Wash High football will get line help
The Washington High School football team will welcome back a familiar face this week after the WPIAL granted fifth-year senior Raekwon Dillard an additional year of eligibility on hardship grounds.
Dillard appeared on the offensive and defensive line as a reserve a year ago, and was listed at 6-4 and 315 pounds. He has attended practices this season but not participated in them or any other team activities while awaiting a decision on the appeal, head coach and athletic director Mike Bosnic said.
Washington began its season with blowout wins over conference opponents Charleroi and Brownsville and will travel to South Park for a non-conference game Friday.
When asked when Dillard will return to game action, Bosnic said, “That all depends on where he’s at, what type of shape he’s in, and how far along we can move him. Hopefully, he can help us and contribute to the team.”
Naim Miller, a 6-3, 175-pound sophomore shooting guard at First Love Christian Academy in Washington, received his second Division I scholarship offer Tuesday from Central Connecticut State University, a member of the Northeast Conference. Miller announced the offer on his Twitter page Wednesday. The Pittsburgh native’s first high-level offer came in early August from the University of Buffalo.
Senior teammate Prince Oduro received an offer from Cleveland State Tuesday. Oduro, a 6-8 Canadian power forward, has 18 Division I offers, including one from Central Connecticut State University. Entering the summer, he had just two. His highest level offers are from Duquesne, Fordham, and St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic 10 and Toledo of the Mid-Atlantic conference. Going into this summer’s July evaluation period, Oduro’s goal was to compete and earn some high-major offers. He realized that what would draw attention from those schools would be constant effort.
“I feel like my skills are there,” Oduro said in July. “Now, I just need to play harder.”
Oduro hoped to impress enough coaches during the summer evaluations periods that he could work towards the upcoming school season, which he said is his primary focus. At the same time, he said he wouldn’t let that desire force him into making a snap judgement on where to go.
“I’m not trying to rush into my decision,” Oduro said. “I’m just trying to take my time with it.”
Samson George, a 6-7, 205-pound senior at First Love, doesn’t have any recent offers, but his 13th one came in July also from Central Connecticut State. The small forward has an official visit to Oregon State scheduled in two weeks. The Beavers have been in contact with him since this summer. He also offers from the University of Southern California, Rutgers and Virginia Commonwealth University.
“I’m still open to everybody,” George said in July. “I’m just open.”
Rush Runs Well
Perhaps its not surprising that a person with Rush as their last name makes for a solid running back. That’s the case with Dylan Rush of Mapletown, a junior who through three games this season has gained 639 yards on 105 carries and scored seven rushing touchdowns.
His best performance came against Cornell in Week 2, when he finished with 257 yards on 41 rushes and three scores. The Maples (1-0, 3-0) are undefeated and host Tri-County South Conference opponent Avella Friday.