Game of the week: Waynesburg gets road test at EF
Waynesburg football coach Joe Kuhns gave a unique description about the size of the left side of Elizabeth Forward’s offensive line.
“They look like a couple sequoia trees with helmets on,” Kuhns said. “I’m worried about them blocking out the stadium lights on Friday, because they’re so big.”
That’s not all that stands out about the unbeaten Warriors.
Kuhns knows it has been a tall task to travel in recent years for anyone to travel to Elizabeth Forward and leave with a win, but he believes his team will put up a fight.
After all, the Raiders are off to a 3-0 start too.
Both teams will put their undefeated records on the line when they meet in the Class 3A Interstate Conference opener at 7 p.m. tonight.
“It’s exciting,” Kuhns said about the matchup. “You have to play them eventually, so let’s see where we are right now. Whatever the outcome is, we’ll know what has to come after. We’ll know where we’re at as far as the rest of the conference goes, because on paper (Elizabeth Forward) is the definite favorite to win the conference.”
Elizabeth Forward has wins over South Allegheny, North Catholic (34-28 in double overtime) and South Park.
Kuhns credited Elizabeth Forward’s dual-threat quarterback Kaden Allen and running back Rocco Thompson as game-changers.
Thompson has 390 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while Allen has 233 yards and five touchdowns as well as 212 passing yards and a touchdown.
Elizabeth Forward’s defense has been stout too and is coming off a 45-0 shutout of South Park last week.
“They have the whole package on offense and defense,” Kuhns said. “Defensively they come at you. They blitz and they want you to get rid of the ball quickly and force mistakes. So far that’s what they’ve been doing to people.”
Waynesburg has been playing some pretty good defense, too.
The Raiders have allowed only 14 points in three games and are coming off a 35-0 blanking of Albert Gallatin last Friday.
Middle linebacker Landon Darr is the team’s leading tackler and is part of a defense that Kuhns said has improved mightily.
“We talked a lot in the offseason about what we need to do to get better and two things stood out: we needed to tackle better and just overall be a more physical football team,” Kuhns said. “We knocked loose three fumbles last week and if we don’t do that, we don’t shut (Albert Gallatin) out. You can feel that they are understanding what type of player you have to be and the mindset you have to have to play on that side of the football.”
The Raiders returned some veteran skill players like quarterback Teagen Crouse and wide receiver Jack Ricciuti, so Kuhns was confident they could flourish on offense.
The biggest question coming in was the offensive line and so far, they’ve had the answer.
Kuhns credited his linemen: Caden Fowler, Andy Mahle, Eli Tennant, Grant Pack and Taylor Sproat with setting the tone.
“So far, they’re definitely performing above expectations,” Kuhns said. “We really like the physicality and speed they’re playing with. It looks like they understand a little more than last year with me coming in as a first-year coach.”
Crouse has put up 556 yards passing and six touchdowns to three interceptions. Ricciuti has caught four of those touchdowns and has 11 receptions for 212 yards.
Ky-mani Sumpter has brought balance to the offense at running back with 189 yards and four touchdowns.
It’s been a great start. Now a big test awaits.
“I don’t mind having this game this early,” Kuhns said. “I think our guys are ready. We’re a veteran team with kids that have started a lot of games. If we can keep our heads and play our kind of game, I think we can give them all they want.”
Extra points
Waynesburg/Elizabeth Forward is not the only matchup of unbeatens. Fort Cherry travels to Monessen for a battle of 3-0 teams in the Class A Black Hills Conference opener. … Other local teams putting their unbeaten records on the line are Washington at Brentwood, South Fayette at Trinity, Burgettstown hosting Sto-Rox and Beth-Center at Avella.