The final score (40-20) last week in Bradford’s win over Brockway was impressive, surprised numerous doubters and kept the Owls in the hunt for a playoff berth.
This week’s regular season finale at Curwensville is the priority, but Bradford head coach Jeff Puglio did speak briefly on the playoff situation during his weekly interview Tuesday night.
“We are in control of our own destiny,” he emphasized. “We don’t have a 10th game this season like a lot of other teams. As far as we are concerned the playoffs start this week. If we win we’re in. If we lose then we have to wait and watch scores.”
The win over Brockway, which was guilty of six miscues (4 fumbles, 2 interceptions), was spearheaded by an Owls defense that was tenacious from the start and was the driving force behind the team’s 6th win of the season.
But Puglio will be the first to admit that penalties and poor tackling at times are still a problem.
“Penalties are just losing focus,” he stated. “Sometimes a guy is just trying to do too much. The touchdown that was called back was a case where our guy came in from the back and and hit a kid who could not have made the tackle. They (officials) are going to call it every time, so you just have to be smarter about it.
“We go over everything in the films. Then we talk in practice about hand position, not getting their arms extended and keeping your hands open … don’t make a fist, so it won’t look like you’re grabbing.”
Poor tackling has plagued the Owls all season and is something that is frustrating for the coaching staff.
The Owls will have to improve on it Friday night if they expect to bottle up District 9’s career rushing record holder, Nick Stewart from Curwensville. Only the unbeaten Kane Wolves and once-beaten Ridgway Elkers have been able to effectively slow him down.
“Tackling has been an issue,” said Puglio. “We just don’t meet guys in the hole, but want to tackle them from the side and that’s not going to happen … especially this week. We need to wrap our arms and bring guys to the ground.
“We (coaches) talk to our players about technique but it’s not translating to the field and we’re not sure why. We want guys to take the extra step and drive their guy backward. We wrap the guy up, but are not driving him backward and he’s getting extra yards. It comes down to technique,” Puglio emphasized.
Bradford’s answer for Stewart is senior John Eakin, who joined an elite group of Owls running backs last Friday night, when he gained 148 yards to put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Eakin also proved his worth on defense with an interception return for a touchdown to begin the game’s scoring.
Puglio also picked out seniors Andy Pantuso and Isaac Gralak and junior Brody Hahn.
Regarding Pantuso’s NFL highlight interception in the second quarter, the Owls coach said, “Andy read the route, fought the kid for the ball and he just wanted it more. He had great night and scored every way possible.
Pantuso also scooped up a fumble and returned it for six points in the second stanza and caught a touchdown pass in the third quarter.
“Isaac had a great night, too,” Puglio continued. “He had double digit tackles on defense and did a great job on our offensive line with quite a few pancake blocks.
“Brody Hahn has been getting better and better each week at his offensive guard position. He just has to focus and get to every block. He has improved from where he started.”
Puglio’s primary objective for his ball club right now is to focus on Curwensville (7-1). The Owls play the Golden Tide on their home field Friday night.
“From the second half of the Kane game we have shown glimpses of playing our best football,” Puglio pointed out. “We haven’t put it all together yet, but we’re in position to do it.
“Friday night we have to get off to a fast start. We can’t afford to start slowly. Our players have to make sound tackles and meet guys at the line. Curwensville is very aggressive. We have to match it and their physicality if we’re going to slow them down.”
