By this week, George Washington should have about as many players on its roster as points it scored Saturday against North.
Hardly undermanned, the Patriots rocked the Vikings 54-6 on Saturday afternoon in Class 4A Denver Prep League action at All-City Stadium in prep football’s Zero Week despite dressing fewer than 30 players.
Ordinarily, GW leads the city in numbers on the roster, but more than a couple dozen players have yet to qualify for varsity through veteran coach Steve Finesilver’s running-and-lifting-weights program that also goes throughout the offseason.
“We have four lifting and four nonlifting events,” Finesilver said. “Our kids work at it all year to qualify for the team. We only (dressed) 27 today, but we’re expecting another 12 to make it by (this) week and should be up to about 50 to 55 soon. We’re working on it.”
The discipline and commitment were evident early in Saturday’s game as GW required only 13 plays from scrimmage for a 28-0 lead in the first quarter. The Pats made it 48-0 by halftime, cruised through a running clock in the second half by virtue of the mercy rule (which takes effect when one team leads by 45 or more points) and seem upbeat about next weekend’s nonleague game against Standley Lake.
“For us, it’s about playing with the suburban teams,” Finesilver said.
Said GW running back Joe Harris, who contributed two rushing touchdowns and returned a fumble on defense for another: “I think we have good linemen and good backs, and can be a good team.”
Tyree Bishop added 116 yards rushing and two touchdowns, one on an 82-yard run.
For North, Andrew Sweeney caught a 13-yard scoring pass from Adolfo Salas to avoid the shutout.
“Our kids came back a little in the second half and we made some adjustments,” Vikings coach Paul Kelly said. “Right now, we’re just trying to improve every week.”
George Washington 28 20 6 0 – 54
North 0 0 0 6 – 6
GW – Harris 17 run (Morey kick). GW – Pahos 47 pass from Casillas (Ogu kick). GW – Harris 11 run (Ogu kick). GW – Bishop 14 run (Ogu kick). GW – Henderson 25 run (kick blocked). GW – Harris 32 fumble recovery (Ogu kick). GW – Pahos 13 run (Ogu kick). GW – Bishop 82 run (kick blocked). N – Sweeney 13 pass from Salas (run failed).
Staff writer Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-854-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
