I like our chances."
South Charleston has lost one game since October 2007. I don't think the second loss is coming tonight. SOUTH CHARLESTON 27-20
Other games tonight (rankings in weekly Daily Mail state poll):
Cabell Midland (0-0) at Class AAA No. 4 Capital (1-0) - The Knights have some talent, but little experience. Earning stripes against the focused and eager Cougars will serve them well down the road, but isn't the best prescription to get a win. CAPITAL 31-10
Riverside (0-1) at St. Albans (0-0) - Neither team is blessed with much speed, but SA appears to have more offensive options, has a bigger line and home field is typically kind to the Red Dragons. ST. ALBANS 20-14
Class AAA No. 9 Hurricane (1-0) at Nitro (0-1) - Wildcat Coach John Painter has to circle the wagons and regroup after last week's disappointing loss at Poca. Hurricane's running game and defense won't allow many improvements made in one week to be obvious, however. HURRICANE 38-14
Winfield (0-1) at Ripley (0-1) - David Gaydosz got a good start at becoming Winfield's first career 1,000-yard rusher in 20 years when he gained 132 against Hurricane last week. Ripley's defense - and the entire Viking roster - is rebuilding, and the turf in Ripley should let Gaydosz show if he's got an extra gear. WINFIELD 21-17
Sissonville (0-1) at Liberty (Raleigh) (0-1) - Liberty lost a close one at home to Westside last week, and has more speed and experience than Sissonville. LIBERTY 28-7
Herbert Hoover (0-1) at Class AA No. 5 Chapmanville (1-0) - The Huskies struggled against a Ravenswood team that was playing without two of its key offensive weapons. Chapmanville's fully healthy, and opening its home schedule in front of a crowd that is expecting big things from the Tigers. CHAPMANVILLE 33-13
Class AA No. 10 Poca (1-0) at Class AA No. 4 Ravenswood (1-0) - The Dots didn't need to use their passing game much against Nitro, throwing just 10 times. They'll need to air it out a little bit more to keep a tough Ravenswood defense honest. Injuries and off-the-field issues could hamper the Red Devils in this one. POCA 28-27
Notre Dame (1-0) at Class A No. 10 Buffalo (1-0) - Irish quarterback Nolan Tucci will - barring injury - become Harrison County's all-time leading passer this season. Too bad his team does not have much of a running game and rarely fares well against playoff-caliber foes. BUFFALO 29-15
Statewide Lock of the Week
Class A No. 3 Williamstown (1-0) at Class AA No. 3 Magnolia (1-0) - Both enjoyed blowout wins last week, with Magnolia beating Tolsia 53-0 on the road and Williamstown throttling Tyler Consolidated 41-0. This poses a much bigger test for both.
Magnolia's defense is typically well ahead of its offense through the first half of the season. Its 53-point showing in the opener could have been a hint of things to come in the near future. Williamstown is not as big up front as it has been in recent years, and that will cost the Yellowjackets tonight. MAGNOLIA 24-14
Last week: 7-2 (.778)
