South Fayette vs. McGuffey
0831_SPT_mcguffeyfball_01 Katie Roupe / Observer-Reporter McGuffey's Steve Clemens tackles South Fayette's Conner Beck after the punt during the second quarter of the game on Friday, August 30.
Katie Roupe / Observer-Reporter McGuffey’s junior running back James Duchi weaves his way around South Fayette’s Nick Ponikvar during Friday night’s game.
Katie Roupe / Observer-Reporter A McGuffey assistant coach talks to sophomore running back Shaun Sanders in between plays after falling behind South Fayette by 21 points in the first quarter of Friday night’s game.
Katie Roupe / Observer-Reporter McGuffey’s Shaun Sanders lays on the ground while the referee calls a touchdown for South Fayette after South Fayette’s Justin Watson catches a ten yard pass in the endzone.
Katie Roupe / Observer-Reporter McGuffey's Kendrick Reed tries to get around the Lion's defense on a return during the game on Friday, August 30.
Katie Roupe / Observer-Reporter South Fayette's quarterback Brett Brumbaugh looks to pass during the first quarter of the game against McGuffey.
41-14
By Kevin Jacobsen
For the Observer-Reporter
CLAYSVILLE – A lot of the offseason hype surrounding the McGuffey High School football team was the transfer of Trinity standout Patrick Frey.
The playmaking abilities of Frey were expected to provide an additional threat to a McGuffey offense that returned 1,500-yard rusher James Duchi. A preseason injury to quarterback Nate Whipkey, also a dangerous runner, led Highlanders coach Ed Dalton to begin running a Wildcat offense featuring Frey and Duchi, limiting the offense somewhat but still strong on paper.
There were understandably a lot of eyes on Frey, and maybe he felt a little bit of pressure to perform.
Unfortunately for McGuffey, Frey’s first offensive touch was an interception on a halfback option pass, and South Fayette, already leading, quickly took advantage to score a second touchdown in 43 seconds and go on to a comfortable 41-14 victory in Friday’s Century Conference season opener.
“Patrick got hyped and made a couple of bad decisions,” said Dalton. “After he settled down later and read, we were in better shape. I think if three or four plays had gone differently, the game could’ve been much more competitive.”
Frey did show the potential that he brings to the field and got McGuffey fans excited when he broke a 60-yard run late in the third quarter. Two plays later, he finished the drive off by scoring McGuffey’s first touchdown of the season. Frey finished with 100 yards rushing on 15 carries.
But the Lions had a few more playmakers and a few more big plays in them.
While South Fayette needed to replace standout Zach Challingsworth, Joe Rossi’s squad still returned a number of key weapons, including Brett Brumbaugh, Grant Fetchet, J.J. Walker and Justin Watson, just to name a few.
McGuffey was able to limit South Fayette’s deep passing game, but Brumbaugh had no problem foiling that plan by getting the ball to his receivers underneath and letting them make plays. Brumbaugh, who completed 21 of 26 passes for 220 yards, completed passes to seven different receivers and spread the ball among those seven fairly equally. Five players caught at least three passes and none had more than 72 yards receiving. Conner Beck had six catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
“They didn’t want to get beat by the deep game, and we talk all the time about throwing short and running long,” said Rossi.
Other than that long run of Frey’s, South Fayette’s defense hemmed in the McGuffey backs. The duo combined for 167 yards, but much of that came in the second half and the game out of reach.
“We didn’t allow Frey to get his legs moving early,” Rossi said. “They have two tremendous tailbacks over there. I saw the film from last week and they were running up and down the field. I didn’t sleep all week, my first game calling defense.”
Last year’s meeting between the two teams was about as lopsided as a game can get, and while the score line this season indicates the same, the gap between the two isn’t as wide as a year ago.
“I really think we can compete against them,” said Dalton. “We didn’t do it tonight. But we made some plays against them. We just weren’t consistent. We have things to build on, but we have Seton-La Salle next week. It doesn’t get any easier.”