Bearcats relying on youthful roster
Bentworth coach JJ Knabb poses with two of the Bearcats top players for the upcoming season in Vitali Daniels (left) and Lucas Burt.
Bentworth players work through a variety of drills during practice.
Bentworth coach JJ Knabb checks to make sure the offense are defense are lined up properly during practice.
Bentworth players run through a footwork drill during practice.
Bentworth coach JJ Knabb chats with junior Vitali Daniels (left) and sophomore Lucas Burt during practice.
Football season is upon us, and fourth-year Bentworth coach JJ Knabb is excited for what lies ahead for his team.
鈥淲hile we only have three seniors and five or six juniors, we have one of the bigger teams we have had in years,鈥� he said, in terms of numbers. 鈥淎lthough we are still underclassmen heavy, we have a lot of experience back and that is a positive.鈥�
Knabb anticipates anywhere from 26 to 28 players, and the experience players gained last year will help this year.
鈥淲e expect to be much improved on last year,鈥� he said of the 2021 team that won two games. 鈥淲e are better on offense and defense, and a big goal is to be better tacklers.
鈥淟ast year, we gave up a lot of points because of missed tackles. We were in position to make them, but we just didn鈥檛 tackle.
鈥淎 point of emphasis this summer has been tackling and if we can improve that, it will fix a lot of our problems.鈥�
If the team can indeed improve on tackling, and make a few other improvements, Knabb thinks the Bearcats can get into the postseason.
鈥淲e want to make the playoffs,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to be in the top four in the conference to do that, and I fully expect us to be picked last or next to last based off of performance from last year and our youth.
鈥淗owever, I think we have the talent and athleticism to surprise some people.鈥�
The Bearcats are in the Tri-County South along with Beth-Center, California, Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown Monessen and West Greene.
鈥淐al is up there and have 45 to 50 kids a year,鈥� Knabb said. 鈥淚 think George (Messich) will have the team to beat at Mapletown.鈥�
In past years, Bentworth has been known to focus on passing or on the running game, but Knabb is looking for more balance this season.
鈥淲e have tweaked our offense to be more balanced,鈥� said Knabb, who is in his 30th consecutive season of football between playing and coaching. 鈥淗istorically, we have been pass heavy or run heavy, but we want to even things out.鈥�
The Bearcats return eight players on offense who started or contributed significant minutes.
Junior Vitali Daniels moves from wide receiver to quarterback and classmate Ben Luketich moves from slot receiver to running back.
Sophomore Gavin Piasecki returns at receiver while classmate Lucas Burt is in the slot.
The Bearcats return four starters up front. Center Cam McGraw is the lone senior of the group and is joined by junior Noah Youngblood at left guard, sophomore Abe House at right guard and sophomore Alex Rusilko at right tackle.
Youngblood started as a freshman but missed last season due to injury.
Knabb says some unproven players will also have good years, but he wants them to earn recognition.
鈥淪ome younger players will make names for themselves,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he fact they are freshmen is a good thing and there is some talent coming up.鈥�
Seven players started on defense a year ago.
Burt is back as the strong safety, Piasecki is also back in the secondary and Daniels is the lone returning starter at linebacker.
House and Rusilko are back at defensive tackle while McGraw returns at end. Youngblood started at end two years ago.
The Bearcats kick off their season Aug. 26 at Brownsville and open conference play Sept. 9 when they host Monessen.