A week ago, the question that has hung over the ETSU football team since the day Southern Conference all-time total offensive yardage leader Todd Wells left the field was settled, at least for the time being.
In a battle of two signal callers without collegiate starts, Matt Wilhjelm, a fifth-year senior from Science Hill High School, beat out junior North Carolina State transfer Jatavis Sanders for the starting quarterback position.
“He had to be the one to play the best to go out and win the job,” Hamilton said of Wilhjelm.
It was Sanders who was considered by most experts to have the inside track on the job, because of his impressive arm, relative youth and seemingly higher ceiling of potential.
Yet it is the senior who has clearly become the team’s leader.
“I think Matt is ready to lead our team to the championship,” wide receiver Charvin Clark said. “I like his work ethic.”
“That’s something I’ve always prided myself on,” Wilhjelm said of his ability to rally the troops. “There are times you’ve got to lead vocally.”
Head Coach Paul Hamilton announced his choice to the media after the Blue-Gold scrimmage a week before their opening loss to Pittsburgh.
“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised,” Sanders said, after being informed of the coach’s decision.
Wilhjelm said he knew after the Saturday, Aug. 25, practice who the man would be. However, Sanders said he was unaware until two days later.
Hamilton allowed the tacit decision to play Wilhjelm with the first team in practice instead of Sanders to speak for itself.
“They knew as the scrimmages progressed,” Hamilton said.
Regardless, Sanders is not dismayed.
“I’m happy with coach’s decision,” he said. “I feel like it was pretty fair.”
Indeed, there were no signs of any antagonism between the two teammates, despite the competition.
“We never really discuss it,” Sanders said.
Hamilton said Wilhjelm addressed the team, and praised Sanders, saying the fifth-year man knows “how good a quarterback Jatavis is,” Hamilton said.
“We each bring different talents to the table,” Wilhjelm said of himself and Sanders.
Perhaps the greatest obstacle Sanders was up against was learning his third offense in as many seasons.
At N.C. State, he played his freshman year under Mike O’Cain and the next under new coach Chuck Amato, who actually used him more frequently at wide receiver. The ETSU offense also offers more option reads than any other he’s faced at the collegiate level.
“We threw a lot at Jatavis,” Hamilton said.
“I’m also, though, very pleased with the progress (he has made),” Hamilton later added. “He’s closing the gap.”
The coach, however, has indicated repeatedly that there’s no need for Wilhjelm to be looking over his shoulder, saying a quarterback shuffle “can bring some division among your football team.”
Clark and his fellow receiver, All-Southern Conference preseason selection Cecil Moore, would seem to have spoken for the team when they both said they’re glad all the hoopla about who would emerge at quarterback is behind them, and that the games can begin.
However, Hamilton did not completely close the door.
“I’m not saying that there’s not a potential that we could play two quarterbacks,” he said before the season.
Sanders is not giving up his quarterbacking dreams, either, “just because of this decision,” the junior said.
Both he and Hamilton realize the understudy must be ready to step in at any time.
“I might have to go in,” Sanders said.
At Pittsburgh, Sanders went in, but not out of force. His only action was simply to relieve Wilhjelm for the final drive of a 31-0 shutout, and Sanders didn’t even attempt a pass.
Wilhjelm, on the other hand, played shakily, as you might expect from a Division I-AA quarterback going up against a I-A team in his first career start.
He went 8-for-18 in the air for 101 yards and one interception, while his offense had to burn three early first-half time outs.
One key stat for which the quarterback cannot be faulted is the total of seven sacks he absorbed, a beating Hamilton had hoped to avoid.
Yet, Wilhjelm hung tough and remained uninjured, save for ordinary bumps and bruises.
He’ll again be the starter Saturday, for the first time at home, as the Bucs entertain I-AA independent Gardner-Webb at 6 p.m. in the Mini-Dome.

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