CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- For all the bluster, pomp and circumstance that goes along with playing a crosstown rival in the state's season-opening high school football game, George Washington High Coach Steve Edwards Jr. knows his team's date with Capital tonight could be simply settled.
"We hope our guys are ready mentally. It's one of those things where mistakes can have more of an effect than later in the season," Edwards said in reference to tonight's USA Federal Credit Union Kickoff Classic between the Patriots and Cougars at University of Charleston Stadium.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
"It's a chance for the guys who are coming out here and starting for this team to start by coming out and making their own mark," Edwards said.
A year ago, George Washington surprised many by running through the regular season with a 9-1 record and capturing the Mountain State Athletic Conference championship. That run began with a 21-7 season-opening win against Capital.
Many of the most prominent figures from that game are gone for both teams, replaced by capable players who are talented but still untested in the regular season. Both Capital and GW will be starting new quarterbacks beginning tonight, and both will face defensive backfields that are in a state of transition from 2007.
Capital junior QB Joey Beane officially takes the reins tonight for the Cougars after the departure of three-year starter Malik Witten. Beane will face a GW defensive backfield that returns half of its four starters.
"Since Day One we've been working hard as a team," Beane said of the Capital offense, which also features a potential star in sophomore running back Keion Wright. "You can't question our work ethic.
"We're going to have to come out and focus on our gameplan against them. They've got a lot of talented players on defense so both me and my receivers are going to have to focus on our routes and do what we know to do."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- For all the bluster, pomp and circumstance that goes along with playing a crosstown rival in the state's season-opening high school football game, George Washington High Coach Steve Edwards Jr. knows his team's date with Capital tonight could be simply settled.
"We hope our guys are ready mentally. It's one of those things where mistakes can have more of an effect than later in the season," Edwards said in reference to tonight's USA Federal Credit Union Kickoff Classic between the Patriots and Cougars at University of Charleston Stadium.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
"It's a chance for the guys who are coming out here and starting for this team to start by coming out and making their own mark," Edwards said.
A year ago, George Washington surprised many by running through the regular season with a 9-1 record and capturing the Mountain State Athletic Conference championship. That run began with a 21-7 season-opening win against Capital.
Many of the most prominent figures from that game are gone for both teams, replaced by capable players who are talented but still untested in the regular season. Both Capital and GW will be starting new quarterbacks beginning tonight, and both will face defensive backfields that are in a state of transition from 2007.
Capital junior QB Joey Beane officially takes the reins tonight for the Cougars after the departure of three-year starter Malik Witten. Beane will face a GW defensive backfield that returns half of its four starters.
"Since Day One we've been working hard as a team," Beane said of the Capital offense, which also features a potential star in sophomore running back Keion Wright. "You can't question our work ethic.
"We're going to have to come out and focus on our gameplan against them. They've got a lot of talented players on defense so both me and my receivers are going to have to focus on our routes and do what we know to do."
Beane started one game as a freshman in 2006, but hasn't had a start since then. He'll face a GW secondary that features senior cornerbacks Greg Jones and Matt Johnson along with safeties Mike Tucker and Roland Willis.
Jones and Tucker were starters a year ago.
"I hope their experience has a big effect in the game," Edwards said. "We're going to need them and Chris Vance, our linebacker, to be able to use their experience to read offensive sets and direct traffic back there until our other guys find their feet."
Beane isn't alone in making his first start under center. GW senior Taylor Norman will get his first start for the Patriot varsity after a productive preseason.
"The 7-on-7s helped us out a whole lot in getting our timing down and finding people to use in routes," Edwards said of the preparedness of the GW offense. "Taylor Norman had a strong spring and summer and I was able to find people like (junior) Shaq Williams.
"I can plug Williams in at running back if I need to so we can keep people fresh. It's been a good experience so far."
Capital Coach Jack Woolwine said he and his team are ready to play more than a scrimmage game.
"There just comes a point where you need to start playing for something that matters," Woolwine said. "Every team has little bumps and bruises and nicks from banging in the preseason, and we've had a good one.
"We just want to get out there and play a real game."
