ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP - Last year Waynesburg College's offense was spelled J-e-f-f D-u-m-m.
The former Charleroi Area High standout broke five school passing records in his first season as a starter including 2,493 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Dumm, who will be a junior, could be getting some help next season in the Yellow Jackets' offense with one of the best running backs in Elizabeth Forward High history, Ryan Abels.
Abels picked Waynesburg over Bethany College.
"Those two schools showed the most interest in me," said the 5-9, 175 pound Abels, who ran for 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns as one of the few bright spots in the Warriors' 4-6 showing.
Abels opened the 2002 campaign by running for a school record 375 yards and four touchdowns in the Warriors' 50-15 romp at Mt. Pleasant.
Despite his impressive statistics, Abels realized Division I schools wouldn't be knocking on his door.
"I knew my size was a disadvantage," he said.
Abels has a chance of starting as a freshman at Waynesburg.
The Yellow Jackets were last in the Presidents' Athletic Conference in rushing offense, averaging 93 yards a game and scored only eight touchdowns on the ground the entire season.
Abels, incidentally, won't be the only Elizabeth Forward player on the Waynesburg roster.
John Segursky, who plays defensive end, will return after leaving the team following the death of his younger sister in an auto accident during the season.
"He was a senior at Elizabeth when I was a sophomore," said Abels.
Abels is busy these days running the 100 meter dash and in the 400 meter relay for the Warriors.
He'll be competing today in the Tri-State Invitational at West Mifflin.
