BETHANY — West Virginia head coach John Durdines wants his team to play fast Saturday night in the 72nd annual OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Game.

That should be no problem for Weir High’s Donovan Spencer.

Everything he does is fast … especially his running.

The Mountain State wide receiver will be the fastest player on the field — regardless of team — when the game unfolds at Purple Rider Stadium. Though his athletic future at St. Francis University in Pennsylvania is coming on the track, Spencer has been anxiously looking forward to the opportunity to put the pads on one last time.

“This has been a dream since I was little,” Spencer said. “Though I am probably a track guy who plays football, playing in this game is something that I’ve always wanted to do.”

Since arriving at Bethany College last Saturday for camp, none of the West Virginia players have offered to race against Spencer. That’s probably a good decision on their part since Spencer is the two-time Mountain State 100 and 200 meter dash state champion. He posted OVAC-best times of 10.70 and 22.03, respectively, in his two specialties this past spring.

“I can’t wait to get to St. Francis and see where I stack up,” Spencer said. “Being from West Virginia, I am anxious to prove that I can hang with the best of them.”

Before he shifts his full attention to sprinting for the first time in his life, Spencer has some work to do. On top of all of the new buddies he’s made this week, he gets to play one more game with three other Red Riders — Jordan Allen, Cody Enrietti and Michael Mills.

“This camp has been awesome,” Spencer said. “We’re all like brothers already. There’s no doubt that we’ve all made friends for life.”

Spencer — the ultimate team player — admitted that a victory is all he really cares about. However, he did say that he would love to score a touchdown.

“If I had zero touches and we won the game, I’d be satisfied, but I’d really like to score a touchdown,” Spencer smiled. “I am just hoping to get my hands on the ball a few times and hopefully make a couple of plays.”

Ohio’s defense will have to be cognizant of where Spencer is on the field. The West Virginia coaching staff could use him in a bevy of ways. The chief objective being get the multiple-time state champion in space.

“I have really been working at slot receiver and I just hope to get open, make a move and get down the field,” Spencer said.

From his track exploits, Spencer has raced against — and beaten — a handful of the Ohio squad’s fastest players.

“It’s no knock on their guys because they do have some speed, but Ohio doesn’t have anyone as fast as me,” Spencer pointed out. “They’re big, but I don’t think they’re as fast as we are, collectively. I feel like if I can get into space, I could be off to the races.”

Ohio doesn’t want to see Spencer off to the races because he doesn’t lose races too often.

During his senior season with the Red Riders, Spencer made 21 receptions for an astounding 23.8 yards per catch average. He was also an effective runner, accumulating 1,121 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns.