Bearcats seek to snap non-playoff streak this fall
Bentworth running back Owen Petrisek (22) breaks a tackle against Brownsville during a game last season.
Bentworth's Trent Cavanaugh (30) breaks a long run against Mapletown during a game at Mapletown last season.
Bentworth coach JJ Knabb checks his play sheet during a game at Mapletown last season.
The Bentworth football team has not made the WPIAL playoffs since 2015, and according to second-year head coach JJ Knabb, his players are looking to end the streak.
无毛视频淲e had our first official offseason meeting in February, and I told the team that we had to set goals,无毛视频� said the former Peters Twp. and Ohio University standout. 无毛视频淭o a man, they said the playoffs.无毛视频�
Knabb is excited with where the team is despite missing over three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic and part of the reason is they now know what the coaching staff is looking for.
无毛视频淭he players know what to expect and half of the battle last year was setting expectations and them having to learn what to do,无毛视频� said Knabb. 无毛视频淓ven with the time off, we have nine returners on both sides of the ball and our limited time this summer has been three times what we put in last summer.
无毛视频淲e are getting 18 to 20 guys a day and that is double what we had last year.无毛视频�
According to Knabb, the workouts are tougher, and the players are all in.
无毛视频淚 will never be accused of running an easy program and the guys have bought in,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淭he stuff we do, I learned at Ohio and we go hard.无毛视频�
During the down time that started in mid-March, Knabb put a major focus on technology with the team not being allowed to get together.
无毛视频淲ith all of the craziness going on, it has been a good summer,无毛视频� said Knabb, who also teaches in the Bentworth district. 无毛视频淲e have had team Zoom meetings, have a Google Classroom for the team and use Hudl.
无毛视频淗aving the ability to do the video chats and Google Classroom will streamline us moving forward.无毛视频�
When conditioning was allowed to resume in mid-July, the players carried the weights outside from the weight room so there would be more space and more players could work out at the same time.
无毛视频淭hey hauled the weights outside, lifted and then put everything back,无毛视频� Knabb said. 无毛视频淭his may be a long-term thing, but we will have to see how it works under normal circumstances.无毛视频�
Line play is always a key in football, and the Bearcats return their entire offensive line from a year ago.
无毛视频淲e aren无毛视频檛 the biggest or most beefy, but we are athletic up front, move well and are fairly dynamic,无毛视频� Knabb said.
The five returners up front are senior center Nick Scarfo and right tackle Nathan Menzer, sophomore right guard Cam McGaw and a pair of juniors on the left side, guard Ethan Luketich and tackle Ethan Heinreich.
Junior Seth Adams and freshman Vitali Daniels are vying for the quarterback job, but regardless of who wins position, the other will be on the field at wide receiver.
Owen Petrisek set a school record with 19 rushing touchdowns a year ago, but did not get a lot of notoriety and Knabb offered why.
无毛视频淲est Greene无毛视频檚 Ben Jackson set a state record with over 50 touchdowns and we were in the same section,无毛视频� Knabb said while laughing.
Petrisek and fellow senior running back Trent Cavanaugh are an inside-outside combo.
无毛视频淥wen is elusive and more agile, while Trent is a road grader and carries guys,无毛视频� Knabb said.
Junior wide receiver Caleb Peternel is the other returning starter on offense.
Defensively, Cavanaugh leads the way at middle linebacker and already has recorded a school record 340 tackles.
Other returning starters on defense include Adams and Petrisek at linebacker, Peternel and sophomore Falon O无毛视频橰egan at corner, and Scarfo, junior Billy Leach, Menzer and Heinreich on the defensive line.
Heinreich played linebacker last year, while McGaw and Luketich also saw time last year on the line.
All but two of the returning players from a year ago lettered and the experience the team gained last year should help in the Tri-County South Conference.
无毛视频淵ou have to put California at the top,无毛视频� Knabb said. 无毛视频淵ear in and year out, they are the most consistent team and although West Greene lost a lot, the returning kids know how to win.
无毛视频淐armichaels is moving down (from Class AA) and has had success at times.无毛视频�
The other teams in the conference are Avella, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and Monessen.
The Bearcats open the season when they host California on Sept. 11.