Wash High hosts Keystone Oaks in matchup of conference unbeatens
A year ago, Wash High needed to beat Keystone Oaks just to get into the playoffs.
This season a win against the Golden Eagles keeps the Prexies on the path of a potential Class 2A Century Conference title.
Both teams are unbeaten in conference play and they’ll meet at 7 p.m. tonight at Wash High Stadium.
“Keystone Oaks always seems to be a big game for us,” Wash High coach Mike Bosnic said. “I know (Keystone Oaks) Coach (Steve) McCormick always has his guys well-coached and they’re always a tough opponent for us.”
The last two meetings have been tight contests.
Washington beat Keystone Oaks 26-25 last year, but the Golden Eagles won 21-14 in 2023, handing the Prexies their first loss of the season.
Washington comes in at 2-0 in the conference and 5-1 overall and is on a four-game winning streak. Keystone Oaks (3-0, 3-3) has won three straight conference games to get to .500 after dropping three straight nonconference games to begin the season.
“We put a brand-new offense in and had a fresh group of offensive linemen, who are all juniors and none of them started last year,” Keystone Oaks coach Steve McCormick said. “Starting out with three nonconference games, we just used those to try to get the guys as much experience as possible and they did that. Once conference play rolled around we told the guys that it was real now and they responded. We’re sitting where we wanted to be right now with three conference wins and we’re excited for the challenge of going up to Wash High.”
Wash High is coming off one of its best performances of the year, a 48-7 win over defending WPIAL Class 2A champ South Park.
“The kids were focused,” Bosnic said. “We just played our game. We played physical. We hit, took care of the ball and our athletes made plays.”
Prexies quarterback Tristan Reed had a rushing touchdown, threw a touchdown pass to Blaise Naraskivitch and returned an interception 52 yards for another touchdown. Reed has thrown for 643 yards, two touchdowns and has not thrown an interception.
Trenton Grooms scored on a 46-yard run.
Grooms is part of a loaded backfield, which has played a major role in the Prexies’ success. Washington has had a running back-by-committee approach this year.
Reed leads the way with 273 yards rushing, but Jaramie Walker is right behind him with 241 yards and three touchdowns. Grooms has 214 yards and three touchdowns. Jahvon Woods has 178 yards and seven touchdowns. Ameer Nelson has 147 yards and two touchdowns and Cayden Cook has 129 yards and two touchdowns.
“Offensively we’ve been really balanced all year,” Bosnic said. “Our three main running backs Trenton Grooms, Jamarie Walker and Cayden Cook all have around the same amount of carries. They’re all running well. Jahvon Woods, our full back, is running well. We have a lot of weapons and we’re just trying to keep everyone involved and spread the ball around.”
Caleb Patton leads the team in receptions with 11, Naraskivitch has seven and Nelson has six.
Defensively Wash High has been strong too, limiting three of its last four opponents to single-digit point totals.
This week they’ll have to deal with Keystone Oaks quarterback Owen Gearhart.
Gearhart is a first-year starter at quarterback after moving from wide receiver, but has put up some good numbers. He’s thrown for 598 yards and has seven touchdowns to two interceptions.
He’s also the team’s leading rusher with 447 yards on 78 carries and has eight touchdowns.
“He’s just an athlete,” McCormick said. “He’s the guy you want running your offense. He’s tough. He doesn’t like to fail. He’s a leader. We have a lot of weapons around him and we’re not asking him to do anything but be himself and he’s done a great job with that.”
The Golden Eagles’ other top rusher is Brady McDine. He has 311 yards, but has been limited recently due to a hand injury, but is improving and should be good to contribute tonight.
The winner of Friday’s game will likely play Seton LaSalle for the conference title. The Rebels are 3-0 in conference play.
Wash High is on a roll and hopes to keep it going.
“Right now hopefully we can continue to get better every week,” Bosnic said. “We’ve done that the last few weeks. We’re getting some momentum behind us.”