Pieces in place for McGuffey to take next step

By: Bobby Scott
Monday, August 19, 2019 | 11:26 PM

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For McGuffey, last season might have been bittersweet.

The Highlanders finished 8-3 overall and 5-3 in Class 2A Interstate Conference play, but lost 36-27 in a first-round playoff game to district runner-up South Side.

McGuffey earned its third playoff berth in five seasons but could not secure a home-playoff game.

It was the best winning percentage (.727) for the Highlanders in more than 20 years, but the team has not won a playoff game since 1994.

Ed Dalton, in his eighth season at McGuffey and 32nd season as a head coach, believes a home playoff game is the perfect formula for his program to take the next step, but it’s not without obstacles.

“We want that home-field advantage for a playoff game, but everyone in our conference has the same mindset,” Dalton said.

All four Interstate Conference playoff teams — Beth-Center, Charleroi, McGuffey and Washington — finished with at least five conference victories last season.

“Anybody can beat anybody in our conference. Every team respects each other and its coaching,” Dalton said.

The Highlanders have not lost a home game since 2016, and that will be put to the test this season.

Washington is among the favorites to win a WPIAL championship.

The Highlanders refer to their in-county rival simply as “W.”

Dalton considers this season’s roster to be the most athletic group he’s coached at McGuffey, despite losing offensive juggernaut Christian Clutter to graduation.

Clutter led the team in receiving (365 yards), rushing (1,548 yards) and scoring (41 touchdowns) last season, but Dalton likes to think his flex bone triple-option offense speaks for itself.

“When we first installed the offense (eight years ago), we weren’t ready at quarterback (because of injuries and experience),” Dalton said. “Now, we have athletes that can play behind the quarterback.

“Our offense is hard to defend. We find that our opponents will change their (defensive strategy) to play against us.”

Dalton said the team has potential to produce three 1,000-yard rushers.

Juniors Nathan Yagle and Jared Johnson, sophomore Ethan Janovich and freshman Kyle Brookman are expected to compete for touches in the backfield.

The Highlanders return six offensive and seven defensive starters, including senior wide receiver/defensive back C.J. Cole and senior quarterback/defensive back Marshall Whipkey and junior fullback/linebacker McKinley Whipkey, who are brothers.

Dalton considers Cole a Division-I prospect.

“(Cole) is unbelievable on both sides of the ball. He is a horrible matchup for our opponents,” he said. “There is no one to match up against him.

“If you put a bigger guy on him, he will outrun him. If you put a smaller guy on him, we are going to air the ball out to him. He is the hardest working kid in our school district in all sports.”

The 6-foot-5 three-sport athlete is a key member of McGuffey’s basketball and track and field teams, winning a WPIAL championship in the triple jump event last spring.

“Being an athlete, I’m just a competitor,” Cole said. “Whether it be jumping in track or lateral quickness in basketball, all three sports help each other when it comes to getting better.”

Dalton believes the Whipkey brothers could produce more than 4,000 yards combined this season.

“Both brothers are physical specimens and are two of the strongest players on the team,” he said. “Imagine running the veer out of the flex bone formation and the hand-off combination lives in the same household. That’s quite the advantage.”

Marshall Whipkey was the team’s leading passer last season with 982 yards and 15 touchdowns.

“(Winning eight games and making the playoffs) was a big step for our program last year, and we are using the (playoff) loss as fuel to get better,” Whipkey said.

“We know what we are capable of; the team has had a different mindset for a couple of years. We have been exposed to a lot of different situations.”

Schedule

Coach: Ed Dalton

2018 record: 8-3, 5-2

All-time record: 272-413-25

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23, at Ambridge, 7

8.30, Clairton, 7

9.6, Frazier*, 7

9.13, at Carmichaels*, 7

9.20, Beth-Center*, 7

9.27, at Southmoreland*, 7

10.4, at Brownsville*, 7

10.11, Charleroi*, 7

10.18, at Avonworth, 7

10.25, Washington*, 7

*Class 2A Interstate Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Marshall Whipkey

54-96, 982 yards, 15 TDs

Receiving: Christian Clutter*

18-365 yards

Rushing: Clutter*

135-1,548 yards, 41 TDs

*Graduated

Tags: McGuffey