Elizabeth Forward looks to maintain winning momentum

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 23, 2018 | 9:03 AM

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Elizabeth Forward’s football program made history in more ways than one last season.

The Warriors won a share of their conference title and hosted a WPIAL playoff game for the first time since 1985 and picked up seven victories for the first time in about three decades. They enter the 2018 season with high expectations and a goal of building off that success.

“The expectations this year are the same as always,” coach Mike Collodi said. “We want to win the conference and compete for a WPIAL championship. That’s our goal every single year.

“Now that they got a taste of success and saw what hard work gets them, I think they’re ready to go make some real noise in the playoffs and during the season.”

In Collodi’s third season as head coach, the Warriors finished 7-3 overall and 6-1 in Interstate Conference play, earning a share of the conference title with Derry and South Park. This season, EF moves to Class AAA’s new Big East Conference with Burrell, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Deer Lakes, Derry, Freeport, Mt. Pleasant, Uniontown and Yough.

“I think our conference from top to bottom is really tough and really good,” Collodi said. “Week in and week out, we have to come and play.”

EF doesn’t return many starters, but it does have some key contributors back, including senior quarterback Zach Benedek. Like Collodi, Benedek has high aspirations coming off a storybook year in 2017.

“We set a standard and now we want to live up to it and start to develop a culture here,” Benedek said.

Benedek, who enters his third season as starter, threw for nearly 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns during his junior campaign. An all-conference selection last season, Benedek threw only three interceptions.

“Zach is a great player. He’s a very smart player, as well as a great athlete,” Collodi said. “I look for him to have another big year, even bigger than last year because he’s just getting better and better every day.”

Benedek has plenty of support up front. All-conference selections Nate Homa and A.J. Ackerman, who recently made a verbal commitment to Towson, return for their senior seasons on EF’s offensive line. Junior Ethan Cain and senior R.J. Buchina will join the senior duo on the line while the fifth spot is up for grabs. Collodi said Nate Sullivan, Jared Prah, Nick Murphy and Logan Jester are in a battle for a starting position.

“They are young guys that put a lot of work into the weight room,” Collodi said. “They learned from the older guys and dedicated themselves in the offseason. They’re ready to step up and get right into it.”

The Warriors lost quite a few weapons in the backfield with the graduation of Brian Malloy, Seth Andres and Garrett Stanley. However, like in years past, Collodi said he will rely on a two- or three-headed monster with senior Chris Makosey, junior Nick Hunnell and sophomore Evan Lewis.

“We have a few guys back there that we will rotate and bring different dynamics every time they touch the ball,” Collodi said. “They are different sizes and different speeds, and I think it’s a great problem to have.”

One of the biggest departures is wide receiver Gavin Martik, who is now playing at John Carroll. An all-conference wideout last season, Martik had 43 catches for 946 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

Collodi will count on a committee of wide receivers, including seniors Nate Alberts and Austin Rhone and sophomores Lewis, Chase Whatton and Nico Mrvos.

“Even though Gavin graduated, we have a lot of pieces and a lot of young guys stepping up,” Collodi said. “We have guys taking the roles of the older guys that were here last year. They learned from those guys and now it’s their turn to shine under the lights.”

Emphasis will be placed once again this year on an aggressive approach to defense.

“Since Day 1, we’ve preached fast, physical football,” Collodi said. “I have a defensive mentality, so I’m sort of biased towards the defensive side of the ball.”

Many of the Warriors’ weapons on offense will be playing both ways, having an impact on the defensive side of the ball, as well.

Collodi said he expects Homa to have a huge impact at inside linebacker, while Ackerman is expected to be a force on the defensive line. Whatton, a 6-4, 212-pound linebacker, also returns on defense and should serve as a big weapon.

“We definitely have some size and some guys who saw time last year,” Collodi said. “With that experience, I think that they will be ready for Friday nights.”

Schedule

Coach: Mike Collodi

2017 record: 7-3, 6-1

All-time record: 396-494-36

Date, Opponent, Time

8.31, Deer Lakes*, 7 p.m.

9.7, Burrell*, 7 p.m.

9.14, at Freeport*, 7 p.m.

9.21, at Quaker Valley, 7 p.m.

9.28, Derry*, 7 p.m.

10.5, CW North Catholic*, 7 p.m.

10.12, at Mt. Pleasant*, 7 p.m.

10.19, at Uniontown*, 7 p.m.

10.26, Yough*, 7 p.m.

*Class 3A Big East Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Zach Benedek

66-115, 1,314 yards, 19 TDs

Rushing: Brian Malloy*

96-588 yards, 10 TDs

Receiving: Gavin Martik*

46-915 yards, 20 TDs

*Graduated

Jose Negron is a Mon Valley Independent staff writer.

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