Oct 2, 2015 4 min read

MT. PLEASANT – Jordan West wasn’t particularly busy on offense during the first four weeks of the WPIAL football season. The Washington High School senior only received 13 carries in one of the top offenses in Class AA, but he didn’t mind.

West knows the game plan can change from week to week and it did Friday night in the Prexies’ biggest game of the season. He was ready. Facing a defense that stacked the strong side, Wash High used its speedy backfield to run over and around Mt. Pleasant on a cold, wet night at Vikings Stadium.

West and senior running back Kurt Adkins combined for 305 of the Prexies’ 352 rushing yards to help Wash High remain unbeaten with a 44-14 victory over Mt. Pleasant in an Interstate Conference game.

West ran for a 20-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give Wash High the early lead and Adkins added three scores on runs of 2, 32 and 1 yard. The Prexies (5-0, 5-0) had 371 total yards and held the Vikings (4-1, 4-1) to just 177.

Adkins had 26 carries for 148 yards and West had 157 on 15 carries to continue Wash High’s dominant run through the conference. West gave all the credit to an offensive line that has suffered through injuries throughout the season.

“The coaches just saw what was opening and gave me the ball,” West said. “Our line is humongous. They’re physical off the ball, they open up tremendous holes for us. I wouldn’t want to run behind any other guys in the conference.”

Wash High spread out the Vikings’ defense with West, Adkins, fullback Kenya Davis and quarterback Markel Pulliam in the backfield. Using a mixture of inside handoffs and sweeps, the Prexies found every cutback lane. West capped the first drive by outrunning a defender on the outside for a touchdown. He also had a fourth-quarter interception.

Mt. Pleasant, which struggled to withstand the Prexies’ defensive line, capitalized later in the quarter when Wash High punt Zach Parr saw a snap go over his head for a 29-yard loss. Three plays later, junior running back Chris Wagner tied it with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Wagner, the Vikings leading rusher, was held to just 37 yards on nine carries. On the Prexies’ next drive, which West sparked with a 40-yard run, Adkins ran it in from 2 yards out for a 14-7 lead.

“West and Adkins are just two great kids, two guys who are really important to our program,” Wash High head coach Mike Bosnic said. “They’re reliable. Mt. Pleasant made some great adjustments and played us really tough, but they showed what kind of kids they are and made things happen tonight.”

After a Mt. Pleasant punt, Pulliam ran for a 2-yard score that was negated by a penalty. With just six seconds remaining in the first half, Pulliam lined up in the shotgun and fired a pass to junior wide receiver Isaiah Robinson for a 6-yard touchdown and a 14-point lead at the half.

Vikings backup quarterback Keith Kalp caught a screen pass and threw a 56-yard touchdown to Kyle Halterman to start the second half. On the ensuing drive, the Prexies drove to Mt. Pleasant’s 1-yard line, but were stopped on fourth down for no gain.

One play later, Prexies senior defensive tackle Thomas Cherry tackled Wagner in the end zone for a safety. Wash High responded with 21 unanswered points, including two touchdowns by Adkins and one by Davis to put the game away.

“There were a few swinging points in the game and the safety was probably one of them there … ,” Mt. Pleasant head coach Bo Ruffner said. “They’re a very good football team, very talented. I think they have enough talent to be playing at Heinz Field. They’re definitely going to be something to reckon with.”

After four victories against weaker opponents, the Prexies walked away Friday night with a statement road win against a previously unbeaten rival, but they know there is still plenty of work to be done.

“We have the confidence right where we want it and now we have to finish off strong,” Adkins said. “We obviously can’t overlook anybody. This is a huge win. It’s great to make sure everybody knows what Wash High is about.”