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Game of the Week: Panthers primed for W.Va. sweep
Two weeks into the season, and Potomac Falls is already halfway to its win total of last year, having vanquished Martinsburg and Hedgesville.
The Panthers will aim to knock off their third and final West Virginia opponent of the 2008 season Sept. 12 when Jefferson County comes to Sterling.
"We have a little bit of a reputation now for beating West Virginia teams," Potomac Falls coach Scott Woodlief said with a slight grin. "So they're gonna come down here and try to set a statement for us."
Both head coaches anticipate the scoreboard will be oft-used on Friday night. Jefferson won last year's meeting 41-21.
"They're gonna be a tough opponent," said Cougar coach Richard Mills, a veteran coach of 31 seasons. "They're gonna be a lot more experienced, more familiar with their system. We're gonna have to score to keep up with them."
Potomac Falls quarterback Gregory Woodlief, a third-year starter, is more familiar with his father's system. Coach Woodlief said his son has more assets at his disposal than in previous seasons.
"He's really shown a lot of maturity the last couple games," the elder Woodlief said. "He's throwing the ball well, and he's got some great weapons out there."
Running back Michael Baker and receivers Chris Pelto and Chad McMichael also have provided the Panthers with a big offensive boost. Potomac Falls has racked up more than 100 points in its first two contests.
As coach Woodlief alluded to before the season, the offense has been much more multiple than the run-first philosophy of previous Panther squads.
"We can run the ball and we can throw the ball," Scott Woodlief said. "Whatever they give us, we try to take. We're fortunate to have that this year."
The coach attributes much of that fortune to an experienced offensive line that "has been a big, big surprise. They're starting to believe in what we're doing."
Those linemen were recognized for their effort at a recent team meal, when the big guys up front got first pick of the victuals.
But Jefferson County has weapons of its own, headed by experienced dual-threat quarterback Brandon Hyler, who comes in at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds.
"I'm hoping our defense can keep him contained. He's a pretty special player," coach Woodlief raved, adding that the Cougars return several of their ball-handlers on offense.
The third match against a West Virginia foe is the Panthers' final test before a Dulles District slate that Woodlief expects will be replete with difficult games.
Woodlief said he admires the programs from the Eastern Panhandle because of their hard play and their expectation to win, a trait he is instilling within his own ranks.
"The kids are blending right now, playing hard together and starting to believe in each other," Woodlief said shortly before jogging off to practice Sept. 8.
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