Speed, skill winning ingredients for Prexies
Matthew Dillard, left, a tackle for Wash High runs wind sprints with his teammates at the conclusion of a practice session.
Defensive end Jacob Collet, front, gets assistance putting on his shoulder pads from defensive end Antonio Meredith prior to a practice session at Wash Highh Stadium.
Washington High School has long had a reputation for speed and athleticism that is rare in Class AA. That combination in the running game has been used to wear out defenses.
The Prexies have a strong offensive line and a stable of running backs who combined quickness with a powerful running style. The trend continued last season as the Prexies rushed for 3,347 yards and 49 touchdowns.
Surprisingly, the Prexies have found a way to become faster.
Lance Vallee, an assistant track coach at Canon-McMillan, joined the coaching staff as defensive coordinator and started speed camps in the spring that, from hard work and dedication, transforms players from mildly fast to dangerously quick.
Combine the training with Wash High’s already-elusive backfield and the results could translate into a prolific rushing attack that has the potential to make the Prexies the top contender in Class AA.
Vallee’s two top students were senior running backs Jordan West and Kurt Adkins. The duo complemented Malik Wells last season, combining for 1,138 yards and 16 touchdowns. Working with Vallee has trimmed their 40-yard dash times below 4.4 seconds.
“In the beginning of the summer, I started running around 4.5 or mid-4.5s, but now I’m down to a 4.39,” Adkins said. “It’s definitely made a difference. Jordan and I are both 4.3 backs now. It’s going to help us a lot, especially later in the season. We’re going to kill teams with our stamina and our speed.”
Opponents in the Interstate Conference will notice the difference while receiving a heavy dose of Wash High’s running game. The Prexies ran the football 390 times last fall, averaging 8.6 yards per carry.
A good running game will help the quarterback who wins the starting job. Senior Markel Pulliam and junior Connor Bedillion are battling to fill the void left by the graduation of Jonathan Spina, who passed for 1,380 yards and 20 touchdowns. Pulliam did not play last season after moving into the district from Florida and Bedillion attempted only one varsity pass.
“They’re two completely different styles and two completely different players,” Wash High head coach Mike Bosnic said. “Markel is very athletic, elusive, agile and very coachable. He’s smart and he’s doing a lot of good things. I’m impressed with him. Connor is really coming along. He’s right where he needs to be and has been impressive.”
The quarterback and tailbacks have the advantage of playing behind one of the biggest offensive lines in Class AA. The group is led by senior Khalid Blount, a 6-1, 305-pound Division I prospect and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount, seniors Thomas Cherry and Zach Parr, while a group of young players that includes Andrew Mercer, Ian Smith and Nick Pawuk are competing for the other spots.
Under Bosnic, a former lineman at Pitt, the line play continues to be a strength for Wash High.
“I see a lot of potential with our line. I’m really excited about our linemen, but at the same time, we have a lot of work to do,” Bosnic said. “We’re raw. There is a lot of power and a lot of potential. We have some strong leaders there with the seniors.”
Wash High’s receiving corps was hit hard by graduation and sport specialization, but a young quarterback’s safety net is often the tight end. The Prexies have one of the best in the state – Toledo recruit Nate Swart, who caught 18 passes for 358 yards and four touchdowns last year.
Despite losing Wells, who led Wash High in tackles, the defense is expected to be strong again with a disruptive line. Blount, Cherry and Swart will be joined by one newcomer.
Another lineman might be needed with Blount’s versatility. He could line up as a middle linebacker to keep opposing offenses guessing.
“Words can’t explain how I feel,” Blount said of possibly playing linebacker. “I’m excited about it. I just want to go out and hit.
“If I had to choose where our strength is, I’d say up in the box. We have a lot of (hitters) up there. I feel like no one is going to be able to run on us. With our defensive line, I don’t think they’ll be able to pass either because we’ll be in the quarterback’s face before he gets back.”
Wash High’s postseason run last year ended with a loss to Aliquippa in the semifinals. A bit of offseason work and a strong group of linemen have the Prexies thinking of bigger accomplishments.
“Last year, it gave us confidence to come back and we think we can win the state title,” Swart said. “The only thing that can stop us is us.”