Aug 25, 2010 By Bobby Fox for The 3 min read

In the late 20th and early 21st century, Waynesburg Central became a powerhouse in the Class AA ranks of the WPIAL. Unfortunately for the Raiders and their fans, Waynesburg hasn’t qualified for the playoffs since 2003. Going into his second season with WCHS, coach Joe Kuhns is ready to end the drought.

“We don’t like not being in the playoffs. Last year was the first year I wasn’t in the playoffs as a coach and I didn’t like it,” Kuhns said.

Prior to coming to Waynesburg, where he is also an art teacher and the boys track & field coach, Kuhns enjoyed plenty of success at California High School. During seven seasons with the Trojans, Kuhns made seven playoff appearances, including two trips to the quarterfinals. Kuhns’ return plans center around a large, experienced group of veterans to lead his team through the always-difficult Interstate Conference, which features the defending WPIAL champions from Greensburg Central Catholic.

“This junior class has been together since sixth or seventh grade, so they get along real well,” Kuhns said. “They’ve been doing everything I have asked of them.”

However, Kuhns is also aware that there are some major differences between making the Class A playoffs out of the Tri-County South Conference, Cal’s home, and getting through the AA ranks.

“The conference I came from had four good teams at the top and four lesser ones at the bottom,” Kuhns said. “You win four games and you’re in good shape. At this level, you’re in a dogfight every week. You have eight or nine tough weeks and the travel is killing me.”

According to Kuhns, another key to the Raiders returning to the postseason is being strong in the second half of their schedule. In 2009, Waynesburg went 2-2 in their final four games. With a rough four weeks to open this season, the Red and Black’s work down the stretch is going to be even more important to their playoff hopes.

“We open up with Greensburg Central Catholic followed by East Allegheny, Jeannette and Beaver Falls. We’re going to find out a lot about ourselves in those first four games,” Kuhns said. “I told the kids it’s not how you start, but it’s how you finish. If we can go to 2-2 during that stretch that would be a great way to start. It’s going to be the second half of the season that tells the tale.”

After spending a year with the Raiders in the rigors of Class AA, Kuhns feels that the 2010 season could be one to remember. While his team may not be ready to return to the level of the 1999 team that won the school’s only WPIAL football championship, the foundation of a very successful future may have been laid.

“Last year was more of a ‘get your feet wet’ sort of situation. I really had to figure what I had,” Kuhns said. “We’ve had a really good offseason and we are way ahead of where we were last year. We were still teaching schemes and things like that. Now the players know the basics of what we’re doing.”