Warriors seek to continue success under Collodi
Elizabeth Forward quarterback Zion White rolls to his right as he looks for a receiver聽during last year's WPIAL Class 3A semifinal game against Central Valley at West Allegheny.
Elizabeth Forward Charlie Nigut runs the ball against Central Valley during last year's WPIAL Class 3A semifinal game at West Allegheny.
Mike Colloid enters his ninth year as head coach at Elizabeth Forward.
Mike Collodi has led the Elizabeth Forward football team to levels of success the program has never seen during his eight years as head coach.
The team has won four conference titles over the past five years. The Warriors had won only two conference crowns prior to Collodi无毛视频檚 tenure, 1966 and 1985.
无毛视频淲e have done some great things, but all of that is in the past,无毛视频� Collodi said. 无毛视频淚t is a new season, and we are going to give it our best.无毛视频�
It will take EF无毛视频檚 best in the Class AAA Interstate Conference as both Belle Vernon and Greensburg Salem moved down from Class AAAA, while Brownsville and Yough moved out.
Belle Vernon is the heavy favorite to win the conference and the WPIAL title.
无毛视频淲e lost the two worst teams in the conference and gained two pretty good teams,无毛视频� Collodi said. 无毛视频淓veryone has already given Belle Vernon the WPIAL title, and I am good with that as I like flying under the radar.
无毛视频淭hey have played for two WPIAL titles in the last three years and deserve the recognition.无毛视频�
Belle Vernon travels to Elizabeth Forward on Oct. 28 to close the regular season, but Collodi and his staff are focused on their Week 0 opponent, Ringgold.
无毛视频淚t is a long season and right now, we are focused on Ringgold,无毛视频� said Collodi. 无毛视频淲e played a close game with them last year in the opener, so our guys know better than to look ahead.无毛视频�
The Warriors return nine starters on offense and seven full-time starters on defense.
无毛视频淲e have experience,无毛视频� Collodi said. 无毛视频淎 lot of our guys have played in big games, won conference titles and gotten a lot of experience.
无毛视频淲e played in the WPIAL title game two years ago and the semifinals last year, so the guys have been tested.无毛视频�
The returning offensive starters are senior quarterback Zion White, sophomore H-Back Jace Brown, senior running back Johnny DiNapoli, senior receivers Zach Boyd and Keilly Rush, sophomore receiver Charlie Nigut, senior lineman Ricky Prokop and junior linemen Charlie Meehleib and Dylan Winters.
Defensively, the returning starters are Meehleib at tackle, Prokop, DiNapoli and Brown at linebacker, and Bush, Rush and Nigut in the secondary, while Winters played regularly on the line as a key reserve.
Collodi said there is no substitution for having that kind of returning experience on defense.
无毛视频淗aving that kind of experience on that side of the ball with the kind of schemes we run is important,无毛视频� said Collodi. 无毛视频淎ll those guys are important and know what we want.无毛视频�
Senior Logan Beedle will handle the kicking duties, while Nigut is the punter.
Collodi, like he says at the start of every season, said that the team无毛视频檚 approach will not change.
无毛视频淲e pride ourselves on playing fast and physical,无毛视频� said Collodi. 无毛视频淲e don无毛视频檛 want to think, and our preparation is good.
无毛视频淲e want to be the most physical, eliminate our turnovers and create them as well. We have to execute and play with energy.无毛视频�
The goals won无毛视频檛 change, either.
无毛视频淔irst, we want to win the conference title,无毛视频� said Collodi. 无毛视频淪econd, we want to win a WPIAL and the third goal is to win states.
无毛视频淚 tell the kids it is all about those things in that order. That无毛视频檚 what we go for every year, but for now, our focus is Ringgold.无毛视频�