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Field position will be key for Titans, Bobcats

Gilmer County’s Trey Shuff looks for an open receiver after receiving the snap against Calhoun County during the Titans’ 63-6 win over the Red Devils earlier this season. Shuff and company will host the first playoff game in GCHS history at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Photo by Joe Albright.

PARKERSBURG – A season full of history takes another big step for the Gilmer County High School football team when it welcomes in Summers County for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday start in the opening round of the Class A playoffs.

Titans’ fans and their team will be celebrating the first home postseason game in the history of Gilmer County. Earned after the Titans finished the regular season at 10-0 and claimed the No. 7 playoff spot, which guaranteed the team at least one home playoff game.

“Haven’t seen a whole lot of them yet,” said Gilmer County head coach Steve Shuff, when asked what he knows about his team’s first round opponent. “Once we have time to sit down and watch tape we will know a bit more about them.

“However, I do know the Bobcats are well coached and very skilled. I think this is the best football team we have played all year.”

Aside from both teams being coached exceptionally well, the two opponents share other similarities as well.

“It is going to be interesting to see two spread teams going at it,” said Summer County head man Nate Tanner. “The ball is definitely going to be thrown around a little more than usual and the game will not be of the low scoring variety.”

Speaking of throwing the ball around, the two schools each have an efficient chucker to get the ball to the numerous weapons in Trey Shuff (Gilmer County) and Nathan Grimmett (Summers County). Both are physical and not afraid to leave the pocket and deliver the ball on the run.

“The Grimmett kid is a very good quarterback and their skill players are good up front,” said the elder Shuff. “I think the box is going to be where the game starts and finishes.”

Looking to make some noise in the offensive game when it isn’t Shuff or Grimmett will be a number of talented skill players on both sides of the ball. For Gilmer County this includes Joey Frame, Gunnar Haley, Cole Haley, Jared Pritt and Hunter Self while Summers County will look to C.J. Shrewsberry, Dakota Thomas and Dakota Richmond.

Because both offenses have an easy time moving the ball up and down the field, starting field position is going to be paramount to aiding each teams’ defense in keeping the opposition out of the end zone. Both teams, who have been aggressive this year on fourth down, know flipping the field on a punt can mean a world of difference when it comes to determining who moves on to the next round.

“Good starting field position is definitely going to come at a premium in a game like this,” said Shuff. “We go for it on fourth down a lot but if we think changing field position with a punt is more important we are going to do that. We try to put a huge emphasis on the kicking game in defending the kick and looking for opportunitites to block but we don’t kick a lot field goals.”

Summers County does have a secret weapon on special teams in the kicking game in field goal kicker Jacob Persiani. The 5-10, 160 lbs. senior has proven invaluable at getting the Bobcats three points when called upon this season and has several kicks of 35 or more yards under his belt. If the game comes down to a field goal attempt at the end, don’t be surprised if Tanner and company send out Presiani instead of trying a Hail Mary late in the contest.

Where the Bobcats excel in the kicking department, Gilmer has a mighty running game who may be able to shorten the game significantly and help the Titans advance to the next round. Both Haley brothers and Joey Frame have proven capable of running right through the middle of opposing teams lines all season and Shuff has plenty of speed to get to the outside if his designed draw plays up the middle aren’t developing.

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