Woodland Hills focused on fast start to season

By: William Whalen
Friday, August 16, 2019 | 3:49 PM

1522609_web1_HSSN-Rawlings-01 — Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Woodland Hills’ Joshua Rawlings - Trib HSSN preseason Kennywood Top 25 football team

There’s an old saying among WPIAL coaches when it comes to playing Woodland Hills during the season: You never want to get the Wolverines late, you want them early.

Last season, Woodland Hills proved that to be true. The Wolverines had an unflattering start to the season with four straight defeats before rallying down the back half of the schedule. No team wanted to see the surging Wolverines in the postseason.

The No. 12-seeded Wolverines busted the WPIAL Class 5A bracket with a head-turning 14-0 win over No. 4 Mars.

“I believe last year, in the last few weeks of the season, we were fighting for our lives,” said senior tight end Josh Rawlings, a Virginia commit. “This year, we know what that feels like, and we don’t want to do that again.”

Rawlings and the Wolverines have good reason to feel good about themselves. Yes, Woodland Hills (5-7, 3-4 Class 5A Allegheny 8) might have lost to WPIAL runner-up West Allegheny, but the Indians pulled it out by the skins of their teeth. The tough 14-13 loss to West Allegheny in the quarterfinals did prove one thing: the Wolverines weren’t far away.

“We were playing really well to end the year but, unfortunately, we just came up a little short against West A,” said Woodland Hills coach Tim Bostard, who is in his third season. “I think the juniors realized after that one-point loss, it could have been us playing Penn Hills in the championship game; anything can happen in the payoffs.”

Following the loss to West Allegheny, Woodland Hills proved a spark can stay lit for nine months. The Wolverines moved into the offseason focused on 2019. But almost just as important, coaches had to begin to identify new starters. Woodland Hills returns six starters on both sides of the ball.

All eyes will be on senior quarterback Rodney Stubbs, who got a few reps last season but enters his first year as a starter.

“He’s a consistent kid, a good leader and another one of those kids who is on the honor roll,” Bostard said. “He’s another one of the kids you like to have in locker room and huddle.”

With four out of five offensive linemen returning, Stubbs should have time to make throws. Stubbs might need it. The big question mark on the Wolverines’ offense is at the wide receiver positions. The one exception will be Rawlings at tight end … maybe.

“There’s no job safe here,” Bostard said. “Josh Rawlings isn’t even safe. I make sure they come to work every day; there’s nothing guaranteed”

Junior Armani Bailey will line up in the slot and junior wideouts T’Rek Scipio, Gavin Yarbough and Keshawn Davis will compete for playing time in the multi-look offense.

Senior Will Clark will get the nod at running back. Clark led the Wolverines with eight touchdowns and finished last season second in rushing yards (960) behind graduate Anthony Merideth.

Sophomore Dionte Williams could crack the lineup on either side of the ball, Bostard said. Listed as an “athlete” on offense, Williams’ quickest way to the field could be at one of defensive back positions. The Wolverines are tasked with replacing three of four starters in the secondary.

“(Williams) can play anything,” Bostard said. “We have a couple of kids that are like that.”

The only player who has locked down a starting spot in the secondary is senior free safety Jeffrey Williams.

Competing in seven-on-sevens over the summer, Rawlings said the offense is ahead of the defense so far.

Woodland Hills will open the season with three straight home games. The Wolverines once again will host the Western Pa. vs. Everyone Showcase where the Wolverines will face Calvert Hall (Md.) in the Saturday nightcap to the Week Zero showcase.

Woodland Hills will begin Allegheny 8 Conference action at home vs. Bethel Park the following week.

“There’s no week off,” Bostard said. “We call (our conference) the SEC of 5A. It’s a battle every single week. Those first five games will tell us whether or not we sink or swim.”

Schedule

Coach: Tim Bostard

2018 record: 5-7, 3-4

All-time record: 250-119-0

Date, Opponent, Time

8.24, Calvert Hall (Md.), 8

8.30, Bethel Park*, 7

9.6, Peters Township*, 7

9.13, at Upper St. Clair*, 7:30

9.20, at Baldwin*, 7

9.27, West Allegheny*, 7

10.4, at Kiski Area, 7