Defense, Duchi lead McGuffey past Waynesburg
Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Waynesburg’s Hunter Cenname (4) isn’t going anywhere with McGuffey’s Joey Townsend (16), Mike Novak (30), Doug White (21), Connor Thompson (11) and a host of other McGuffey players hold Cenname to no yards in the 1st quarter at McGuffey stadium Friday night.
Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Waynesburg's Travis Wilkinson (2) leaps high to grab the pass for a touchdown over McGuffey's Nick Haynes (18) in the 2nd quarter at McGuffey stadium Friday night.
CLAYSVILLE – McGuffey’s football team formed a large semicircle on the 30-yard line near the bleachers. They locked arms and the head coach carried them through the school’s alma mater as the band struck every note to perfection.
As the song hit its crescendo, Ed Dalton raised his fists in the air. In his third year leading the Highlanders, Dalton led them back into the WPIAL postseason and could not have done it without his defense and a record-setting tailback.
Senior running back James Duchi, who eclipsed 4,000 career yards last week, rushed for 162 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns as McGuffey defeated Waynesburg, 34-14, in an Interstate Conference game Friday night.
The Highlanders (6-1, 7-1) extended their winning streak to seven, clinched a spot in the WPIAL Class AA Playoffs and positioned themselves for a possible share of the conference title with a win next week over Washington and help. On the other hand, the Raiders (4-3, 5-3) must wait at least one more week to clinch a playoff spot.
“Almost four years ago to the date from last Friday, we were at the bottom of the conference,” Dalton said. “We could end next Friday in first. We obviously have a big challenge ahead of us. We’re obviously very excited.”
While the final score did not show it, Waynesburg was a yard from changing the game. On the first play of the second half and McGuffey leading 10-7, senior quarterback Nate Whipkey fumbled the snap and it was recovered by Raiders senior Austin Herrod to give Waynesburg the ball at the Highlanders’ 20-yard line.
Two plays later, senior running back Hunter Cenname, who finished with 110 yards on 27 carries, burst through the Highlanders’ linebackers to the one-yard line. Waynesburg head coach Russ Moore called three straight running plays up the middle for no gain.
On fourth down, instead of going for the touchdown, Moore trotted out junior kicker Nate Blair – a soccer player making his first career start. The kick was partially blocked and sailed three feet under the crossbar.
“The big turning point was we didn’t score down here on the goal line,” Moore said. “I tried to get too bullheaded and maybe stubborn. I just pounded it up at them and they were root hogging us and getting deeper penetration. That was a haunt not scoring there. I should have had some better play calling on that goal line.”
On the next play, Whipkey faked a handoff to Duchi and found senior wide receiver Adam Narigon wide open for a 38-yard gain. Duchi took the ensuing handoff, broke a tackle in the secondary and ran for a 47-yard touchdown.
His five-yard touchdown run gave McGuffey the lead in the first quarter and his five-yard score in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach.
“He had heard whispers of people saying this guys is better than him and that guy is better than him,” Dalton said. “I’m not saying he’s the best guy around, but I wouldn’t want anybody else back there. He’s a warrior.”
Despite playing without four players because of injury, including leading tackler John-Glen Davis, Waynesburg’s defense held McGuffey to 148 total yards in the first half and a season-low 10 first-half points. Duchi was held to 24 rushing yards and Moore’s group was putting pressure on Whipkey. The Highlanders’ spread attack finished with 413 total yards.
The Highlanders had a chance to take a 14-0 lead, but Waynesburg held them to a field goal then answered on the next drive when quarterback Colby Collins threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Travis Wilkinson to draw the Raiders to within three points. The Highlanders had the ball in the red zone with less than a minute remaining in the half, but ran out of time.
McGuffey seized back momentum with the goal-line stand then forced two turnovers. Connor Lindsay recovered a fumble and Shaun Sanders intercepted Collins.
“It pumped everyone up,” Duchi said. “We got a lot of momentum after that. We had to stop them on the goal line and get that ball back.”
Whipkey, who completed 8 of 12 passes for 154 yards, added a one-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter and Teague Nicollela hit his second field goal. Although Collins threw a second touchdown pass to Dom Sarra with a little over a minute remaining, the Highlanders recovered the ensuing onside kick and held on for the win. McGuffey walked away with a playoff berth, while Waynesburg hobbled off the field.
“Waynesburg’s players played hard as heck,” Dalton said. “We know they are down a couple of guys and might not be the team they were a few weeks ago, but our kids were very physical from the very beginning of the game.”
Next up for McGuffey is Wash High at home in the regular season finale.
“That’s a great feeling to clinch the playoffs, but we want to go farther than that,” Whipkey said.