Planets aware of EF weapon
ADAMS TWP — Rest assured Mars football fans. Head coach Scott Heinauer and his staff are well aware of what JaQuan Davidson is capable of on the football field.
Elizabeth Forward's senior quarterback, a University of Pittsburgh recruit, is a dual threat, evidenced by his 870 passing yards and 1,003 yards on the ground.
Davidson and the Warriors will test the Planets in a WPIAL Class AAA first-round playoff Friday at the Mars Athletic Complex. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
“He's a great athlete and the team is built around him,” Heinauer said of Davidson (6-foot-4, 185 pounds), who has added 14 touchdown passes, no interceptions and 13 rushing scores this year.
“They run the spread and operate mostly from a shotgun formation,” added Heinauer. “They have the most speed of any team we will have faced this season and can score quickly. That's something we have to be concerned with. Our defense has to rise to the occasion.”
Elizabeth Forward (6-3) placed fourth in the Big Nine Conference. It closed the regular season last week with a 60-14 non-conference win over Greensburg Salem.
The Warriors are not without flaws, however. They failed to beat a team with a winning record this year. Their six wins came against teams with a combined record of 14-40 and the Warriors gave up a total of 134 points in their three losses — Thomas Jefferson (42-0), West Mifflin (40-16) and Ringgold (52-36).
Unfortunately for Elizabeth Forward, it will encounter a Mars squad that is one of the hottest in the WPIAL, in any class.
Since dropping the season-opener to Franklin Regional, the Planets (8-1) have crushed their eight opponents by an average score of 46-9. Last Friday's 42-20 victory over Hampton is the closest game Mars has been involved in during that stretch.
“We have improved every week,” said Heinauer, “but we did turn the ball over (three times) last week. That's uncharacteristic of our football team. We have to possess the ball Friday.”
Junior fullback Josh Schultheis (1,444 yards and 21 touchdowns) and senior wingback Jason Lozzi (514-10) will carry the load for the Planets.
The former gained 173 yards and scored four touchdowns in last week's win.
After not making the playoffs for six straight years (2006-11), Elizabeth Forward has now qualified for the postseason in back-to-back campaigns. The Warriors fell in the first round to Franklin Regional last year.
Elizabeth Forward coach Mike LeDonne could not be reached for comment.
