Nov 12, 2015 4 min read

Opposing quarterbacks found little success against Washington High School this fall and it hasn’t been because of a lack of talent.

It’s just difficult to complete a pass when there are three linemen and a linebacker in the backfield at the snap of the ball. The Prexies’ approach to stopping the passing game starts with one of the biggest and most physical defensive lines in WPIAL.

It has helped the defense hold opponents to a WPIAL-best 5.6 points per game, allowing seven or fewer points in eight of 10 games.

Wash High has wreaked havoc on opposing offenses all season, but has yet to face one as effective as Freeport’s.

The third-seeded Prexies (10-0) will try to disrupt the fast-paced offense of sixth-seeded Freeport (9-1) tonight at Hempfield’s Spartan Stadium in a WPIAL Class AA quarterfinal game. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Washington allows just 70.7 passing yards per game, and though it starts with a disruptive front seven, the Prexies will need help from their secondary.

“If you win up front, it gives you a big advantage, but we’re going to have to do more this game,” Wash High head coach Mike Bosnic said. “We’ll have to play well on the edge and against the pass because they are very capable. Their quarterback has a strong arm and he’s able to spread it around.”

Freeport senior quarterback Ryan Weigold has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,999 yards with 26 touchdowns and just one interception. He has thrown at least five scores each to three receivers, all of whom are 6-2 or taller. In comparison, Wash High’s four starting defensive backs stand at an average of 5-11.

“This will be the biggest test for our secondary so far,” Prexies senior running back/safety Kurt Adkins said. “You can’t really prepare for height. Some of our guys in the secondary are shorter, but we’ll definitely have formations where we have help up top so it won’t always be one-on-one jump balls. We’re ready for it.”

With the help of its pass rush, Wash High has 17 interceptions and has given up eight touchdowns – two in the first half of games. Only three teams have thrown for more than 100 yards against the Prexies and much of that damage was done in the second half with Washington holding a substantial lead.

“It’s going to be hard. They have so much team speed that there won’t be any big plays like we had against McGuffey,” Freeport head coach John Gaillot said. “We know that. Their team is amazing. They have skill, they’re fast and have a big, solid line.”

It’s a game of contrasting styles on offense.

Along with a fast and physical defense, Wash High has the second highest-scoring offense in the WPIAL behind senior running backs Adkins and Jordan West. The two have combined for 2,979 rushing yards with 34 touchdowns and are averaging more than 13 yards per carry. The Prexies have attempted only 45 passes all season.

Like its defense, Washington’s offense will face a difficult challenge.

Freeport senior Logan Thimons, a West Virginia recruit, has a school-record 138 total tackles, including 31 for a loss and 15 ½ sacks. The Yellowjackets use his size, speed and strength as a down lineman and as a linebacker. With his talent, Gaillot can be creative to find ways to utilize his talent.

Against Wash High’s wing-T attack, which includes misdirection using four players in the backfield, disrupting timing and space is key.

“I’ve never seen anything like their offense,” Gaillot said. “We’ll move (Thimons) around again because we saw some things that might be a mismatch. That offense is very confusing. Hopefully, Logan can get in there and find the ball, but they disguise it so well. You have a 25 percent chance at guessing who has the ball.”

The Prexies could reach the WPIAL semifinals for the third time in four years, but only one team has solved Weigold. Steel Valley held Freeport to just 65 total yards, handing the Yellowjackets their only loss of the season.

A potential rematch with perennial power Aliquippa could come next week, but Wash High is focused solely on making Weigold and Freeport uncomfortable.

“We’ve struggled at times in pass coverage, but I don’t really think this quarterback has been tested against a defensive line like ours that can get pressure and get in his face almost every play,” Wash High senior defensive end Nate Swart said. “They’ll have to figure out how to block us.”