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Hard-working Struthers Wildcats started early on 2013
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Struthers quarterback Gary Muntean tries to get by Hubbard defenders Jake Frost (78) and Cole Benectic (6) during their regular-season game in Struthers. The Wildcats narrowly missed the postseason last year and were bound and determined not to let that happen again this season. And, their hard work paid off: Struthers will host Lakeview on Friday in Week 1 of the 2013 playoffs.
Struthers started on 8-2 playoff season
just a month after bitter end of 2012
By Steve Wilaj
It was only days after their 2012 season ended — one in which Struthers narrowly missed the playoffs with a 6-4 record — when Wildcats coach Curt Kuntz noticed the promise in his 2013 team.
While abiding by the OHSAA rule that prohibits organized team activities for 28 days after the season’s conclusion, Kuntz quickly realized something from his returning players.
“They wanted to be in the weight room,” he said.
So on the 29th day, that’s where they were.
“They started coming three days a week, then four,” Kuntz said. “Then they got coaches to come in on Saturdays – then Sundays.”
That work ethic is one reason Kuntz calls this year’s Wildcats — which finished 8-2 and ended Struthers’ 14-year playoff drought — his favorite group of players in 17 years of coaching.
“They just do the types of things you can’t coach,” he said. “You can’t make kids want to be here six days a week in the offseason, but that’s just the type of group they are.
“We have no superstars. Nobody cares about who gets the success. Everybody is just as happy if their teammate does just as well.”
However, after displaying that attitude in four wins to begin the campaign, Struthers briefly lost that identity.
It started with a 31-7 loss to Hubbard (10-0) and then carried into the first half of the following week’s matchup at Poland, trailing the Bulldogs, 17-7.
“Against Hubbard too many people tried to make plays instead of just doing their job,” said Kuntz, in his second year with Struthers. “We started out the same way against Poland. So at halftime we kind of got the guys together…”
The Wildcats bounced back, nearly defeating Poland (9-1) with a furious fourth-quarter comeback before losing, 31-28.
“Guys weren’t worried about who we were playing anymore,” Kuntz said. “We were playing Struthers football again, just taking care of our business and doing our jobs. It was just a little bit too late, but I think it was a good learning experience.”
Senior quarterback Gary Muntean — who finished the regular season with 1,074 passing yards, 13 TDs and one interception — called it a “turning point.”
“We showed our composure, our heart,” he said. “That’s where we turned it on. We’ve been working harder ever since that — just pushing ourselves to get to this point.”
That “point” being a first-round home matchup with Lakeview (7-3) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats got there by outscoring opponents 140-46 in their final four games.
“We just perfected the little things,” said Nick Pollifrone, a senior fullback and linebacker. “After the loss, it’s out of our heads. We don’t think about it anymore. We just try to practice as hard as we can and do everything right.”
Pollifrone found the end zone 13 times during the regular season, also paving the way for much of Luke Witkowski’s 1,216 rushing yards and 10 TDs.
That rushing attack is what Struthers will lean on against Lakeview. The Wildcats beat the Bulldogs, 35-14, in Week 2. Still, with the Wildcats hitting on all cylinders once again, Kuntz won’t be afraid to open up the playbook.
“If it comes down to it Friday night, [Muntean’s] very capable of putting the game a bit more in his hands,” Kuntz said. “He’s a perfect leader on and off the field.”
Even more, he portrays the attitude of a Struthers team that’s right where it wanted to be just days after last season.
“There’s gonna be no pressure,” Muntean said. “If we’re just playing it like its practice — just easy, no tension — there shouldn’t be any problems.”