By LLOYD COMBS

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

GRUNDY, Va. — One of the first things Hurley coach Greg Tester talked about after his club dropped a 10-8 heartbreaker to Buchanan County and Black Diamond District rival Grundy last Friday was Wayne Mutter.

Considering Mutter plays for Grundy it was a classic sign of respect.

Mutter had that sort of impact on the game, where both offenses and Grundy’s defense struggled.

The senior kicker averaged an even 48 yards on four punts, pinning Hurley deep in its own territory on three of the Rebels four second-half possessions.

“Field position was a key and I thought Mutter was the difference,” Tester said. “Grundy has a special kid in Wayne Mutter. He’s what I feared most about playing them. He keeps Grundy in games with field position.”

Mutter’s efforts were good enough to earn him this week’s Pocahontas Coal Association/Bluefield Daily Telegraph Player of the Week Award.

In a game where all the scoring came in the first half, Mutter helped Grundy offset Hurley’s advantage in total yardage (251-66) and first downs (17-7). He also accounted for the first points of the game with a 35-yard field goal in the opening quarter.

“Wayne Mutter saved us by giving us good field position and keeping Hurley on its end of the field,” Grundy coach Jeremy Ward said. “He changed field position with one punt. He helped our defense out tremendously.”

Mutter’s 55-yard punt put Hurley on its own 20-yard line on its next-to-last possession of the game.

Mutter, who is also the top golfer in the BDD, hasn’t received any formal offers to continue his career as a punter or kicker in college. He admits to enjoying his punting duties a little more, and he likes the opportunity make a play on returns.

“I like punting a little bit more, I’m not sure why,” Mutter said. “I (also) like making tackles. I love doing that, trying to stop touchdowns.”

Mutter has worked with kicking guru Doug Blevins, who has worked with the University of Tennessee and in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, and he has attended kicking camps, including one at Virginia Tech.

He would love the opportunity to punt and/or kick at the next level but if all his work does not earn him a major college scholarship he’s fine with that, too. He has his priorities in order.

“If get a good Division I offer I’d like to kick somewhere, that would be great,” Mutter, an honor student at Grundy, said. “But education has always come first for me.

“Right now I want to get a degree in engineering and maybe even become a pilot. If get an offer and can get a good education, I’ll take it and I’d play it by ear from there. I’ll just take it one step at a time.”

Honorable Mention

Graham: Cody Hatfield 11-66 yds. rushing. Colby Hill 5-9 for 45 yds. passing.

Grundy: Wayne Mutter 35-yd. field goal, extra point kick, 48-yd. avg. on four punts.

Honaker: Ty Hall 215 yds. and 3 TDs passing.

Hurley: Tyler Stacy 28-120 yds. and 1 TD rushing.

Montcalm: Marcus Bailey 4 catches-117 yd., one TD catch, one TD run, 56 rushing yds. Aaron Presley 5-12 for 126 yds. passing.

Narrows: Trevor Hart 37 yds. rushing, 1 TD.

PikeView: Hunter Moses 34-129 yds. rushing, 10 tackles. Ryan Roberts 7 tackles.

Richlands: Colten Staten 26-120 yds. rushing. Gray Baker 15-23 for 144 yds. and 3 TDs passing.

River View: Jordan Wilson 10-170 yds. rushing, 1 TD. Joseph McClanahan 62 yds. rushing, 1 TD.

Summers County: Dustin Smith 7-73 yd. rushing, interception, fumble recovery. T.J. Smith 5-9 for 110 yds. passing.

Tazewell: Jacob McReynolds 11-59 yd. rushing, fumble recovery. Cody McCann 101 yds. passing.

Wyoming East: Jacob Summe, 30-233 yds. rushing, 2 TDs.

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2012 Winners

Week 1: Spencer Sheets, Graham

Week 2: Colton Staten, Richlands

Week 3: Wayne Mutter, Grundy