Nov 10, 2016 4 min read

The Washington High School football team has drawn rave reviews from opposing coaching staffs this season because of the versatility used in its offense en route to a 10-0 record this season.

But today in the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals at Canon-McMillan Stadium, the Prexies will be tested by perhaps the most versatile athlete they faced this season in Brentwood’s Dorian Bowie.

The 6-2, 185-pound Bowie lines up all over the field for the Spartans (8-2), taking snaps at quarterback, wide receiver and running back in head coach Kevin Kissel’s offense.

“Wherever we really need him,” said Kissel. “He’s a very talented, very dedicated athlete. He’s the most talented athlete we’ve had here in Brentwood in quite a while.”

Bowie has provided the Spartans, who defeated Frazier, 46-19, in the opening round of the playoffs last week, with more than 1,000 yards of offense with his arm, hands and legs.

He’s accounted for 14 touchdowns rushing and receiving, gaining 553 yards on the ground and 498 through the air. And he’s especially dangerous throwing the ball. While he’s only thrown eight passes this season, he’s completed five of them, four for touchdowns.

“They do a really good job of moving him around and getting him the ball,” said Washington head coach Mike Bosnic. “He’s terrific. He’s the best athlete we’ve faced this year.”

Identifying where Bowie is lined up on a given play will be a big task for the Prexies in this game.

Last week against Frazier, Bowie frequently ran out of the Wildcat and had 12 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing one pass for a 25-yard touchdown.

“We’ve got to get the kids to recognize where he lines up at and react to that,” said Bosnic. “We have to find him on every play.”

Kissel faces a similar task against the Prexies, though the attack won’t center around one player.

Washington, coming off a 35-13 first-round win over South Side Beaver, has six different rushers with at least 200 yards this season, led by Lyle Webb. Isaiah Robinson is the Prexies’ version of Bowie, though he doesn’t throw the ball. Robinson has more than 500 yards receiving and nearly 300 rushing.

“They have a bunch of talented running backs and they have a bunch of different weapons,” said Kissel. “One of the reasons they’re so successful is that they’re very basic but they execute what they do very well.

“It all starts with their offensive line. This is one of the best offensive lines we’ve faced this year. They’re right up there with Steel Valley.”

The top-seeded Ironmen handed Brentwood one of its two losses this season, 56-0, in the final week of the regular season. But the Spartans have played in some close games this season, losing 21-12 at East Allegheny in Week 2, while beating Freedom, 21-14, the following week.

Washington, meanwhile, hasn’t been tested much this season, with last week’s 22-point margin of victory matching its closest game of the regular season, a 28-6 win against Chartiers-Houston.

That is something that concerns Bosnic as the Prexies go deeper into the playoffs.

“Certainly,” he said. “We talk to the kids all the time that we haven’t played a complete four quarters of football this season. We haven’t been focused enough.

“But I think we realize where we’re at now.”

Notes

Washington defeated Frazier, 45-7, earlier this season. … The Prexies will be attempting to advance to the WPIAL semifinals for the second time in the past three seasons. … Brentwood’s win over Frazier last week was its first playoff win since 2012.