A 31-28 win against Neshannock in November gave Burgettstown something it hadn’t experienced in 40 years — a playoff win.
One game later, though, that streak was halted with a 42-0 loss to Steel Valley in the second round.
While the loss wasn’t ideal, coach Mark Druga was encouraged by a packed weight room in January, and players’ confident attitude during the offseason, led by seniors such as lineman Angelo Fratini.
Before the Blue Devils first scrimmage later that spring, Fratini looked at Druga and calmly stated his mission for his senior year.
“He said ‘Conference title this season,’” Druga, now in his fourth season as coach, said. “We knew coming in that we had a very dedicated bunch. Everybody kept saying, ‘Why not us? Why can’t we continue this train moving forward?’”
With a 6-0 start (5-0 WPIAL Class 2A Three Rivers Conference), that’s exactly what Burgettstown has done so far this season. The Blue Devils went 12-35 from 2012-2016 but have come on strong the past few years, making a name for themselves with four consecutive appearances in the playoffs.
“These kids don’t know anything but the playoffs in the last four years, which is something that Burgettstown has not seen in the history of our school, and so these young men take pride in everything they do,” Druga said. “Not only games and practice but preparation, everything.”
If Burgettstown finishes strong (easier said than done with Mohawk and South Allegheny among its final three regular-season games), then the team could finish as section champion (or even co-section champs) for the first time in 41 years.
That’s the goal for the Blue Devils this year, building off what they accomplished last season.
“[We] set a goal that we would win section and not strive for just one win in the playoffs,” junior quarterback Jake Lounder said.
Lounder, who took over at quarterback when his brother Ryan graduated, has seen the community interest in Burgettstown football grow in recent years, which he attributes to the culture of the program shifting.
“The community has wrapped around it,” Lounder said. “We used to have really no one at the games when I was like 10, and now everybody comes out for all the games.”
Another sign of a culture shift?
The Blue Devils now expect to be in the playoffs each year, Druga said.
“When we expect to be in the playoffs, that’s the arrogance that you want to instill in a program and a team and to young men, because you should be confident when you’re trying anything in life,” Druga said. “And when you do all this hard work starting in January, it’s great to see it pay off here in October.”
Last season, Burgettstown started off 6-0 before closing out the regular season with losses to Charleroi, Washington and Elizabeth Forward.
The Blue Devils also racked up injuries toward the end of the year, electing to rest their starters in the second half of a non-conference loss to the Warriors, and will look to stay on their winning streak before trying for another playoff win.
“I would just say stay focused, hopefully remain healthy, and remember what happened last year leading up to our playoff run against Neshannock,” Druga said.
Sarah K. Spencer: sspencer@post-gazette.com and Twitter @sarah_k_spence.
STANDINGS: WPIAL | City League
Team Pages | Sortable Statistics
First Published: October 11, 2018, 11:00 a.m.
