Oct 30, 2014 4 min read

Washington’s WPIAL Class AA first-round home game last season against Seton-LaSalle was unconventional. The Prexies’ program underwent four weeks of scrutiny surrounding two eligibility cases, one of which resulted in a forfeit of a Week 6 game against Interstate Conference rival Brownsville.

The WPIAL steering committee handed Wash High the seventh seed in the playoffs to create a match up against the Rebels – one of the top teams in the Century Conference. Wash High lost by eight points, marking an early exit from the postseason.

“Last year, a couple of things happened with the eligibility stuff, the forfeit and everything,” junior tight end/defensive end Nate Swart said. “We had a bunch of distractions. We thought we were under seeded. We got down real early in that game and fought back at the end, but didn’t have enough.”

This season, there are no such distractions. The Prexies (8-0, 9-0) mounted second-half comebacks against Waynesburg, Mt. Pleasant and McGuffey to win the conference title and finish the regular season undefeated.

The result was the third seed in the WPIAL playoffs that set up a home game against No. 10 Steel Valley (6-3, 6-3) tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Wash High’s players have one goal this season – returning to Heinz Field for the second time in three years.

“This week, we’re all over it,” Swart said. “Everyone wants to make a huge run at the title this year.”

The Ironmen pose a different challenge for the Prexies. Running a pro-style offense with two running backs in the shotgun formation, Steel Valley is averaging 33.6 points per game behind one of the best tailbacks in the Century Conference – sophomore DeWayne Murray.

The elusive, one-cut runner has rushed for 1,255 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also is a threat in the passing game. Steel Valley uses a combination of screen passes to get Murray in space.

Steel Valley played South Fayette tough in the first quarter, only lost by seven points to Seton-LaSalle and led South Park late in the first half before a collapse.

“They have exceptional speed. It’s kind of scary how fast they are,” Wash High head coach Mike Bosnic said. “I think they are a really good football team. They were a couple plays and a couple games away from being a great team.”

Wash High’s offense will present different problems for Steel Valley. Senior quarterback Jonathan Spina has thrown for 16 touchdowns with just three interceptions.

Senior running back Malik Wells eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark last week and has rushed for 13 touchdowns, but the difference could be senior DeQuay Isbell, who is Spina’s top target and has scored a combined 16 touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams.

Bosnic wants to see the Prexies play with “a sense of urgency.” Without four strong quarters, a first-round upset could be tough to avoid.

“If we can eliminate plays where a few guys aren’t giving 100 percent, we can go from being a very good team to being a great team – a team that can beat anybody,” Bosnic said. “That’s what we’re trying to strive for.”

After losing to Wash High last week, the Highlanders dropped to third place in the Interstate Conference and drew Seton-LaSalle, which like McGuffey (6-2, 7-2), has a prolific offense.

The Rebels (8-1, 8-1) are led by receiver Danzel McKinley-Lewis, a Toledo recruit who has 38 receptoins for 488 yards and 10 touchdowns. Quarterback Tyler Perone has completed 65 percent of his passes with 21 touchdowns.

The two teams face off tonight at Chartiers Valley High School with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

“They’re very good. (Perone) can really throw it,” McGuffey coach Ed Dalton said. “We obviously think they are very good. They can throw it, they can run it, they have good size, they have an electric player in (McKinley-Lewis). It’s a real challenge for us, but we think we can compete with them.”

Waynesburg head coach Russ Moore wanted to avoid having to face South Fayette or Aliquippa, but five season-ending injuries to starters cost the Raiders (5-3, 6-3).

They will try to contain record-setting quarterback Brett Brumbaugh and the defending state champion Lions (8-0, 9-0) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Brumbaugh, the WPIAL’s all-time leading passer, has tossed 26 touchdown passes and has led South Fayette to 25 straight victories.

Waynesburg’s offense is paced by senior running back Hunter Cenname ranks third in the WPIAL with 1,471 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns. While the Raiders are banged up heading into the playoffs, Moore is pleased to have the program back in the postseason.

“Getting back into the playoffs after being gone for 11 years is great for the school and the community,” Moore said. “It gets Waynesburg back on the map. The kids are very excited. South Fayette looks like a number one team.”