NEW WILMINGTON -- In much the same way the Air Force and Army do for the United States armed forces, wide receiver Brett Ziegler and tailback Nick McKolosky take care of business for the Westminster Titan football team through the airways and on the ground.
When Ziegler isn't busy catching a pass from quarterback Kevin Franz, McKolosky can usually be seen lugging the pigskin overland. Then when it is Ziegler's turn to "do his thing", McKolosky can most times be seen pass blocking for quarterback Franz so that he can get the ball to Ziegler.
Regardless of which one is given the call on a certain play, the duo has come up big for Westminster as the Titans are currently off to a 3-2 start at the halfway point of the season.
Although McKolosky and Ziegler are getting the job done for the Titans, neither had much experience behind them when they made their way to New Wilmington. McKolosky played behind a Division I recruit during his senior year at Westmont Hilltop High School, while for Ziegler, his high school football playing time was limited to one year at Somerset.
"I was a fullback playing behind a D-I recruit running back so my time was limited," recalled McKolosky. "I never had as many carries (in high school) as I have had here so far in college so getting a chance to carry the ball was the biggest change for me."
For Ziegler, his limited time as a Titan freshman was for a different reason.
"I only played one year of high school football so coming here was like night and day for me," noted Ziegler. "I learned a lot of things that year (freshman year) and I consider myself pretty young football wise because I am still learning a lot about football now as a senior. I didn't play much my freshman year, but I learned a lot of things that I never knew existed while playing in high school."
During his freshman year, McKolosky became the first freshman to start a season-opening game for the Titans since the 1995 season. Not only did he start in his first-ever college game, the 5-7, 165-pound tailback started all 10 games for the Titans in 2006, finishing with 318 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 88 tries.
Now just a sophomore, McKolosky has already surpassed his freshman total by amassing 426 yards at the midway point of the season.
"The guys up front are just doing a great job opening holes for me," said McKolosky. "We have a great scheme up front and as long as we pursue and execute that scheme, we are a tough team to stop with the run."
One year ago when the Titans had more than their share of problems with the running game, Franz was forced to fill the air with footballs, giving Ziegler more of an opportunity to make catches.
"The run and pass game go hand-in-hand," said Ziegler. "This year with a better running game, it is helping out the pass game a lot by taking the pressure off us of having to throw the ball so much. Even if the (passing) numbers aren't there, our total offense is much better with the balanced attack. That way it makes it easier for both of us. He (McKolosky) has had better success running with the ball, and with his running the ball well, it makes it easier for me because I don't have to deal with double and sometimes triple coverage as much."
During his career that is rapidly winding down, Ziegler has had to adjust to no less than four or five different quarterbacks. However, even with that number, the senior wideout didn't really see that as a factor in his success as a receiver.
"We have enough practice involving everybody that once it comes game day, it doesn't really make much difference who is throwing the ball," he said. "We take enough reps and do enough routes that it really isn't that big of a difference. If one of them has to leave the game and the other guy comes in, we are fine with that. We just keeping doing our thing and hopefully things work out for the best."
While McKolosky has showing his ability to use his legs as a runner, he has also displayed good skills as a pass receiver as well with 17 catches for 117 yards through the first five games.
"We have a good screen (pass) package as well as some flare passes," said McKolosky. "That is a big part of our offense that helps open up things in the middle. It spreads out the field and that helps us a lot to get other things going. Those swing passes in the flats spread things out and keeps the defense from jamming up the middle."
As for his numbers being down somewhat from last year, Ziegler was quick to note why that might have happened.
"We are winning games (this season), and when you are winning games you get to run down the clock," said Ziegler. "When we are in our 4-minute offense, he (McKolosky) can take the pressure off the passing game whereas last year when we got down early, our only option was to air it out."
Every week one of the Titan athletes in all sports is chosen as the Titan of the Week.
During the second week, that honor went to McKolosky for his 143 yards on 25 carries and three touchdowns in the Titans' 48-7 win over St. Vincent, while Ziegler picked up the honor in week three when he caught six passes for 159 yards and two scores against Geneva.
"It is always a good honor to be recognized for those things and I think it shows respect from your teammates that you are helping them out," said Ziegler. "It is a nice thing to have, but when it is time to go out on the field and play a game, it doesn't mean that much."
Ditto McKolosky.
"It is always a nice thing to bring on recognition for yourself when you do something good," McKolosky said. "Those type of awards usually come along when the team is doing good. As a whole, if the team is doing well, that is what it is all about because when the team does well, it usually means that you are winning or at least you have a chance to win."
