Winfield foe hoping for longer stay in playoffs

Winfield foe hoping for longer stay in playoffs



Tuesday November 08, 2005

PARKERSBURG -- James Monroe Coach David Witt is growing a little weary of the stigma attached to the Mavericks.

That's why he isn't concerned with motivating his No. 2-seeded Mavericks (10-0) entering their first-round Class AA playoff game against No. 15 Winfield (5-5).

Witt's motivation comes from the negative publicity generated by James Monroe's early exits from the playoffs in recent years.

In 2004, fourth-seeded JM slipped by No. 13 Liberty-Raleigh 12-10, before suffering a 57-14 defeat to fifth-seeded Weir.

In fact, the favored Mavericks' two-point victory was well below the average first-round margin of victory by the favorites in the Class AA field last year, which was more than 40 points.

In the 2002 playoffs, the top-seeded and undefeated Mavericks beat No. 16 Braxton County, before being upset by No. 9 Bluefield, 3-0 in the second round.

"Really, I think people all over the state sit around and say, ‘James Monroe's going to lose.' I even saw an article in the newspaper that said, ‘James Monroe's 8-0, but they play Bluefield next ... enough said.' ''

Winfield, meanwhile, can't draw motivation from a winning streak. The Generals, losers of three consecutive games, are limping into the postseason with defeats to Class A playoff team Buffalo and Class AA playoff teams Tolsia and Herbert Hoover.

In fact, top running back Lucas Robinson -- who has more than 600 yards rushing this season -- managed only 25 yards on 15 carries versus the Huskies.

For that, Winfield Coach Bruce McGrew offers no apologies.

"There are two ways to look at it," McGrew said. "One way, we dropped three in a row and finished with a .500 season, but when you get it, this is the elite in West Virginia.

"When you talk about seven of the 10 teams you scheduled being in the playoffs, it says something about your schedule."

This game, therefore, is a dangerous one for the Mavericks and an opportunity for the Generals.

James Monroe has played only two teams in the playoffs -- No. 11 Bluefield and No. 16 Liberty-Raleigh.

Winfield, on the other hand, has played Class AAA No. 12 Hurricane (10-0 loss), Class A No. 3 Buffalo (24-13 loss), along with Class AA No. 1 Wayne (62-16 loss), No. 3 Herbert Hoover (42-7 loss), No. 7 Tolsia (15-7 loss) and No. 14 Grafton (30-13 win).
Most of those games were losses but still gave the Generals much-needed experience against quality opponents.

Then again, McGrew is thankful not to be playing one of those opponents again.

"We'd rather see somebody we haven't," McGrew said. "We played Hoover and Wayne and to go back to those teams who beat us pretty soundly, it would be hard to get kids mentally ready."

James Monroe doesn't have a 1,000-yard rusher, although its 1,000-yard rusher from last year, all-stater Andrew Robertson, is back. He and backfield mate Jason Jackson have combined for almost 2,000 yards, making the Mavericks more balanced.

"We were able to lighten his (Robertson's) load," Witt said.

But the load is still on the shoulders of the third-year coach to advance farther than many expect. He says close games earlier in the season will help.

"We don't have any problems getting the kids up against a No. 15," Witt said. "We played Wyoming East early in the season and everybody said we should handle them. It was a real tough ballgame and actually we got to learn a lesson without losing the ballgame, which helps. We've been in that situation a couple times so far this year and our kids come to play."

McGrew expects nothing else. He also has a little history to draw from, however.

"Good football teams that have a record like that, it's hard to get them to overlook anybody," McGrew said. "Then again, we were in the same position in 2000, we were 7-3 and No. 14 playing Clay County, which was undefeated and we upset them (17-14).

"That's one of our motivators."