GW outpoints Chilhowie

CHILHOWIE – The Chilhowie public address announcer likened the Warriors' rivalry with George Wythe to “Rocky vs. Apollo” before Friday's game, and the two Hogoheegee heavyweights went toe-to-toe in Chilhowie on Friday.

The Maroons captured the win 14-13, and the score depicts exactly how close the game was.

George Wythe (3-3, 1-0 Hogoheegee) landed the first blow, a 47-yard run from Hunter Tolley on the junior's first carry of the night. From there out, sniffs of the end zone were few and far between for both clubs, a rarity for this year's Chilhowie club, which has averaged 45.5 points-per-game over its last four contests, all victories.

“We know they're an explosive football team,” H.S. Ingo, the Maroons head coach, said. Obviously, they've been racking up points the last three weeks.”

Fumbles and penalties killed Chilhowie throughout the game. The Warriors lost four balls due to butter-fingers in the first three quarters.

“I think we were overanxious, excited to come out there and play,” Chilhowie head coach Larry Russell said.

It wasn't until the fourth quarter when Chilhowie (5-2, 1-1 Hogoheegee) signal-caller Rhett Sturgill connected with Brett Johnson for a 74-yard touchdown. The strike tied the game, 7-7, with 6:40 to play in the game.

Sturgill struck again on the Warriors' next possession, finding his younger brother Reid wide open for an 85-yard touchdown completion with 2:23 remaining in the game. Chilhowie's extra point tailed wide to the right, however, and the score was left 13-7 in the Warriors' favor.

“That was a blown coverage on our part,” remarked Ingo.

George Wythe took the ensuing kickoff up to its own 43 yard line, where sophomore quarterback Alex Willis fired three quick incomplete passes. On fourth down, Maroons tight end Hardy Lester drew a pass interference call that granted GW a fresh set.

Willis found Lester across the middle on second down, and the 6-4 sophomore rumbled 47 yards into the end zone to tie the game with 1:20 still on the game clock.

“A tremendous effort by our sophomore quarterback,” Ingo said. “Hardy's been a godsend. He's six-foot-four. He's a great target.”

George Wythe kicker Michael Hawks' extra point looked a little far left, but the officials ruled the kick good, giving the Maroons a 14-13 advantage.

“As long as the referee calls it good, that's all that matters,” said Ingo.

Chilhowie's final effort fell short as a pass was dropped on fourth down, and the Maroons remained unbeaten in Hogoheegee play since 2006, when Rural Retreat beat them. This year's victory over Chilhowie makes nine in a row over the Warriors for GW.

Ingo praised his team's off-season work for keeping the game within reach.

“Our work in the weight room is starting to pay off for our kids,” he said. “We're not getting overpowered.”

Johnson, the Warriors' tailback, was held relatively quiet (71 yards on 24 carries) after a six-touchdown effort last week at Virginia High.

“We knew that there would be a game where he was not going to be able to do what he's been doing and other people had to step it up,” Russell said. “He plays hard. He goes after it.”

The story for Chilhowie was Rhett Sturgill. The senior completed 10 of 14 passes for 247 yards and two scores.

“Rhett's been a leader through school,” said Russell, praising the senior. “He's been coached well. He listens really good...He's a leader out there on the field and makes some of his own calls.”

            1          2          3          4          T

GW     7          0          0          7          14

R         0          0          0          13        13

Scoring summary

GW – Tolley 47 run (Hawks kick)

C – Johnson 74 pass from Rhett Sturgill (Ashby kick)

C – Reid Sturgill 85 pass from Rhett Sturgill (kick failed)

GW – Lester 47 pass from Willis (Hawks kick)

Team stats

                                    GW                 R

First downs                 6                      10

Yards rushing              131                  118

Passing C-A-I             3-10-0             10-14-0

Yards passing              72                    247

Penalties-yards           3-35                 7-60

Fumbles-lost               2-0                   5-4

Punts-average             6-35.7              3-29.0

Individual stats

RUSHING – GW, Price 2-6, Atwood 14-80, Castanon 2-2, Tolley 11-70, Austin 1-1, DiYorio 1-(-15), Young 1-(-3), Willis 3-(-8). C, Johnson 24-71, Conley 10-38, Haga 2-5, Rhett Sturgill 7-(-4), Gillespie 1-4, Austin 1-4.

PASSING – GW, Willis 3-10-0-72. C, Rhett Sturgill 10-14-0-247.

RECEIVING – GW, Lester 2-61, Atwood 1-11. C, Johnson 5-113, Austin 1-19, Conley 2-17, Reid Sturgill 2-98.