US Steel Game of the Week: Uniontown at Elizabeth Forward

“We just have to execute a lot better. There are some mistakes we’ve made since week one,” Elizabeth Forward head coach Mike LeDonne said. “We have to eliminate mental mistakes.”

Elizabeth Forward’s season started out on the wrong foot, as a missed fourth quarter extra point cost the Warriors in the opener, as they fell to Laurel Highlands 14-13. They were able to rebound and pick up a pair of conference wins against Albert Gallatin and Trinity, but were blown out by Thomas Jefferson 51-0 a week ago.

The Warriors are led by senior running back Jacob Meyers, who has already racked up over 700 yards on offense to go along with 8 touchdowns and a whopping 7.5 yards per carry average. He has also stood out on defense, racking up 52 tackles and picking off 3 passes.

Still, LeDonne thinks that this team is different than some other ones he’s had in the past, as they rely more on the effort of the whole team as opposed to the performances of a handful of “homerun hitters.”

“We are more of a team,” LeDonne said. “We have to execute with our 22 souls, working hard to excel.”

Other key contributors for Elizabeth Forward are sophomore wide receiver Jonathan Devine, who has picked up a pair of touchdown receptions despite playing for a team that averages only four pass attempts a game, and William Miles, a senior defensive standout who has recorded 50 tackles so far.

Uniontown’s campaign started out promising, losing a high-scoring, one-possession game against West Mifflin. But since then, the Red Raiders have lost by at least 25 points in every game.

Uniontown’s offense is based on the ground game tandem of junior running back Ariene Washington, who has run for 451 yards, and senior quarterback Lyric Ellis, who has run for three scores.

However, the Red Raiders’ defense needs to show up for them to make it a game, as they have surrendered an average of 43.25 points per game, and have given up at least 38 points in every week. This could end up being a high scoring affair, as the Warriors’ defense is currently surrendering over 30 points a contest.

The game will start at 7:30 at Warrior Stadium at Elizabeth Forward High School.

2014 SCHEDULE
Aug. 29 McKeesport 37 - Connellsville 6
Sept. 5 McGuffey 45 - Charleroi 0
Sept. 12 Ringgold 20 - Knoch 13
Sept. 19 Hollidaysburg 7 - Belle Vernon 0 (OT)
Sept. 26 Uniontown at Elizabeth Forward
Oct. 3 Jeannette at Clairton
Oct. 10 Uniontown at Thomas Jefferson
Oct. 17 Clairton at Monessen
Oct. 24 Penn Hills at Woodland Hills

Tonight’s game is the Pittsburgh Sports Report and US Steel Game of the Week. Students and fans, be sure to take plenty of pictures and Tweet them to @PghSportsReport #HSFootball. The best photos will appear online after the game!

Click here for full season coverage of USS Game of the Week.