Wash High vs. McGuffey: ‘This can’t get much bigger’
Steve Clemens (5) is one of several talented receivers for McGuffey.
This has been a breakthrough season for Washington running back Malik Wells (24), who has more than 900 yards. The Prexies will try for an undefeated regular season tonight when they play at McGuffey.
When the WPIAL released football schedules for the 2014 season, Washington junior Nate Swart did not hesitate to circle the Prexies’ Week 9 matchup against McGuffey.
Since the Highlanders were relocated to the Interstate Conference, Swart and his teammates had heard about the strength of McGuffey’s team. Swart posted a photo on Twitter of the schedule with the game against McGuffey circled and starred.
With both teams returning plenty of talent, the writing was on the wall for a game with conference title implications.
Swart and the unbeaten Prexies will get their shot at the Highlanders tonight (7 p.m.) with the Interstate Conference on the line. Wash High can clinch sole possesion of the title, and McGuffey needs a victory to earn a share of the conference title and a home playoff game next week.
“Ever since I can remember, everyone has been saying McGuffey is so good and that they can beat us,” Swart said. “We’ve had our eyes open. We want the conference title and to go undefeated. The coaches have been telling us all week that no one remembers 8-1 teams. People remember 9-0 teams. This can’t get much bigger.”
McGuffey senior lineman Ryan Stienstraw agrees. The game has been the talk of the school since last week’s victory over Waynesburg clinched the program’s first playoff appearance since 2009.
“It’s giving me chills just thinking about it,” Stienstraw said. “I’m ready to go. A lot of the guys in school doubt us. We just have to go out there and get the win.”
To beat Wash High (7-0, 8-0), McGuffey (6-1, 7-1) will have to stop one of the WPIAL’s top rushing attacks. Helping the Prexies attempt to go unbeaten in the regular season for the second time in three years will be senior running back Malik Wells, who has 974 yards with 14 total touchdowns and is averaging more than 10 yards per carry.
In addition to Wells, the Prexies have junior fullback Jordan West, who has been exceptional since returning from a hand injury. West has only 270 yards with four touchdowns, but his presence as a blocker and ability to run with speed inside has gained the attention of McGuffey coach Ed Dalton.
“Since they got West back, they have a true fullback,” Dalton said. “He’s probably a good tailback too. He can block and he can run. Wells and (Kurt) Atkins are good. DeQuay (Isbell) is faster than anybody in our league. Swart’s a good target at tight end. They’re just a handful.”
Isbell has become senior quarterback Jonathan Spina’s top target with 512 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. The state track champion is also a threat in the return game and as a defensive back.
“There’s no right way to play them,” Dalton said. “You just have to play with eye discipline, everyone do their job and try to limit big plays. They don’t score on singles. They score on home runs. They score on a lot of home runs.”
Wash High can say the same about McGuffey. The Highlanders have one of the highest-scoring offenses in Class AA, led by senior running back James Duchi, who has gained 1,170 yards with 18 touchdowns. Both teams are averaging more than 40 points per game.
The player McGuffey was missing during last season’s 5-5 overall record was quarterback Nate Whipkey. A threat to run in the spread offense and connect with several talented receivers, Whipkey has accounted for 19 touchdowns and only three turnovers. McGuffey also has a big, athletic line and veteran receivers Steve Clemens, Adam Narigon and Shaun Sanders. The Prexies know a victory won’t come easily.
“McGuffey has a really nice team,” Wash High head coach Mike Bosnic said. “Their offensive and defensive lines are very impressive. Duchi and Whipkey are really nice players. They have big, strong kids who play hard and are good football players. It’s definitely going to be a challenge and we’re going to have to play well to beat them.”
The excitement surrounding the rivalry has returned. According to Dalton, one of his player’s parents received a t-shirt with the Prexies insignia from a Wash High parent. The parent returned the favor by purchasing his co-worker a McGuffey shirt. Members of both communities are looking to gain bragging rights for the next 12 months.
While balancing emotions with the task at hand, players from both teams are ready to enjoy the standing-room-only crowd at McGuffey.
“We are definitely excited. We know they are only (a few) miles away,” Spina said. “It’s a bigger game than usual. It’s for the conference title, so it’s definitely a bigger game.”
The Eagles have an opportunity to make history. With a win over the Pioneers (0-7, 1-7) and a Bentworth loss to Beth-Center, Avella (3-4, 4-4) will make the playoffs for the second year in a row for the first time since the 1977-78 seasons.
After losing three of their first five games, the Eagles have won two out of three, including a 41-point victory over Carmichaels last week.
“Everything has been hinging on our rushing game the whole year,” Avella coach Ryan Cecchini said. “When we get Nick Kusich going early and he’s running the ball well, our whole team is clicking. When he struggles, we’re struggling too.”
Kusich has rushed for almost 800 yards and 14 TDs.
“We can’t take anything for granted,” Cecchini said. “Nobody is going to hand us anything. We have to take care of business against West Greene and with the way Beth-Center is playing, they should be able to take care of Bentworth for us and get us into the playoffs.”
C-H is hoping to avoid missing the playoffs for the third straight year, while Fort Cherry has been carried by a young offense to the cusp of the final postseason spot in the Black Hills Conference.
Chartiers-Houston (3-3, 4-4) lost the season finale to Fort Cherry (2-4, 3-5) in the final seconds last year to miss the playoffs.
After losing five of its first six games, Trinity has won three straight, including a 31-13 victory over West Mifflin last week.
With a victory and some help, the Hillers (3-4, 4-4) will be eligible for the Class AAA wild-card spot, but standing in their way is Ringgold (6-1, 7-1).
Led by senior quarterback Nico Law and junior running back Chacar Berry, the Rams are more than 38 points per game and have not lost a regular-season game at Joe Montana Stadium since Aug. 30, 2013 against Thomas Jefferson.
The Raiders (3-5, 4-5) missed a chance to clinch a playoff spot last week at McGuffey, but a victory over Derry (2-5, 3-5) will end Waynesburg will break its 11-year playoff drought.
The Trojans have struggled under first-year head coach Tim Sweeney, including a loss to Burgettstown last week.