Aug 6, 2015 3 min read

Burgettstown

2014: 3-6 (3-5 Interstate Conference)

Few WPIAL football programs fell on more difficult times than Burgettstown over the past decade. The Blue Devils’ 24-game losing streak ended last fall when they defeated Charleroi in Week 3.

In fact, the losing stretches back almost 20 years. Since 1997, the Blue Devils have only two winning seasons and have not won a playoff game during that stretch. They also have won three or less games 12 times and have not reached the playoffs since a 48-point loss to Laurel in 2007. That defeat came when Burgettstown competed in WPIAL Class A’s Black Hills Conference.

Mark Druga is hoping to change that. The longtime Burgettstown assistant takes over for Terry Havelka, and inherits a roster with a surprising amount of talent.

Lost during the 2014 seasons were the big plays made by Cole LaRocka, but the junior tore his ACL in the first night of the basketball season. I have not heard any updates regarding his status, but his return would be big.

He’s not the only one who is back. Junior Brad McLaughlin returns at quarterback after throwing nine touchdowns last fall. His top two targets will be LaRocka and Jacob Shipley, but the biggest loss is in the backfield.

Jake McKee rushed for 595 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior with 416 yards in the final two weeks of the season. Austin Walters and Caleb Swecker are the most likely to replace him, but that production was key to the program’s two wins to end 2014. Whoever lines up at running back this fall will be helped by a veteran offensive line, which will return senior Brad Hucik, senior Aaron Bonacci and senior Devon Wojotowicz. Look for seniors Nick Langston and Dylan Sestric to compete for the open spots left by Jim Reedy and Brandon Krynak.

Druga is excited about the talent returning, but the key to success is to use that skill to score points and play better defense. Burgettstown only averaged 14.9 points per game last season, while allowing 30.1. It’s difficult with a program that has lost for as long as Burgettstown has, but I have heard nothing but good things about Havelka’s impact on the culture during his three-year tenure.

This group believes it can win, but the conference is incredibly difficult with Washington, Mt. Pleasant, McGuffey, Southmoreland and Waynesburg. Like the Blue Devils, the Raiders will have question marks regarding depth, but both programs have the ability to pull off upsets.

Druga seems to be the right man for the job. He’s enthusiastic and will have a solid coaching staff this fall. If McLaughlin improves and LaRocka is healthy, Burgettstown will be better in 2015.

Players to watch: Cole LaRocka, Brandon Sell, Brad McLaughlin and Jacob Shipley.

Biggest game: The Blue Devils host Waynesburg in Week One and this could be a good one. The Raiders lost a bunch of talent and Burgettstown will enter 2015 with some excitement. Starting the year with Waynesburg, Washington and Mt. Pleasant won’t help matters.

Stat to think about: Burgettstown has only won two WPIAL titles. The first came just a few months after the infamous Stock Market Crash in 1929 and the second was in 1941 during World War II.