Any fans of both the Bradford High and Penn State football teams might be able to draw comparisons between the public comments from their head coaches.
At his weekly news conference Tuesday afternoon, the Nittany Lions’ James Franklin, ahead of this week’s semi-rivalry game with Pittsburgh, said Saturday’s game is the biggest of the season.
Why? Simply because it’s the next game on the schedule.
Cue the Owls’ Jeff Puglio, who simply said Friday’s trip to Emporium to take on Cameron County is nothing more than a business trip.
“If we worry about what we’re doing, the other stuff kind of takes care of itself,” Puglio said.
Without going through too much deciphering, that statement means Bradford High isn’t looking past the Red Raiders (0-2), which lost last year in the team’s Allegheny Mountain League crossover game, 76-12.
“I think the next challenge is the one that’s right in front of them. Cameron County is who we are focused on right now.”
Last week’s matchup with Coudersport served as an opportunity –– one Bradford High players weren’t exactly quiet about –– for the Owls to get a win back after losing last year in overtime on the Falcons’ field. Puglio warned Cameron County might be thinking the same thing this week.
“They’re probably saying the same things talking about us,” Puglio said.
Overall, Puglio said he’s happy with the team’s 28-8 win Friday, but wasn’t happy with the way the team was playing overall. There are the obvious bright spots like fullback John Eakin averaging 200 yards rushing and the fact the defense has yet to allow a point. But there’s room for improvement.
“We’re not leaving everything on the field right now,” Puglio said. “I think they realize there’s a lot of room to get better. We’re playing hard, but it’s mental mistakes. Sometimes it’s a lack of physical play. That’s stuff that has to get better. Week 2, we’re moving in the right direction. We’re not a finished product by any means. It’s one day at a time, paying attention to detail and try to get better every single day.”
Injury, sickness and uneven play will result in a few lineup changes this week along the offensive line and defensive front eight.
“Guys going down gives other guys opportunities,” Puglio said. “It wasn’t lost on us in film. Injuries are opportunities for somebody else.”
That added depth is something that was developed last year, though it was more the byproduct of sophomores and freshmen filling in due to injury. Nonetheless, the extra year of reps and game experience is resulting in a team playing faster and more physical.
One player Puglio singled out was senior tight end/linebacker Andy Pantuso, a first-year football player last year. He said Pantuso is “seeing the game a lot better this year, seeing his reads quicker.”
“That’s what you like to see, guys like Andy progressing and getting better, and he is,” Puglio said.
As far as Cameron County on Friday night, the Owls figure on seeing an aggressive, physical defensive front.
For a Wing-T team like the Owls, that combination on defense “can be a problem.”
“We’re expecting to see a physical team,” Puglio said. “We’ve seen them on film. They’ve got some shifty guys.”
One of those dynamic players is quarterback Adam Streich, who scored the team’s lone touchdown last week in a loss to Elk Catholic on a quarterback keeper where he was able to get to the edge.
Regardless of opponent, Bradford High is just trying to worry about themselves.
“Are we getting better every day?” Puglio asked. “So far, we are and we just need to continue doing that.”
