In the WPIAL, most football teams that have success are solid when it comes to running the ball. Connellsville is hoping and expecting to become one of those teams. After trying to use a spread offense with marginal results in recent seasons under former head coach Andy Robertson, new head coach Tommy Dolde is getting back to basics. “We want to get back to fundamental power football,” Dolde said. “I feel that with the personnel we have, we are more of a power running team and we will use play-action. Our offense isn’t going to be about just running the ball, but how well we run the ball.” The Falcons appear to have plenty of horses in the stable. “I think we have some good experience coming back and we have some talented running backs that will be the core of the team,” Dolde said. Connellsville’s go-to guy looks to be junior tailback Scotty Jones. Jones has seen solid portions of playing time in the past two seasons. But now, he’ll be called upon to carry a heavier load. “It puts more pressure on me, but it makes me feel good,” Jones said. “I’ll try to be a leader and do better than what I did in my first two seasons. I’d like to have a 1,000-yard season and I hope we can go back to the playoffs.” The Falcons earned a playoff spot in the rugged Quad East in 2004. But after losing to Gateway in the first round, finished with a somewhat unimpressive 4-6 record. Still, there is reason for optimism, and Dolde believes that consistency will be the key, especially when it comes to churning up the yards on the ground. “I don’t think we’ve had that consistency week in and week out,” Dolde said. “We haven’t had a 1,000-yard back in a while, so that will be a challenge for us.” But don’t expect Jones to be the only workhorse. Senior tailback Billy Freed and sophomore tailback Lance Straughters should be solid ground-gainers as well. “We’ll try to use all the talent that we have at running back,” Dolde said. “They’ll be free to pick the holes and make plays for us. We want to maximize their ability.” In addition to strength, these guys also have wheels. “We do have speed,” Straughters said. Straughters, who was a sprinter on the track team, is recovering from a hip injury, but should be ready to go in time for the season. “I’m real excited about the season,” Straughters said. “I feel good and I want to run the ball. I want to get noticed by some colleges and I want to help us win the championship or at least get to the playoffs.” While Jones and Straughters have played in the backfield before, it will be a new experience for Freed. “We noticed him last year when he was playing on defense,” Dolde said. “He made an interception and on his return, he had moves like a tailback.” “I haven’t played tailback in high school before and I’m a little nervous,” Freed said. “But I’m very excited about it and I have a good feeling about this season.” If nothing else, this season should be a return to a traditional Falcon offense. One that has had success in the past and could possibly do so in the future. “This (running game) goes back many years,” Dolde said. “Connellsville has always had a strong running tradition.” Connellsville will open the season at home against Uniontown. Additional Information:

Fast facts

Connellsville graduate Dick Pitzer played alongside three Heisman Trophy winners. In college, Pitzer was a teammate of Doc Blanchard (1945) and Glenn Davis (1946) at Army. In high school, Pitzer was a teammate of Connellsville graduate and Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack (1947). This season will mark the first time in 29 years that a member of the Dolde family has not served as the team’s defensive coordinator. Since the early 1900s, the Connellsville football team has played at only two fields (Fayette Field and Campbell Stadium, also known as Connellsville Stadium). The press box at Connellsville Stadium is named in honor of legendary sports broadcaster Ray Scott, a Connellsville High School graduate. Tom Dolde is the team’s third head coach in four years.

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