Jeff Puglio knew that his team needed to watch the tape of last year’s game.
The veteran head coach showed his team what happened — and what went wrong defensively — during last year’s season-opening 69-60 loss to Brookville. It was an exhilarating back-and-forth contest between the two large schools that saw 1,368 yards of offense and 19 touchdowns.
Almost exactly a year later, Puglio is hoping his current group can learn from last year’s mistakes.
“Last year we did not do a good job of picking things up,” he said. “We showed the kids the film from last year this week, and it was always assuming somebody else would make a play here or there.
“I think last year was a learning experience for us as coaches to kind of help the guys out this year and hopefully it works out better for us,” Puglio said.
Brookville quarterback Jack Krug may have the fondest memories of anyone from last year’s shootout. The now-junior gunslinger threw for 555 yards and eight touchdowns — both school records — and will be targeting several of his same wideouts as a season ago.
The key to limiting Krug this go-around, according to Puglio, begins with the boys up front.
“We have to play disciplined and unselfish,” he said. “Our defensive ends can’t get caught inside. If they are getting caught inside thinking they are going to get sacks and stuff like that, they’re going to hurt us. Their job is to keep the quarterback inside the pocket. If they keep him inside the pocket, we have a chance.”
Bradford’s offense, meanwhile, is still working out the kinks that come with graduating 24 seniors from the season before and working in nine new starters across the unit.
Puglio and first-year offensive coordinator Andy Reid will surely lean tonight on senior running back Derek Sunafrank, who rushed for 179 yards and a score against the Raiders last August.
“We want to run the ball and control the clock; we want to go on drives,” Puglio reaffirmed. “In order to do something like that, we are going to rely on the guys up front. I think they are getting after it and we have a lot of new faces up there on the line this year and some guys are out for different positions so it’s just a matter of getting them to gel with each other.”
Of course, with just two returning starters and three lettermen back for the Owls, there are going to be plenty of players making their first starts, as well as kids who will be getting their first taste of varsity football against the talented Raiders.
The advice from Puglio, who has had this talk with plenty of kids over his 10 years in charge? Don’t overthink it.
“The game of football is a short memory thing,” he said. “You are going to make mistakes, four-year starters make mistakes. It’s how you respond to mistakes that determine how well you’ll play.
“I think that’s the hardest part for younger guys is they put a lot of extra pressure on themselves when it’s really not necessary. Just go out, play football and have fun.”
Now, for the first time this season, some predictions:
St. Marys at Ridgway
The Dutch should be much improved this season under veteran coach Chris Dworek, but Ridgway is… Ridgway. Don’t expect the vaunted Elker defense to skip a beat this year. RIDGWAY by 17
Kane at Moniteau
Moniteau won last year’s contest by a point, but the Wolves are eager to put last season’s 2-7 record behind them. KANE by 3
Curwensville at Elk Catholic
The Crusaders will be seeking revenge against a Golden Tide team that knocked them out of the postseason last November. It’ll be close, but they won’t get it in Week 0. CURWENSVILLE by 6
Union/A-C Valley at Coudersport
The Falcons return QB Hayden Keck as well as several key pieces from last year’s District 9 title team. COUDERSPORT by 20
Otto-Eldred at Port Allegany
The Terrors are poised to build off last year’s 5-6 campaign. Port Allegany, meanwhile, still has too many question marks. O-E by 20
Sheffield at Smethport
Don’t sleep on the Wolverines this season, which have numbers and talent for the first time in several years. But their first win since 2016 won’t come in Week 0. SMETHPORT by 24
