Making the C grade key to Bethel Park’s success
BETHEL PARK – Cs are more than an average grade at Bethel Park. They will spell success for the football team this season.
“Cohesiveness, continuity and consistency will be the big things,” said head coach Phil Peckich.
Though the Black Hawks qualified for the WPIAL playoffs last year, Peckish’s first season at the helm was less than successful. Bethel Park posted a 4-7 record.
“We had ups and downs,” Peckich admitted. “The biggest thing is we understand how inconsistent we were last year. The first year, you are learning on the run. We struggled with continuity with the day-in and day-out operations. There was a lot of inconsistency on the part of the coaches and players from the standpoint of being young and inexperienced. Growing pains. We’ve addressed some of those issues.
“With the players being a year older and being more developed and deeper, we will be able to really talk about goals. We know we play in a well-coached and talented conference and we know we have to show up and be ready to go.”
Peckich has the Black Hawks prepared to challenge for the conference championship because they return nine starters on offense and 10 on defense. He expects defending WPIAL champion and PIAA runner-up Peters Township and arch-rival Upper St. Clair to provide the stiffest opposition.
“TJ (Plack) does a great job over there at Peters Township and they return a lot of guys. Naturally, they are the defending champion, making them one of our toughest opponents but USC is our primary rival. When we talk about goals, we talk about the first being beating St Clair and the second winning a conference championship. Those are our goals and expectations.
“For us though, we are processed driven. We take a week-by-week approach. In practice, we compete against ourselves first. Then game week, it’s to prepare for that opponent. Putting forth a good effort and getting better.
“We are not backing down from our expectations,” he continued. “We have high goals. With the amount of players that we have returning, we have an experienced group to do that.”
BP’s experience begins with a trio of players that have started since arriving on the varsity scene as freshmen.
Clancy Orie anchors both sides of the line.The 6-3, 255-pound senior is a Naval Academy commit and an all-state performer at defensive end. A tight end on offense, Orie recorded a team-high 65 tackles and five sacks to go along with 18 quarterback hurries last fall.
“He’s really fine-tuned his craft. His quick-twitch off the ball is his strength and he’s really worked hard on improving his ability to catch the ball,” said Peckich. “We expect him to make a big impact. It’s critical to get a big year out of him.”
Multi-purpose back Ryan Petras and quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer are expected to have tremendous seasons. Both are seniors.
Petras has been the conference MVP on offense for two years in a row. Last year, he caught 52 passes for 734 yards and rushed for 409 more yards on 53 carries. He scored 14 touchdowns.
Petras, who committed to play baseball as a sophomore, has multiple football offers.
Petras, who has been an All-State selection in football and baseball, is also a returning starter in the defensive secondary.
“Ryan is a tremendous player. A tremendous athlete,” Peckich said. “He’s a position-less player on offense and we move him to fit our needs on defense. He excels with great speed, is a vocal leader and smart player. He continues to grow. His best years are still ahead of him.”
Pfeuffer, likewise has “not scratched the surface” as to what he can do at the quarterback position. Last year, he passed for 1,888 yards and 21 touchdowns.
“Tanner has tons of experience and leadership,” Peckich said. “The biggest thing is that people underestimate how athletic he is. He has a tremendous competitive spirit. You have to be an Alpha to excel at this position and sport.”
BP has two reliable backups to Pfeuffer in Evan Devine and Brady Bruckner. Bruckner plays defensive back and will get reps at wide receiver along with veterans Jack Bruckner and Mitch Paschl. Kahanuola Kuewa and Santino Nowozeniuk are also targets for Pfeuffer.
JaVaughn Morre and David Dennison return as running backs. William Sabatos also lends experience to the position.
On the O-Line, BP returns three starters in Santino LaMolinare and Frank O’Mara at tackle and Hunter Goelz at center. Bryan McGuire and Nate Purcell vied for the guard slots along with Denzel Meyers and Gavin Baluh.
Orie, Meyers, Jovian Smith, McGuire return on the D-Line. Purcell and a plethora of players provide BP depth.
In the secondary, the Black Hawks also display depth with Petras, Dennison, Bruckner, Kuewa, Moore, Sabatos and Jeremy Whitling.
Christian Davis is the lone veteran at linebacker but BP is excited about the talents of Charles Simmons and Tim Ondo.
“We expect big things from them,” Peckich said. “We are excited about our D-backs and linemen but we were not productive last year at linebacker so the changes we’ve made are good. We have guys who have paid their dues and are ready to play.”