Preparing for Friday’s game against Elk Catholic, it might be appropriate for Bradford High to take a long look in the mirror.
Not for the purposes of self reflection, but rather because the Crusaders’ (2-2) run the single-wing offense, similar in its multiple-option schemes that Bradford High runs out of its Wing-T set.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen it,” Owls head coach Jeff Puglio said, noting most teams in the area prepare for this type of offense just one week a year.
Erie Central Tech, Puglio said, ran the single-wing when Bradford High played a schedule consisting of District 10 schools.
“There is a lot of misdirection and a lot of bad reads,” Puglio said.
A key for the Owls, for the second straight week, will be pre-snap alignments. Last week, Puglio said, it was imperative to recognize formations and line up correctly to stop Otto-Eldred’s potent offense.
The Owls defense – which has surrendered just 16 points through four games – was able to key in on a pre-snap tendency by Terror quarterback Sawyer Drummond signifying a passing play.
This week, Bradford High will have to work to shut down junior running back Alec Bittler, the young team’s top option out of the backfield.
Puglio said he was able to see the Crusaders live on Saturday against Coudersport, a 14-12 win for the visiting Falcons.
“They run hard, that’s what I noticed, Puglio said. “You get a different appreciation for a team live. They play extremely hard. They run extremely hard. They have a couple kids out of the backfield who will run directly at you and not make it easy.”
The counter that, the Owls defense, according to their coach, has to work to get nine or 10 defenders attacking the ball.
AML South play opens
A year ago, Bradford High entered this point of its inaugural season in the Allegheny Mountain League with a 3-1 record after a few lopsided victories heading into division play.
A year later, the Owls are undefeated and off to the program’s best start since 2010. Last year, the team went 0-5 against teams in the AML South. Having a year of league experience under the team’s belt is important, Puglio said.
“We know what to expect going forward here and we have to be ready every single week,” Puglio said. “We have to play our best game from here on out.
These teams are going to come right after you. We have to be ready for and match that and go after them too. Last year we played on our heels a little bit. We have to get after it early and come out ready to play.”
That’s our quarterback
Sliding back into the quarterback position after a season of halfback, Donny Pattison is completing 60 percent (9-for-15) of his passes.
Many of those attempts are short-yardage forward pitches or screen passes. Regardless, the Owls have been able to pick up yards through the air when needed through four games.
“Donny has really good command of the offense,” Puglio said. “He knows the offense inside and out.”
“It’s like backyard football,” Puglio said. “He can stretch plays and continue plays and if we miss an assignment, he can bail us out. As a passer, he’s developing and those are all positives for us moving forward.”
Backfield keeps churning out yards
A quick statistics check on fullback John Eakin and halfbacks Derek Sunafrank and Jaron Ambrose likely has caught the eyes of a few opposing defensive coaches.
Eakin has put up some video game-like numbers, gaining 647 yards on 57 carries (11.0 average) and scoring 11 times on the ground. Sunafrank, a sophomore, has come on in the last two weeks and stands at 214 yards on 21 carries (10.2 average), while Ambrose is at 147 yards on 17 carries (8.6 average).
A key so far has been Eakin churning out yards, softening up the middle for Sunafrank and Ambrose to attack the outside.
“All of our backs are capable of getting outside,” Puglio said. “The way Derek and Jay run our jet sweep, they can get that outside edge. They can get their because they’re blocking for each other.”
#JoeyStrong33
There has been vocal support for Ridgway football Joey Elinski from across District 9 after he suffered a neck injury and was flown to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Altoona.
Elinski’s cousin has organized a t-shirt fundraiser. The Owls football booster club held a 50/50 drawing at Monday’s junior varsity game to raise funds to buy shirts for Bradford High players to wear on the bus to Ridgway before next Friday’s game.
The Owls are hoping for a good outcome as Elinski – a Big 30 and AML all-star last year – recovers, Puglio said, noting that football comes second in situations like this.
“We as a program are hoping for a good outcome for Joey,” Puglio said. “We play them next week so hopefully we see what’s going on. Certainly the Owls wish him well.”
