— By Ethan Collins
MORGANTOWN W.Va. — University made a statement in its season-opening 55-0 win over John Marshall. Not only were the Hawks dominant, but their attack was efficient in all areas with five rushing touchdowns, two passing, and an interception run back for a score.
“I never dreamed it’d be 55-0″ UHS coach John Kelley said. “I would have been happy with 7-0, but we had weapons and we fired on all of them. They just couldn’t match our speed or our elusiveness.”
The first touchdown was a prime example of how the elusiveness on a quick curl route from QB Chase Edwards to Jaeden Hammack. Hamack made multiple Monarch defenders miss before going in for the 16-yard touchdown reception.
Two plays into John Marshall’s third drive, Hawks’ senior Daniel Henderson made an outstanding heads up play and jumped on a screen pass and returned the pick to the end zone untouched.
“I saw the running back swing outside, so I just followed him out there and it worked out. It felt like a dream; the ball seemed to just land into my hands and it came out just the way I wanted to,” Henderson said.
The crowd was also a factor for University one year after it was forced to play with limited attendance policies.
“It just gives you chills honestly,” Kelley said. “To hear your fans roar when you have success. That’s what this game is all about. With all this community support, it really fired them up.
Colin McBee had 13 carries for 85 yards and three touchdowns in the runaway win. Edwards completed 10-of-17 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. He also added four carries for 38 yards and a touchdown.
John Marshall was held to fewer than 100 total yards. Their leading rusher was quarterback Jacob Coffield, who had eight carries for 46 yards.