Nov 1, 2015 5 min read

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Totaling 522 yards on offense, including 491 from two running backs, and capping an undefeated regular season with a 35-point win over a rival was quite the statement by Wash High.

Senior running back Jordan West had 306 yards on 12 carries with five touchdowns and Kurt Adkins had 185 on 15 carries with a 42-yard touchdown run.

Most of the damage was done with the two running between the tackles.

“You almost want to play them running in the box, but not when you give them 55 yards,” McGuffey ead coach Ed Dalton said after the game. “We were worried about them on the perimeter where we don’t match them speed-wise, but we gave them 45-yard runs inside the box.”

Sure, the Interstate Conference may not be what it was a year ago, but the Prexies were absolutely dominant in all nine of their wins. They eclipsed 40 points in every game and their average margin of victory was 43 points.

The defense allowed a 100-yard passer just three times and opponents ran for more than 100 yards only once (Mt. Pleasant). The defense had 15 interceptions and the line is the most disruptive I’ve seen this season. The Prexies won another conference title and are likely going to receive the third seed in the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.

“It’s important to stay humble,” West said. “We can’t get outside of ourselves. We have to stay together as a team because we haven’t done anything yet. Yeah, we won a conference championship, but that’s not what we want. We want the bigger picture – Heinz Field and even state. We just have to keep working together, stay humble and I think we can do it.”

My only concern is Wash High can be a bit inconsistent against the pass if the line does not upset the quarterback’s rhythm. The top teams in Class AA, including Aliquippa, have quarterbacks who could give the Prexies trouble.

McGuffey junior Marcus Czulewicz was intercepted twice and completed just 13 of 33 passes, but he did a tremendous job of standing the pocket until he found the open receiver. It was a nice performance against a defensive front that wreaks havoc on every play.

Seniors Nate Swart and Khalid Blount were unblockable at times, and they allow senior Kenya Davis to have success as an edge rusher. Davis had two sacks and is one of most underrated players in the area. He sealed one of West’s touchdowns in the second half with a devastating block.

The blocking of Davis, Swart and Blount were pivotal in the win. It came as no surprise to Wash High head coach Mike Bosnic.

“We have two great backs with those two guys,” Bosnic said of West and Adkins. “I feel so lucky to have coached Kurt, Jordan and this whole group of seniors. I’m truly blessed to be the coach here and to have such a great tradition with great talent and great kids.”

• Despite the big statistics, Wash High didn’t play a flawless game. The Prexies committed two first-half turnovers and four trips deep into McGuffey territory yielded zero points. Two of those ended with turnovers, but the Prexies also turned it over on downs and missed a tough field goal just before halftime.

Wash High also committed nine penalties for 85 yards, including three personal fouls.

“We weren’t at our best tonight,” Wash High head coach Mike Bosnic said. “We’re not satisfied with that. We made some mistakes, but at the same time, it’s always tough when you play a rivalry game and a game where there’s a lot of emotion.”

• The Prexies have gone undefeated in the regular season in three of the last four years with a trip to Heinz Field, a first-round loss to Seton-La Salle and last season’s defeat against Aliquippa in the semifinals.

“It’s a great feeling. Our kids work so hard and we have such a great group that is so committed,” Bosnic said. “They are great kids and I’m so happy for them. I’m happy for our school and our community. I’m just happy that this can be a great experience for these kids and hopefully we can make a successful playoff run.”

McGuffey will likely draw Beaver Falls in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs and obviously struggled against Wash High, but there were also signs that the Highlanders have some very talented young players.

There are only seven seniors on the roster and McGuffey will return one of the area’s top quarterbacks in 2015. Where it is placed in the WPIAL’s realignment will be very interesting.

1. West and Adkins

2. Chartiers-Houston sophomore quarterback T.J. Johnston completed 13 of 20 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns to help the Bucs defeat Fort Cherry, clinching a spot in the Class A playoffs

3. Beth-Center running back Tony Welsh ran for 353 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Bentworth and clinched a first-round home playoff game.

Others receiving votes: Ringgold running back Chacar Berry, Trinity running back Joey Koroly, South Fayette’s Mikey Speca and Carmichaels running back/linebacker Shawn Dulaney.