In Bradford High’s scrimmage with Punxsutawney and DuBois, Jeff Puglio and his staff saw a look in the team’s eyes.
The Owls, back in mid-August, sought to play to their potential.
They’ll have to be at their best this week, as Bradford High takes the short trip over Looker Mountain Trail to Otto-Eldred where they’ll try to spoil the Terrors’ homecoming.
“Every game gets more difficult from here on out each week,” Puglio said.
His Owls had their way with Cameron County last week, rolling up a 47-0 lead before winning 47-8. The Red Raiders score late in the fourth quarter were the first points scored against the Owls’ defense all season.
“We’re excited to be 3-0,” Puglio said. “We’re still playing really good defense. The offense was rolling Friday night. Overall, from the film there are still things we can correct.”
This week’s game also marks the last crossover contest with teams from the Allegheny Mountain League’s North division.
The North, as has been the trend the last few seasons, has been dominated by the South teams, winning just three games in crossover play the last three years. One of those wins, however, was last week as the Terrors defended home field and got out to a big lead before holding off Elk Catholic.
“We understand what happens when we go in the South and Otto-Eldred is just as dangerous as any of those South teams,” Puglio said.
Nick LaBella’s Terrors like to spread things out, which is something the Owls haven’t seen large quantities of in its first three games against Smethport, Coudersport and Cameron County.
“It’s something we haven’t seen a ton of,” Puglio said. “We just adjust our practice according to the opponent. Otto-Eldred, from what we’ve seen, they’re going to spread the field out. For us defensively, it’s lining up correctly.”
The Owls’ front eight will have to keep its eyes on dual-threat quarterback Sawyer Drummond, a three-year starter who is the reigning D9Sports.com Player of the Week. Drummond threw three touchdowns and was 15-for-20 passing for 174 yards. He also carried for 136 yards on 24 totes.
Otto-Eldred, however, figures to have its hand full with the Owls’ stable of backfield horses. Fullback John Eakin ran for 102 yards on just six carries Friday night and scored three times while adding a touchdown catch for a fourth score.
Through the first three weeks, halfbacks Jaron Ambrose and Derek Sunafrank have been able to find yardage on the perimeter, while quarterback Donny Pattison is also a threat to run.
“It’s a great thing what we have in our backfield,” Puglio said. “We have four viable threats. If you try to take John away, we can beat you to the outside.”
Puglio likes the way Ambrose and Sunafrank are running, but “what’s really impressive is the way they can get the blocks.”
Otto-Eldred, which challenged the Owls last year in a 14-0 Bradford High win, could use Friday as a statement to show it’s the class of the AML North. Bradford High is approaching the game as nothing more than business.
“All our away games are business trips,” Puglio said. “We’re going to get on the bus and take care of business.”
