Warriors roll up another 50-point win
HERMINIE — Elizabeth Forward might be the best-kept secret in WPIAL football.
But, shhhhhhhhh, the coach isn’t complaining.
“I like it that way,” Mike Collodi said after EF’s 50-0 win over host Yough on Friday. “I like being an underdog. I like people not expecting too much out of us.”
That won’t happen if EF continues rolling up 50-point wins. The win marked the third consecutive 50-point game for the Warriors, and the mercy clock shortened each of those second halves.
The Warriors are now averaging 46.3 points per game with a 5-1 overall record and a 5-0 record in the Interstate Conference. Their only loss occurred in non-conference action at Central Valley in the second game of the year, but since then it’s been blowout city.
“Historically, Elizabeth Forward hasn’t been an upper-echelon team,” Collodi said. “You always hear of Aliquippa and Beaver Falls. Locally, Thomas Jefferson is right down the road. We’re between Thomas Jefferson, Clairton, McKeesport and Belle Vernon and we get lost in the shuffle with those great teams, but this year we’re making a name for ourselves.”
The parts are there. In fact, Elizabeth Forward has the following checked off the list:
n Quarterback
Junior Zach Benedek looks like a D-I prospect, even at 6-0, 185. He showed deft touch on his deep throws and possesses exceptional mobility and pocket awareness. Benedek completed 9-of-15 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried three times for 26 yards, with a 6-yard touchdown.
“You can’t say enough about him,” Collodi said. “I don’t know if he gets enough recognition, but Zach’s been great this whole season. He’s been throwing touchdowns week in and week out.”
Benedek brings to mind former Pittsburgh prep star, Toledo grad and Steelers QB Bruce Gradkowski. Collodi thought that was an apt comparison.
“I’d take him any day of the week,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any better, to be honest. He works extremely hard, is dedicated, very, very smart. It’s like having a coach on the field.”
n Offensive weaponry
Gavin Martik went into the game as the WPIAL leader in touchdowns, and he caught a two-point conversion pass Friday night. But the other receiver, Seth Andres, had the big game at Yough. He caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from Benedek on a dead run and later added a 4-yard touchdown run and 13-yard touchdown catch.
“I said last week that a lot of people worry about No. 11 Gavin Martek because of the season he’s having,” Collodi said. “But Seth Andres stepped up tonight with three touchdowns.”
EF also has a big, fast running back in Brian Malloy, who gained 58 yards on five carries in the first two series but only finished with 75 yards on 13 carries after aggravating an injury. He was eventually rested in favor of Andres (7-29), Christopher Makosey (20-yard TD) and Nicholas Hunnell (30-yard TD).
n Offensive line anchor
Whenever EF needed a few yards, it ran behind left tackle Angelo Ackerman, a junior who surprisingly hasn’t received any D-I attention.
Yet.
“A.J. is a returning first-team all-conference player,” Collodi said. “A big, 6-5, 270-pound lineman. Anytime you have one of those, that’s usually who you want to run behind.”
As for the lack of recruiting attention overall, Collodi said, “I don’t really understand it. Hopefully, a couple of my guys will start getting some interest because I haven’t heard from anyone yet.”
Another couple of 50-point wins will do the trick.
And, finally …
n Defense
The Warriors held Yough to 71 yards of total offense and didn’t allow the Cougars past the 32-yard line as Yough took only five snaps in EF territory. Yough’s all-time leading rusher, Dustin Shoaf, was held to 82 yards on 19 carries.
Just some of the defensive stars for the Warriors were Garrett Stanley with two interceptions, Chase Whatton with a couple of teeth-rattling tackles, Nicholas Wardropper with a fumble recovery, and Tyler Ocilka with consistent pressure off the edge.
“We came in with a great game plan but the kids, they’re the ones that executed it, and they played extremely hard,” Collodi said. “Shoaf is a great player. He was a focal point all week long. We had to stop him.”
And they did what was required.
In fact, the Warriors of EF have what it takes to play deep into the postseason. But it’s not as if Collodi, in spite of his team outscoring its opposition 156-28 the last three weeks, isn’t about to call out the Aliquippas of Class AAA football at this time.
“No, and I’m positive about that!” Collodi said with a laugh. “We’re just going game by game. We’ve got Southmoreland next week. We’ll enjoy tonight and begin prepping for them tomorrow.”
Interstate Conference
Elizabeth Forward 14-7-14-15 — 50
Yough 0-0-0-0 — 0
First Quarter
EF: Zach Benedek 6 run (Andrew Smith kick), 9:16
EF: Seth Andres 42 pass from Benedek (Smith kick), 4:26
Second Quarter
EF: Brian Malloy 1 run (Smith kick), 1:22
Third Quarter
EF: Andres 4 run (Smith kick), 3:30
EF: Andres 13 pass from Benedek (Smith kick), 1:55
Fourth Quarter
EF: Christopher Makosey 20 run (Gavin Martik pass from Jacob Prah), 11:52
EF: Nicholas Hunnell 30 run (Smith kick), 2:27