Player: Matt Ryan Position: QB/DB Height: 6' 1" Weight: 185 lb Academic: Senior School: Summers County

By BRIAN WOODSON

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

HINTON — It was supposed to be a quarterback sneak just to give the Summers County offense some breathing room from the opposing goal line.

It turned into a 97-yard touchdown run.

“That was what we call a wedge, it is more like a quarterback sneak,” Summers County senior quarterback Matt Ryan said. “We were at the goal line of course so we were just trying to get five yards on a little sneak and I just broke it.”

He didn’t slow down until reaching the goal line, capping off the Bobcats’ fourth quarter run that extended what had been a tenuous 21-13 lead to take a 36-19 victory over Greenbrier West last Friday night.

Those kind of long runs have become habit this season.

“It is a good feeling when you know you are about the score, you are in open field, but there is always that little part of you that thinks that somebody is going to get you,” said Ryan, a three-sport senior standout for the 4-1 Bobcats. “That is what keeps me from getting tired because when I feel somebody is going to get me or somebody is close to me I usually just turn on the jets and don’t stop.”

He didn’t stop last Friday until he had set a school record with 281 yards on just 19 carries, including two fourth quarter touchdowns from 56 and 97 yards. He also threw for 64 yards and a touchdown on just four completions.

That performance earned Ryan the Pocahontas Coal Association/Bluefield Daily Telegraph Player of the Week award.

“I actually didn’t know I was going to break the school record,” Ryan said. “I felt like I had a slow game to start off and in the fourth quarter I knocked off two runs of 56 and 97 and I knew I had a big game after that.

“I didn’t know it was record breaking until I got on Twitter and saw that I had beat the record.”

Ryan was able to shatter the mark of 259 set in 1995 by Scott Jackson, who was an All-Class AA first team captain that season with 1,530 yards on the ground. Ryan is on his way to eclipsing those numbers as well.

“It really does mean a lot, Scott Jackson was an awesome football player,” Ryan said. “I have heard a lot about him, even in the last week, just since I have broken his record I heard a little more about him.

“I don’t know him personally, I don’t think I have ever met him in person, but I know who he is and I know of him.”

That was just one of several stellar games this season for Ryan. He has 930 yards and 10 touchdowns, including an 11.4 yard per carry average in five games, and has thrown for another 434 yards and five more scores.

He also ran for 204 yards against Wyoming East and had another 201 in a win over Liberty. That included an 84-yard scoring run against the Warriors and another 81 in the win over the Raiders.

“Honestly, I have always just been blessed with speed and I have what my dad calls breakaway speed,” said Ryan, who’s father is ultra-successful Summers County girls basketball coach Wayne Ryan “Usually when I get around the corner I can outrun the defenders. Also I like to cut back a lot so when I find an open gap to cut back across the field I will do that.

“I will even take a couple of yards away, maybe juke a defender and then I will run them up the field. That is just a couple of different ways I have been able to outrun defenders this year.”

Also a talented baseball and basketball player, Ryan is partial to football.

“Football is definitely my favorite sport, that is the one I really fell in love with in high school,” said Ryan, who has been coached by his dad in varsity baseball and middle school football. “Basketball used to kind of be my sport when I was younger because I grew up around it so much, but football has been in my heart since high school and I just love playing it. I just like my team and coaches.”

Don’t think that Ryan is doing all this by himself. He knows better, and makes sure his teammate know it too.

“I always want them to know that I am not doing this alone,” Ryan said. “If it wasn’t for God and my team I wouldn’t be here right now. I am just extremely blessed to have the guys that are around me and have them to be able to block for me and catch the ball and when I am not running the ball they run hard.

“I am just blessed to be around a good team that understands that it is a team effort and not a one-man show.”

His skills have been complemented by senior running back Greg Shrewsbury, receivers Nathan Grimmett, Caleb Harrah and Dacota Thomas, and an offensive line that opens the holes that has allowed the Bobcats to score at least 28 points in each of their four wins.

“I have to give all my credit to the offensive line, they are always ready to do what it takes to win,” Ryan said. “They are not selfish, they know in order to win they have got to block and they go out do that every week.”

Ryan does the same, and not just on the field. He is also focused in the classroom, currently boasting a 3.8 grade point average. He is undecided on his future college home, and hopes to play a sport, but also has dreams being a physical therapist. He understands that while sports are nice, a degree is what will take him further in life.

“I am really focused on getting an education, an education is going to get you somewhere in life,” Ryan said. “Sports are a good little thing to look at and look good on paper, but as far as college, education is above all.

“I really need to keep that in my head at all times. I have always been preached at by my parents so I work hard in school keeping my grades up and trying my hardest.”

One season after finishing 1-9 — with Ryan missing the first four games with a dislocated elbow — the Bobcats are 4-1 and 12th in the WVSSAC football ratings. They return to the gridiron on Friday at Webster County.

“My goals are I would like to finish out with a winning record, that is the first thing, and the next thing is to make the playoffs and then after that I would like to win a playoff game,” Ryan said. “We haven’t won a playoff game at Summers County High School in a long time.

“We thought we were going to win one my sophomore year, and we didn’t win and should have, but we want to come out and show we are ready to make a name for ourselves.”

bwoodson@bdtonline.com

/ Twitter @bdtwoodson

Player of Week Honorable Mention

Bland County (41-12 over Eastern Montgomery): Isaiah Boyd, 3 td (51, 12, 7) rush.

Bluefield (73-56 over Greenbrier East): Carlos Reed, 234, 4 td (17. 56. 3. 67) rush; Mookie Collier, 233, 4 td (17, 37, 86, 5) rush; Jason Edwards, 141 yards, 2 td (18, 17) rush.

Giles (42-19 win over Graham): Brian Mann, 28-228, 4 td (10, 17, 49, 3) rush, 68 punt return for td; Patrick Beidleman, 6-92 rush; Brandon Chapman, 10-54 1 td (21) rush, fumble recovery on defense; Camryn Perkins, at least 2 sacks, keyed push on offensive line.

Graham (42-19 loss to Giles): Jamorya' Cousin, 13-86 rush; Roman Workman, 12-24, 124, 1 td (6) pass; Ben Meade, 5-8, 73, 1 td (31), 2-23 rush; Taymon Cooke, 7-131, 1 td (31) catch; DeQuan Booker 6-39, 1 td (6) catch; Israel Harris, 6-81 rush.

James Monroe (48-0 over Wyoming East): Evan Beasley 172, 3 td rush, 116, 2 td pass; Grant Mohler, 110 yards, 1 td rush, also 10 tackles; Tripp Shiflet, 13 tackles, 4 for loss.

Honaker (54-0 over Grundy): Brandon Bostic, 6-121, 1 td (82) rush; Jordan Stout, 2 FG (28, 38), 6-7 on extra points); Avin Parrott, 57 yards, 2 td (11, 1) rush, 92 yards, 1 td (64) catch; Hartley Hilton, 1 td (44) rush, 1 td (64) pass.

Hurley (41-12 over Montcalm): Brady Justice, 152 yards, 2 td rush, returned opening kickoff for score, second week in row; Chris Spencer, interception return for td (40).

Narrows (49-12 over Craig County): Cole Blaker, 8-150, 4 td rush, 2-7, 58 yards pass, 1 interception on defense, missed all but one series in second half after leading 49-0; Jacob Skeens, 1 int for td (36).

PikeView (29-13 loss to Shady Spring): Hunter Mitchelson, 6-114, 1 td (78) rush; Joe Jennings, 6-46 rush;

Princeton (21-0 over Buckhannon-Upshur): Zach Standifur, 21-156, 2 td (7, 50) rush; Kevin Phillips, 7-72, 1 td (21) rush; Isaiah Edwards, 8 solo tackles, 3 assists, 2 1/2 tackles for loss; Jared Hamm, 5 solos, 4 assists.

Richlands (55-20 over Virginia High): John-Luke Asbury 13-17, 238, 4 td (7, 16, 46, 20) pass; Nick Blankenship 13-177, 3 td (16, 12, 1) rush; Scottie Ball 5-110 catch; Chace Collins 3-40, 1 td (20) catch; Austin Atkinson 2 td catch (7, 16).

Summers County (36-19 win over Greenbrier West): Greg Shrewsbury, 17-93, 2 td (17) rush, interception on defense.

Tazewell (44-14 loss to Rural Retreat): Zach Hurley, 4-73, 1 td (60) rush; Josh Hayes, 12-51 rush; T.J. Kitts, 58 yards, 1 td (2) pass.

Wyoming East (48-0 loss to James Monroe): Alec Lusk, 43 yards rush.

2015 Winners

Week 1: Evan Beasley, James Monroe

Week 2: Brian Mann, Giles

Week 3: Mookie Collier, Bluefield

Week 4: Zach Standifur, Princeton

Week 5: Matt Ryan, Summers County