Waynesburg needs a strong start
Waynesburg’s Dylan Scritchfield runs the ball after participating in a hand-off drill during practice.
Waynesburg’s Jacob Berrier (center) works on linemen drills during practice.
The age of specialization in high school sports is hitting hard at Waynesburg, where multi-sport athletes are becoming as rare as a bad wrestling season by the Raiders.
“I don’t understand it,” veteran head coach Russ Moore said. “When we were good, those kids were playing at least two sports, and most of them played three sports. These days, soccer teams never stop playing, baseball players play fall ball, spring league, summer league. Our softball and volleyball teams play year round.”
One of the exceptions to the trend of specializing in and playing only one sport is Colin McCracken, a versatile senior who has excelled at three sports and gives Moore plenty of possibilities in his offensive playbook.
McCracken (6-1, 195) was a PIAA placewinner as a wrestler last season, member of the Raiders’ baseball team and stalwart at linebacker.
His real versatility, however, is on offense. As a freshman and sophomore, McCracken played tight end. Last fall, he was the Raiders’ quarterback. This season, McCracken has been moved to running back. But he could play quarterback. Or tight end.
“He’s an athlete,” Moore said. “He’s also the best leader in the world. He’s like another coach. Sometimes the best player on your team knows he’s the best player, so he doesn’t work as hard. Colin is one of the kids who works as hard as possible all the time.”
That hard work paid off in the wrestling season and McCracken hopes it carries over to football, no matter where he plays on offense.
“Wrestling teaches you about hard work and mental toughness,” McCracken said.
Last season was a tough one both mentally and physically for the Raiders. A dropoff of unexpected proportion happened after making the WPIAL Class AA playoffs in 2014. Waynesburg staggered to a 1-8 record and averaged only 12.4 points per game. Losses to Burgettstown and Brownsville in the season’s first two games hurt the team’s psyche. “The first two games are what killed us,” Moore confirmed.
Waynesburg began to play better in the second half of the season but managed only the one victory, over winless Charleroi.
“We just couldn’t get it going,” McCracken said. “But we have a lot of guys coming back. We’re expecting these guys should win.”
McCracken’s versatility gives the Raiders’ offense some unpredictability. Moore isn’t sure exactly where McCracken will line up from game to game, let alone play to play. Much of it has to do with the development of junior quarterback Dylan Scritchfield and senior running back Zach Eisiminger.
“McCracken could be the best tight end around, and he was that his first two years,” Moore said. “He’s still going to throw the ball and we’ll do some things with him, but it depends on how much Eisiminger shows us during camp. He has what it takes but hasn’t played a game. If he can be the guy who can carry us at running back, then Colin won’t be getting as many carries. Scritch is a play-action rollout guy while Collin is a stand up and throw it guy. Scritch, I call him my little Lee Fritz. He reminds me of Lee. He’s the fastest kid on the team and has some wiggle in his waggle.”
Whoever gets the bulk of the carries will run behind an experienced line. Nathan Hinerman, Jacob Berrier, Spencer Lesinski, Chase Owens and Eli Kiger are returning starters. Hinerman, a center, is the strongest player on the team.
McCracken, a first team All-Interstate Conference pick last season at inside linebacker, anchors the defense. He will play alongside Connor Main, a 6-3, 220-pound transfer from West Greene.
Kiger and Lesinski are back at the defensive ends and Moore likes the potential of free safety Caleb Shriver.
Two players Moore said have been pleasant surprises this summer were receiver/linebacker Derek Wilson and receiver/defensive back Jacob McCallum. “Those two kids worked phenomenally over the winter. They made themselves into ballplayers while in the weight room,” Moore said.
It was an interesting offseason for Moore, who retired as head coach and athletic director, only to be rehired as coach. “I said I might come back until I die,” Moore said. “I’m enjoying this just being a coach thing.”
The statewide football realignment and expansion to six classifications has bumped Waynesburg and the Interstate up to Class AAA, but many of the Raiders’ opponents remain the same.
“We got better at the end of last season,” Moore said. “I’m trying to get these guys to realize they must be ready. I have good leaders this year, I do know that.”