Wash High-Mt. Pleasant rivalry continues to grow
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Wash High's DeQuay Isbell celebrates after a touchdown in the first half of the game.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Waynesburg's John Glen Davis takes down Mount Pleasant's Jake Adamrovich during the first half of the game on Friday, September 19.
Distance does not always define a rivalry. Washington and Mt. Pleasant high schools are 47 miles apart, but their football teams have forged one of the WPIAL’s best matchups the old-fashioned way – facing each other in important games with playoff implications.
Last season, the Prexies and Vikings played in Week 7 at Wash High Stadium with the Interstate Conference title on the line. Mt. Pleasant walked away with a 47-22 victory and went on to win the conference.
In 2012, Wash High handed the Vikings a 34-14 loss in Week 7 to clinch the conference championship and solidify itself as one of the best teams in Class AA. In 2011, the teams played in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs and Wash High won, 30-14.
Wash High and Mt. Pleasant meet again as unbeaten teams tonight in a game with conference title and playoff implications. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Wash High Stadium.
“You can’t really develop a rivalry until games mean something,” Mt. Pleasant head coach Bo Ruffner said. “We’ve had some very meaningful games since 2009 and the games have either meant something for a playoff berth, a conference championship or even a playoff game. You have to have big games to develop those big rivalries.”
The Prexies (4-0, 4-0) are 2-3 against the Vikings (4-0, 4-0) since 2004 and Wash High is hoping to even the series. They’ll try to do so with Class AA’s sixth-highest scoring offense, averaging 42 points per game and allowing just 12.5.
On the other side, Mt. Pleasant has developed a reputation as one of the most prolific offenses in the WPIAL and this season is no different. The Vikings are averaging more than 37 points per game in wins over McGuffey, Derry, Burgettstown and Waynesburg.
“For us, it’s going to be a matter of being able to get to the football on their jet sweeps, and at the same time being able to stay disciplined, play our keys and not take ourselves out of position,” Wash High head coach Mike Bosnic said. “We’re really excited about the challenge of playing a really good team like Mt. Pleasant and kind of finding out where we stand.”
The Vikings are doing their damage with a spread attack led by senior quarterback Nathan Pieszak. The first-year starter’s ability to hurt teams in the passing game has aided the Vikings’ offense. Pieszak has completed 59 percent of his passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior Jake Adamrovich leads the Vikings with 340 rushing yards and is a between-the-tackles runner. Senior Trevor Salopek has speed and is often used on jet sweeps to the outside. The philosophy is simple, yet effective: keep defenses guessing by running counters and sweeps then either having Pieszak run up the middle or pass for a large gain. Last week, in a one-point win at Waynesburg, speedy wide receiver L.J. Sutton caught 11 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown in the game’s final minute.
“You see the action in the backfield and that’s probably what really gets teams,” Wash High running back/defensive back Malik Wells said. “Players get caught staring. For us, if we follow our keys, it will take us right to the ball and I’ll just take my chances with that.”
Behind Wells at running back and senior Jonathan Spina at quarterback, the Prexies have found ways to win when opponents stack the line of scrimmage to stop the run. Wells is averaging more than 10 yards per carry with seven touchdowns, and Spina has five touchdown passes – all to senior wide receiver DeQuay Isbell.
With other weapons such as junior running back Jordan West, 6-5 junior tight end Nate Swart, junior fullback Kenya Davis and junior wide receiver Jarell Dates, Wash High’s offense is prolific.
“They’re very dynamic in the passing game,” Ruffner said. “Their quarterback is an outstanding player who is a seasoned guy and has been through it for a year. They have great skill on the perimeter, one of the biggest tight ends I’ve seen in high school football, so they are very dangerous. Most of their big plays have occurred in the passing game, so we’re going to have to be at our best to stop that.”
In the ast three matchups between Washington and Mt. Pleasant, defense and play at the line of scrimmage has determined the winner. In each of those contests, the loser was held to less than 17 points. For Wash High, winning the battle on the line of scrimmage is paramount.
“Those guys have been playing well up front for us,” Wells said of the linemen. “Friday is another big step for them. They’re going be facing probably the best line we’ll see in the regular season and that game is going to be won up front. Whether it’s us or Mt. Pleasant, it starts up front.”
Both teams have been tested through four weeks. The Vikings narrowly escaped with a win over McGuffey in Week 1 and a risky two-point conversion lifted beat Waynesburg. Wash High escaped with an eight-point victory over the Raiders in Week 3.
The stage is set for a playoff-like atmosphere tonight and Ruffner could not be more pleased.
“This is what high school football is all about – playing in big games that mean something,” he said. “Getting wins the first four games has set us up for a big game in Week 5 against another conference team that’s undefeated and a possibility of almost being for a conference championship.”