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Cushma gives Bucs leg up on competition

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Chartiers-Houston’s outside linebacker Trey Lober leads off as he drives the sled back and up during practice before other teammates take their turn.

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Chartiers-Houston’s defensive coordinator, Rusty Springer, lets the football fly as defensive linemen rush him during practice.

HOUSTON – Last year, Chartiers-Houston’s football team made the WPIAL playoffs by a foot.

Mike Cushma’s foot.

Cushma nailed a 32-yard field goal as time expired that iced a 31-28 victory and secured the fourth and final spot in the Black Hills Conference to the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

“I couldn’t believe what happened,” said Cushma. “Fort Cherry was rushing hard and I got so nervous in the game that I didn’t think I was going to make it. So I was (talking myself) out of it even before it happened. I kicked it and everyone went crazy. I was just happy to make it.”

Cushma, one of the best field goal kickers in the WPIAL last season, made four in a 26-14 victory over Bishop Canevin.

The Bucs will take any points possible. Last season, they scored just 151 in 10 games, the fewest in the conference.

Having that type of weapon can make T.J. Johnston’s transition into the quarterback spot a lot easier. Johnston is stepping in for Alex Ferrari, who directed the Bucs’ spread offense before graduating. Johnston played junior varsity but only threw one pass in a varsity game.

“When I started kicking on varsity, I was going to a lot of camps and getting a lot of personal training,” said Cushma. “That’s when I starting believing I could go farther with my career as a kicker.”

Cushma’s leg is attracting a lot of attention from college recruiters, who are impressed with the accuracy and distance from someone who stands 5-8 and weighs 160. Pitt inquired, as did Robert Morris and Duquesne.

West Virginia Wesleyan and Eastern Michigan, as well as a number of Division III schools, have pushed harder to get him. Michigan and Michigan State coaches got a look at Cushma because he attended their football camps over the summer.

“When I was little, I played soccer and I had a really strong leg,” said Cushma, who has made 15 career field goals, including nine last season. “I came out for football, tried out for kicker and it worked out great. I started in seventh grade. I just did it in my back yard.”

The right-footed kicker hit from 65 yards in practice and 42 yards in a game.

“I have the confidence to make any field goal from anywhere,” said Cushma. “I just focus on me, my foot hitting the ball and ball going through the uprights. That’s all I focus on.”

The Bucs are hopeful about having a stronger offense this season. Helping Johnston settle into his role as quarterback is running back Spencer Terling, returning for a junior season after rushing for 469 yards and four touchdowns in 2014. Junior A.J. Myers, who had 25 catches for 303 yards and a team-high six touchdowns, returns but Austin Warchol (15, 214, 3) graduated.

“I think we have some good skill kids,” said head coach Terry Fetsko. “A.J. Myers had a great season, was all-conference, and Spencer Terling is a three-year starter and only a junior.”

Ethan Shober (6-0, 165) and Ty Wormsely (5-7, 135) will have a shot to replace Warchol’s production. Cody Scears, a 5-6, 135-pound junior, should get the starting job in the slot. So Johnston will have plenty of capable targets.

“T.J. is not as mobile as Alec so he’s not going to be that type of quarterback who will run a lot,” Fetsko said. “He throws the ball real well and controls the offense real well. He’ll be more of a pocket-type passer. It takes time, especially at that position. He’s a junior so he is more mature. I think he’ll be fine.”

Fetsko said he will try some different things on offense to help Johnston get acclimated to the responsibilities of the position.

“We’ll go to a two-tight-end set when we’re not in our spread set,” Fetsko said. “We’ll have a little more of a running attack.”

Junior Jacob Cavallo (6-0, 200) and sophomore Matt Whitfield (5-8, 165) will get the call in the multiple-tight-end sets. They are also expected to help block for the running game, which is crucial because of the undersized line.

“We graduated a few people there,” said Fetsko. “We do have some people coming back.”

Fetsko is moving junior center Trey Lober (6-0, 270) to left tackle and Logan Bayer, a 6-1, 245-pound senior, is at right tackle. The other three spots are up for grabs. Senior Nash Phillips (5-9, 245), sophomore Noah Minney (5-5, 165), senior Dominick Devenney (5-9, 200) and junior Spyra (5-10, 240) are in the mix.

Defensively, the Bucs need to improve. They gave up the second-highest points total in the conference, but a 62-3 loss to Clairton in the first round of the playoffs had a lot to do with that.

“We lost five games and four were to the semifinalists in the WPIAL,” Fetsko said. “And Clairton went to the state finals. The competition was very strong. We competed. It was 13-7 at halftime with Avonworth. North Catholic was 20-0 and they scored right at the end of the half. We lost those games but the kids gained confidence and it helped us through the rest of the season.”

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