Experienced Maples exuding confidence
Mapletown’s Matt Rush throws a pass to a teammate during practice.
Mapletown’s Zach Brown practices blocking on his first day back after surgery.
MAPLETOWN – George Messich doesn’t want to say it, but the smile on his face when talking about the football team at Mapletown High School says a lot.
The Maples have a chance to be really good.
Seven starters return on offense and defense and an unexpected surprise arrived this spring with the addition of two new players, one of whom will be the starting quarterback.
Matt Rush, a tough-as-nails, 6-1, 200-pound junior and his brother Dylan, a good-sized, 5-8, 165-pound freshman, moved into the district after playing for Albert Gallatin last season.
It just might be the boost the Maples need in the Tri-County South Conference.
“This team should have no problem winning the conference, if not getting a couple home games in the playoffs, if we’re healthy,” said Matt Rush. “We’re ready for a playoff season.”
Now that’s confidence, but maybe it’s exactly the attitude this team needs heading into the season. Graduation sapped a lot of talent from the conference and experience is going to mean a lot for the team that wins the title. Mapletown hasn’t made the WPIAL playoffs since 2005.
“I’d like to think our offense is going to be pretty good, if we keep everyone healthy,” said Messich, who is in his 32nd season coaching the Maples. “If we’re healthy, we’ll be all right. That’s the key for anyone in Class A.”
Not many teams in the conference move the previous year’s starting quarterback to another position, but that’s what Messich did after inserting Matt Rush as the starter. Ben Boone will be a wide receiver and could be used in certain rushing schemes.
Rush played middle linebacker and tight end at Albert Gallatin last season. When Messich tried him at quarterback, he knew he had to make the move.
“We like our quarterbacks to be able to run, but he also throws the ball nice,” said Messich. “We put him in (at quarterback) and were pleasantly surprised.”
Rush missed most of last season after injuring his shoulder in a Week 3 game against Trinity. He had surgery and is back at 100 percent.
“I was making a tackle,” Rush said, “and I heard it pop.”
Adam Hein, a 5-9, 210-pound fireplug of a running back, returns to the Maples backfield after leading the team with 585 yards on 116 carries and scored nine touchdowns from his fullback spot. Messich wants to expand his responsibilities.
“He can play halfback and tailback,” Messich said. “He did a great job for us last year.”
And Hein would welcome the extra work.
“I want to rush for 1,000 yards and score two touchdowns a game,” he said.
That might be made easier with nearly all of the offensive line returning. Junior Brandon McClead (6-3, 290) will play right tackle and sophomore Jacob Visokey (6-2, 205) at right guard. Junior Chase Johnston (6-1, 255) anchors the line at center and junior Harley Gee (6-0, 255) returns at left guard. Senior Zach Brown (6-1, 280) was an all-conference left tackle last season.
The line simply flips to the other side of the ball on defense.
Adam Hein and Visokey will handle the inside linebacker spots and sophomore R.J. Durr, the tight end on offense, will be at one outside linebacker spot. Sophomore Tristan Franks (6-3, 175) and junior Dustin Lemley (5-8, 180) will rotate at the other.
Dylan Rush and senior Jacob Lawson (6-2, 165), a wide receiver on offense, will start at cornerback, and Matt Rush and Boone will play at the safety positions.
“In my opinon, and a lot of others, we have enough to be a good football team,” said Hein. “We need to stick together and keep our heads together.”
The Maples will have to be prepared to play their best early because a Week 1 games brings powerful Beth-Center and a running attack that can equal the Maples.
“We’ll find out a lot about ourselves real early,” said Messich. “If we stay healthy, we’ll be a pretty good team. The goal is to make the playoffs. It’s the same goal we have every year.”