High-powered Washington sets sights on another WPIAL championship

By: Mike Kovak
Monday, August 19, 2019 | 11:26 PM

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Washington’s quest for an eighth WPIAL football championship figures to get off to a better start than the defense of its seventh title.

The Prexies won the 2017 WPIAL Class 2A title in convincing fashion, but last season got off to a rocky start. Washington missed 12 practices and a scrimmage because of a hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Then, in Week 2, Charleroi put up 64 points on the Prexies.

“We faced adversity, but we didn’t have the commitment that it takes last year,” Washington coach Mike Bosnic said. “One of the things I like about this team is we have a good group of seniors, and they’ve turned into good leaders.”

Those seniors also are good players, and motivated ones, too, after a 10-2 season that ended with a loss to WPIAL champ Steel Valley in the quarterfinals.

It starts with quarterback Zack Swartz, who passed for more than 2,000 yards in each of the past two seasons and is the school’s all-time leader in passing yards. Swartz gives Washington a vertical passing game it hasn’t seen since Justin Gregula, who pitched at Old Dominion, quarterbacked the Prexies to the 2001 PIAA Class AA championship.

“We’ve changed our offense based on our personnel,” Swartz, who is the top-ranked student in his class, said.

Swartz said last year’s training camp woes contributed to the slow start, but he added, “We had some setbacks, but I’m sure other teams had setbacks, too. I don’t view that as an excuse for us.”

Still, center Gerald Comedy, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound anchor who ranks second academically in the senior class, said, “We were pretty gassed that first game.”

Comedy is part of a mammoth, experienced offensive line — a group that might only be rivaled by Ligonier Valley in Western Pennsylvania in the classification. Add Chase Mitchell — a 6-5, 321-pound offensive tackle — and Zakhi Marshall (6-0, 295) — selected as the top lineman in the Interstate Conference by its coaches — to the mix, and Swartz, tailback Dylan Asbury and fullback Isaiah Edwards (6-1, 240) should have room to work.

“It all starts up front for us,” Edwards said. “We give our line as much praise as we give our tailback when he scores a touchdown or our QB when he throws a touchdown.”

Scoring touchdowns shouldn’t be a problem for the Prexies.

With a healthy Asbury, who was lost toward the end of last season with a right ACL tear, and the return of 1,000-yard receiver Zahmere Robinson, who accounted for 49% of Swartz’s 2,285 passing yards, Washington boasts tons of talent, size and balance.

What the Prexies need is a stingier defense.

Charleroi’s outburst last season wasn’t an isolated incident. Washington allowed 25 points or more seven times, a rarity for a program three wins shy of No. 700.

Bosnic, an Albert Gallatin grad and former lineman at Pitt, said Edwards, Marshall and Caleb Jackson are expected to lead a defensive revival, which will be a necessity if Washington is to win another conference championship and make a deep postseason run.

“There are a lot of ways we can get better,” Bosnic said. “But we’ve got a good group with a good attitude. It’s a group that’s excited to be here and ready to get better.”

As far as Washington’s senior class, it could leave as the most accomplished in the program’s long history.

No senior class at Washington has won two WPIAL titles, and this group could graduate with the most wins of any class at the school if those championship aspirations are met.

The seniors are determined to make it happen.

“We want to take the next step and get to Hershey,” Comedy said.

Then, Washington’s six offensive leaders — Swartz, Asbury, Robinson, Comedy, Mitchell and Edwards — glanced toward a sign inside Wash High Stadium that showcases the program’s rich history.

“And add a couple numbers to that board,” Mitchell said.

Schedule

Coach: Mike Bosnic

2018 record: 10-2, 6-1

All-time record: 697-368-56

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23, at Laurel Highlands, 7

8.30, Charleroi*, 7

9.7, at Summit Academy. 12:30

9.13, at Brownsville*, 7

9.20, California, 7

9.27, Frazier*, 7

10.4, at Carmichaels*, 7

10.11, Beth-Center*, 7

10.18, at Southmoreland*, 7

10.25, at McGuffey*, 7

*Class 2A Interstate Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Zack Swartz

126-184, 2,285 yards, 28TDs

Rushing: Dylan Asbury

77-814 yards, 16 TDs

Receiving: Zahmere Robinson

53-1,120 yards, 10 TDs

Tags: Washington