×

Gilmer offense a unique challenge for St. Marys

St. Marys’ Jaiden Smith tries to maintain control during a playoff football game against Buffalo in St. Marys. Photo by Joe Albright.

ST. MARYS — Marietta and Magnolia High School football squads.

For St. Marys’ football fans who haven’t seen the next Blue Devils’ opponent Gilmer County in action this season, those two teams are about as close in play style as what fans can expect to see when the Titans meet the Blue Devils’ at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bill Hanlin Stadium in a West Virginia Class A High School football quarterfinal matchup.

The Tigers’ Trent Dawson and the Blue Eagles’ Nick Priem are two of the better quarterbacks in the area when it comes to getting the job done with their arm but Gilmer’s signal-caller Trey Shuff brings even more to the table with the added dynamic of using his legs.

“No. 3 for Gilmer County is just a really good athlete,” said St. Marys’ head man Jodi Mote. “He is a great player and a big reason why their 11-0. I think Gilmer’s offense as a whole is going to be a significant challenge for our team Friday night.”

Although the Titans senior is a passer, he does not like to stay in the pocket and can often be seen rocketing the ball while on the run. Shuff also is tough to take down and has often this year gotten a pass of with numerous defenders draped on him trying to drag him to the turf.

However, he has yet to face a defense as disciplined and as opportunistic as Jay Powell’s bunch Friday night. Mote and company have given their defenders the green light to try and strip the ball from Shuff if they get to him in the backfield and he won’t go down. “If” is definitely a good word to use because Gilmer County has a big offensive line protecting its quarterback and running backs and very few teams have gotten to Shuff in the backfield this season.

Even if St. Marys is able to make it in the backfield, there is no assurances Shuff will stay put or even hang out behind the line of scrimmage.

“I don’t think there is any doubt he is going to take off regardless of the pressure,” said Mote. “We just have to find a way to maintain him and keep him from making the big plays he has been making all year long.”

On occassions where Shuff does take off, it will be imperative St. Marys tacklers stay disciplined and wrap up the Titan senior before he is able to use any of his elusiveness. Summers County learned the hard way last week after the running quarterback twisted and turned his way for a 77-yard gain.

On the flip side, if Shuff has time to throw the football and connects with his receivers it will be important the Blue Devils’ limit Titans’ wide receivers Dalton Law, Hunter Self, Jared Pritt and Gunnar Haley among others from picking up any yards after the catch. Big plays have been a staple of the Titans offense all season long

Though the big pass play did not haunt the Blue Devils’ in their 49-7 win over Magnolia, Priem still completed 16 of 28 passes for 124 yards. Marietta’s Dawson, however, was 24 of 40 for 378 yards with four touchdowns to just one pick. Both of his leading receivers for the game went over 100 yards with Isaac Danford catching nine balls for 192 yards and Travis Moore adding 11 catches for 152 yards.

Long story short, if St. Marys has a weakness it could be defending the pass, though Dawson’s performance was at the beginning of the year it is still worth noting. However, the Blue Devils secondary has vastly improved throughout the year but it could struggle with the amount of passes coming its way in this week’s matchup, no one will know until the game is played.

“No doubt the secondary will be challenged,” said Mote. “We haven’t really faced the do-it-all quarterback Shuff brings to the table.”


By JOE ALBRIGHT

jalbright@newsandsentinel.com

GLENVILLE — It seems every game through the last seven weeks of the season for West Virginia Class A No. 7 Gilmer County has been labeled the biggest game in school history.

“I think it started with Sherman for homecoming,” said Gilmer County head man Steve Shuff. “They came in as the No. 5 team in the state and we stuck it to them, 36-6. I think after that game our players and coaches started believing this season could be something special. We were all right for thinking that because it has been.”

A special regular season went from good to great as Gilmer County earned a berth in the postseason and a first ever home playoff game, against No. 10 Summers County, last Saturday night. The outcome was the same it had been through the first 10 weeks of the season with Gilmer claiming a 34-20 victory over the Bobcats.

Naturally, the win advanced the Glenville team to the next round of the postseason to set up yet another history making game for the Titans.

The reward for the the red, white and blue clad for reaching the state quarterfinals? A date with undefeated No. 2  St. Marys at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bill Hanlin Stadium.

“What immediately jumps off the pages is how well coached they are,” said Shuff. “They also are a very fundamentally sound squad and they swarm to the ball defensively. There is no question they are a good, probably great, football team. They are hard hitting and we will have our hands full this week.”

Speaking of St. Marys’ defense, when asked if Gilmer and the coaching staff could simulate the pressure and swarm mentality of the purple and gold’s point stopping unit Shuff was quick to shake his head in the negative.

“We our going to show our guys what is coming but it still comes down to each man doing his job,” said Shuff. “But no we don’t have the personnel to prepare our players for what is coming our way Saturday night.”

Jay Powell’s Blue Devils’ defense has been stifling this season and may be coming off its best performance of 2016 after dismantling a solid Buffalo squad, 49-7, in the opening round. During the showdown with the Bison, Powell and his unit held shoo-in first team all-state running back selection Dylan Lucas to  16 carries and 82 yards and no scores.

Despite the challenge, Shuff and his team are not backing down and will not be overlooked. After all, the Titans also have 11 straight wins under their belt and have played some good teams as well. His team also has constantly answered the call all season long and knows what is at stake in this game.

Although the St. Marys defense could cause some problems, the Gilmer coach is a firm believer in being the same team no matter the opponent and “doing what got us here.” The game plan will remain the same with an even dose of run and pass. When it comes to some of the running and a lot of the passing, Titans quarterback Trey Shuff is right at the top of the list. Athletically gifted and able to make the tough throws, Shuff has dazzled teams with his throwing arm and running the ball all season long.

“Number three is a really good quarterback,” said St. Marys head coach Jodi Mote. “He is just a great player and they are 11-0 for a reason and he is definitely a big part of why they are undefeated. When he throws he is accurate and when he runs he is a weapon.”

Defensively for the Titans, their focus must be on shutting down St. Marys’ running backs No. 21 Jaiden Smith and No. 36 Braden Barnhart. Both are threats to run the ball and Smith is coming off a monstrous performance against Buffalo where he ran for 244 yards and three scores while Barnhart can run, pass and catch the football. In fact, there will be several times during the game where Barnhart will line up at quarterback and take the direct snap looking to toss the pigskin.

Gilmer linebacker Cole Haley, who leads the team with more than 140 tackles, will certainly get his share of plays to make but there is a good chance St. Marys will be on the lookout for No. 47 and his awesome talent of stopping anyone who comes across his path. If Cole has a tough night look for No. 51 Bryce Roberts and No. 52 Will Greene to step up and make some plays. The defensive line also will be important for Gilmer County as the front three are tasked with taking up a lot of blockers to allow the linebackers to get into the opposing offense’s backfield but also can make plays in space when called upon.

As an added bonus, team manager Payton Roberts will be pacing the sideline at St. Marys Friday night to provide encouragement and many words of wisdom to rally his troops and prepare them for battle.

“This is a special time of year and we are going to get their best and they are going to get our best,” said coach Shuff. “You never know what can happen if we are on and they have a down night. It is exciting to play in these kind of games … No doubt.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today