Passing combination makes Raiders dangerous
Mark Marietta
If any team is capable of a good game of pitch and catch, it certainly is the Waynesburg Raiders.
The quarterback-receiver tandem of Teagen Crouse and Jack Riccuti, both seniors, would be tough to upstage.
Last season, Crouse completed 101 of 183 passes for 1,843 yards with 13 touchdowns with only five interceptions.
On the other end of his aerials was Ricciuti, who caught 42 passes for 880 yards and five TDs.
It’s a dangerous combination.
“They’re just ridiculously hard workers,” Waynesburg head coach Joe Kuhns said. “They go out of their way to get extra stuff. Teagen has quarterback training that he does; Jack does speed training. They all go to the same strength and conditioning guy. If there’s work that can be done to get better, they’re willing to do it and then some. I think that’s what makes them as good as they are.
“Jack is just as athletic as he is big. I would put Teagen up — pound for pound — against anybody. I’m talking about athleticism. He’s probably going to be a receiver at the next level just because he’s super athletic. Whatever he decides he’s going to do at the next level, I have no doubt he’s going to be good at it because he’s just that kind of kid. Football is in his blood, and he’ll do whatever he can do to get good at it.”
Ricciuti, a senior, has offers from Penn West California and West Liberty. Kuhns is certain other offers are forthcoming.
“We had a lot of success in seven-on-seven this year. Obviously, because of those two,” Kuhns added.
While Crouse and Ricciuti (6-3, 210) are standouts, Waynesburg returns several good players.
“We have a nice group around them, too,” Kuhns said.
The Raiders have moved from Class 2A to Class 3A this season where they will compete in the Intestate Conference along with Belle Vernon, Derry, Elizabeth Forward, Greensburg Salem, Mount Pleasant and Southmoreland.
Waynesburg has non-conference games that include West Greene, Chartiers-Hoston, Albert Gallatin and Valley.
Kuhns is assisted by Derek Bochna, Chay Lahew, Colby Kuhns, Colby Pauley, Tim Bennett, Dave Sarra, Jeff Coss and Adam Knight.
Kuhns is in his second stint at Waynesburg.
He previously coached at Waynesburg for three seasons.
Kuhns most recently coached Beth-Center and California High School. He coached California to six consecutive playoff berths. Kuhns, a California University graduate, left the Trojans’ job in 2008 with a 38-36 record from 2002 to 2008. Following a strong 2005 regular season, Kuhns coached his team to its first playoff victory in 19 years. The following season, the Trojans won the 2006 Tri-County South Conference championship.
In five years (2016-2020) at Beth-Center, Kuhns had a 19-30 record. The Bulldogs won 17 games in Kuhns’ first three seasons. Beth-Center qualified for the WPIAL playoffs all three seasons but lost in the first-round each time – twice against Steel Valley.
“Three teams we played last season were in the WPIAL semifinals,” Kuhns pointed out. “Those teams, I think, would be just as successful in Class 3A, too. We’re banking on that. We’ve seen some tough competition.
“My biggest expectation is for kids to just have a good time, to just show up and play the sport that they love and see where the chips fall.
“On paper, we should be good. We’re very senior heavy and we have all but two or three starters returning on both sides of the ball. We are in Triple-A now and depth is going to be a big thing for us. If we can stay healthy, I think our skill guys can play with anybody.”
Kuhns is counting on a bevy of returners to help carry the load and ease the transition to Class 3A. Among them are senior receiver/linebacker Ace Litmanovich; senior running back/linebacker Ross Tennant; senior running back/linebacker Kymani Sumpter; junior receiver/defensive back Caleb Phillips, who Kuhns said is a real quiet guy but all he does is make plays.
Up front, Waynesburg has two-way lineman Caden Fowler, who Kuhns said “could probably be one better lineman in our conference.” Senior two-way lineman Andy Mahle is expected to be a force.
“He’s a big kid who can really run,” Kuhns said. “So, we tried him at tight end, but unfortunately with the depth of our interior line, I don’t think we’re going to get to do that with him.
“These are all good kids who have been together since they were 7- or 8-years-old,” Kuhns added. “They’ve been successful the whole time and we’re just hoping to push them over the finish line with something successful this year.
“We’re not looking across our schedule. It’s every game that things could go either way. It’s going to be tight. I think Elizabeth Forward and Belle Vernon will be the top two in the conference. But I think that it is probably going to come down to the end for playoff spots.”