McGuffey wants to be playoff worthy again
A McGuffey player is silhouetted against the sky as he stretches his leg during warmup exercises at camp. The Highlanders return seven starters on offense and six on defense from a team that qualified for the 2014 WPIAL Class AA playoffs.
Offensive and defensive lineman David Sanders, left, and wide receiversTy Bedillion and Nick Hayes, right, lead the team during ladder drills at McGuffey High School’s football field.
CLAYSVILLE – Led by a record-setting running back, McGuffey’s high-powered offense averaged 35 points per game last season and held on for a thrilling victory over Waynesburg that sent the program back to the WPIAL playoffs.
Though the storybook autumn ended with losses to rival Washington and Seton-La Salle, the latter in the first round of the playoffs, it was a season to remember with large crowds at Highlander Stadium and an excitement McGuffey had not experienced in a while.
It’s a buzz that won’t stop any time soon. The Highlanders return seven starters on offense and six on defense, but the biggest challenge could be replacing running back James Duchi, who eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark for his career. He had 1,378 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior in addition to leading the team in tackles.
McGuffey head coach Ed Dalton, who begins his fourth year with the Highlanders, knows there is no replacing a prolific runner such as Duchi.
“I don’t know if we’re going to replace him. Our quarterback is probably going to run a lot more,” Dalton said. “The backfield will be a little more balanced as far as carries and we’re hoping to make up for him with the deception of which guy is going to run the ball. We think we have two good young backs.”
Those running backs are Adam Townsend and Spencer Gillispie. Though neither can match Duchi physically, the pair brings quickness to the backfield and will be a pivotal part of an offense that could look different this fall.
The reason for that is McGuffey has a quarterback who is a physical runner and can keep teams guessing with his ability to thrown or run. Junior Marcus Czulewicz steps in as the Highlanders’ leader on offense and it’s a transition that has been seamless so far.
“Marcus is coming along really great,” senior wide receiver Nick Haynes said. “He seems to be fitting in and he’s ready. As a safety, I’ve been telling him what routes are easiest to look for, to check down to or what the simpler read is. He’s looked good.”
Having a plethora of weapons at his disposal will help. Along with Haynes, Czulewicz can turn to Connor Thompson, Joe Townsend, Teague Nicolella and Shaun Sanders.
The biggest question mark could be the offensive line, which lost three starters, including Ryan Stienstraw. Junior Eddie Shingle and sophomore Chase Miller are returners and will be counted on to help a group that Dalton said is very deep.
Juniors Stavros Alexas and Justin Vinski, and sophomores Marko Olivarez and Adam Blacharczyk, will likely fill out the offensive line. Dalton is hoping to keep his linemen playing on only offense or defense to help with McGuffey’s fast-paced attack.
“We averaged 40 points per game and we probably could have averaged 60 if we wanted to, but there were games we slowed down so we wouldn’t run it up on some teams,” Dalton said. “We are believers in playing up-tempo because we’ve seen on film that teams wear out when you are getting 90 offensive snaps and a typical team is getting 55 to 60.”
While the offense is inexperienced in spots, McGuffey’s defense returns the bulk of its players from a unit that allowed the third-fewest points in Class AA (14.7 per game).
Haynes leads a secondary that features Sanders and Czulewicz returning at cornerback, and either Gillispie or Adam Townsend at strong safety. The defensive line only returns one starter, but Dalton believes the offseason training program has helped develop size and depth in the trenches.
If the linemen can shed blocks, the Highlanders’ strength – linebackers – can roam free. Though Miller is the only returning starter, it’s a group with a wealth of potential in a conference where stopping the running game is incredibly important.
Miller and Shingle, the two inside linebackers, spearhead McGuffey’s new-look front-seven.
“The inside linebackers could be the best pair we’ve had,” Dalton said. “They’re both studs, they’re tough and they both played a lot as freshmen. It’s almost like when I was at Trinity. We have some really good linebackers coming back.
“Chase Miller has a chance to be a blue-chip kid. He has all the skills and reminds me of Andrew Sweat physically. Luke Shingle is a tackling machine. Those two guys are going to become household names.”
In a conference that features Washington and Mt. Pleasant, finding capable replacements for a strong senior class could mean the difference between a return to the playoffs and a disappointing season. Despite the losses, expectations have not changed.
“The team has the same mindset. What happened last year doesn’t matter,” Haynes said. “We want to make the playoffs and we expect to win the conference. We know we are capable.”