Raiders Off to a Fast Start, Get Ready to Take on Fox Chapel

football coach Don Holl often talks about playing to the strengths of his players and featuring what they do best.

Coming off a , that gives him plenty of options on both sides of the ball as Seneca Valley (1-0) travels to Fox Chapel (0-1) for a non-conference Class AAAA matchup. Tonight’s game starts at 7 p.m., a half-hour earlier than most WPIAL games.

Seneca Valley opened the new season with an exclamation point last Friday. The Raiders not only cruised to a 47-0 victory over Norwin, they piled up 535 yards of offense and 323 yards rushing.

“That one was over Saturday when we watched the (game) film, and had some fun with some of the guys and enjoyed the highlights,” Holl said. “But once we put that one to bed, we moved on to Fox Chapel week. In this neck of the woods, you better be ready for the next one.”

With 569 total yards, North Allegheny was the only WPIAL team in any classification that racked up more offense than Senca Valley in the first week of the season.

And only a dozen WPIAL teams allowed fewer yards than Seneca Valley’s defense, which game up 118.

“We certainly started in a way that was very satisfying,” Holl said. “Our kids really worked hard in the off-season and the preseason. They had a great night and a chance to make a lot of those memories you don’t get too many chances to make on a Friday night in western Pennsylvania.

“That all said, we don’t get to carry over any of those points into this week’s game,” he said. “Our guys earned one last week, and now we’ve got to do it again.”

Seneca Valley quarterback Jordan Brown completed six of 15 passes for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and ran for 127 yards and two more scores.

The Raiders also moved the football on the ground – and controlled the clock – as Forrest Barnes rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown. Barnes also caught three passes for 101 yards, including a 69-yard scoring reception.

Fox Chapel opened the season with a 35-10 loss at Baldwin last week.

“Fox Chapel is quite similar to us on offense,” Holl said. “They run a no-huddle spread and a shotgun sort of deal, and it starts with the quarterback.”

Quarterback Noel Wilson threw for 188 yards against Baldwin and scored the Foxes’ only touchdown on a seven-yard run.

“He can beat you with speed and his arm,” Holl said.

However, Holl said it would be hard to miss the real standout on the offense, 6-foot-6, 275-pound senior right guard Adam Bisnowaty.

“We played against him last year, and he’s the real deal,” Holl said. “He’s a big, strong guy, and he plays both ways at guard and defensive end. He’s certainly a force out there.

“Fox Chapel has some talented kids, their scheme is good, and they’re playing with enthusiasm,” the coach said. “They probably played a lot better than that (25-point loss to Baldwin) score looked last week. For the first two or three drives, they had things their way, but just couldn’t finish.”

Seneca Valley opens Quad North Conference action at 7:30 p.m. next Friday at Erie McDowell, then returns home for a non-conference game against McKeesport on Sept. 23.