RADFORD -- At quick glance, one might assume that lean and muscular Radford quarterback/safety Dontae Carter doesn't consume many candy bars.

Thanks to his team's Friday night performance, this weekend will be an exception.

Radford blanked George Wythe 26-0 in a Region C Division 2 semifinal -- and that means a major sugar fix for the entire team.

"The coaches tell us that if we shut out an opponent we get Zero candy bars," Carter said. "We wanted the shutout tonight bad. We hadn't had any this year."

Although Carter was a key part of his team's smothering defense, he particularly shone on offense, having a hand in all four of Radford's touchdowns. He returned a punt for an 86-yard score in the first quarter, and ran for a 4-yard touchdown that was topped off by an acrobatic dive for the pylon in the second period.

Carter also threw two TD passes to Grant Mitchell, an 18-yard flea-flicker just before the half and a 54-yard dump pass on the first play of the fourth quarter. Mitchell weaved his way through the defense for the clinching score.

Mitchell, a track star who set a Region C record in the 400 meters last spring with a time of 49.8 seconds, showed he's not afraid of contact, as he delivered some crushing hits from his linebacker position.

"I'm small -- only 150 pounds -- but I hit as hard as I can," Mitchell said.

Carter only had three completions for the evening, but they accounted for 128 yards.

Radford (8-3) limited GW (8-4) to 189 yards of total offense. It was quite a departure from the first time the teams played in September, when the Bobcats prevailed 36-35 on a late field goal.

"I'm tired of people saying we can't play defense," Radford coach Matthew Saunders said.

Saunders and Wythe coach H.S. Ingo were assistants together at William Campbell in 1999.

Radford is a better team than Wythe, Ingo said.

"They take some things away with their athleticism," Ingo aid.

Harrison Williams paced Radford's ground game with seven carries for 68 yards.

Leading the Maroons' effort was running back Hunter Tolley, who had 14 carries for 62 yards.

Radford will be home again next week when it hosts Chilhowie for the regional championship. Chilhowie defeated Fort Chiswell 28-14.

"I don't think Radford has ever played Chilhowie," Saunders said. "But we're looking forward to it."