Aug 17, 2024 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

FREDERICKTOWN – Tony Ruscitto has learned one or two things in his 49 years of coaching.

Obviously, he has learned more than that, but one thing that can’t be learned is how to keep seniors from graduating.

Beth-Center’s head coach will have to find a way to fill the void of tailback Ethan Varesko, who rushed for 1,237 yards on 122 carries and scored 13 touchdowns in eight games last year, including a 438-yard, four-touchdown performance against Bentworth.

Ruscitto had the offseason to look for ways to overcome Varesko’s graduation, but he didn’t expect the news he got four days prior to heat acclimatization week.

“Chris Erickson, who was going to be one of my captains, moved to Ohio,” Ruscitto said. “His little brother, who is a freshman, was a projected starter, so to find that out was a kick in the butt.”

The good news for Ruscitto and his staff is the Bulldogs have at least 13 freshmen, including running backs DeSean Whipkey and Enzo Brown.

“This freshmen class is a special group,” Ruscitto said. “They have been almost undefeated since they were Termites. They were undefeated the last two years in junior high, and the year before last they didn’t even give up a touchdown. They are just small. Our heaviest kid is probably 165, 170 pounds. They have work ethic and discipline. They just need to mature.”

Senior quarterback Jonah Sussan will be entering his third season as a starter and one of the captains.

Ruscitto is eager to see what Sussan can do in the passing game after a solid offseason of working on his throwing.

“I do what I call, quarterback school,” Ruscitto said. “I start it in January and have it every Sunday at six in the evening. Jonah and my sophomore quarterback (Chase Bebout) came every single Sunday. It has shown up immensely in our passing game.”

Sussan’s top options when he goes to the air will be three-year starter and senior Santino Revi and senior Luke Amon, who came out for the team midseason last year, but provides Sussan with a big target at wide receiver.

Despite the potential in Sussan’s passing, Beth-Center will look to establish the run, which will allow Brown and Whipkey to show what they can do. Sussan gained 255 yards rushing and scored 5 touchdowns last year.

Sophomore Homer Headlee and junior Cyncere Cruse will provide some options at running back.

The Bulldogs will mix up their offensive packages, and when it comes to defense, being able to stop the run will be key.

Beth-Center will return to play in the Class A Tri-County South Conference with Bentworth, California, Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and West Greene.

Monessen has moved to the Class A Black Hills Conference and former conference mainstay Avella has returned to the TCS.

“I think the conference is going to be better than usual,” Ruscitto said. “Jefferson-Morgan looks pretty good. I think we have a shot to make the playoffs, but it’s only because of the work ethic these kids have. We needed to win one of our last two games to make the playoffs last year, but we had a lot of injuries last year. I think getting knocked out of the playoffs sort of put our program back a little bit, but I feel we’ll get it back.”

Ruscitto is nearing a half-century of coaching football, but he always looks forward to stepping on the field.

“I have always called myself a maker of men,” Ruscitto said. “I turn boys into men. I also have an experienced staff who are all teachers of the game, and that’s going to make a difference for us.”

Beth-Center hosts Riverview in nonconference play to open the regular season.