Bentworth enters season with solid line, defense
Mark Marietta
After an 8-3 record and second-place finish in the Tri-County South Conference in 2025, Bentworth will face a new challenge with a move to the Class A Black Hills Conference.
The distances that the Bearcats will travel for conference games has increased, but the message from fourth-year head coach David Pordash remains consistent.
“It’s going to be a lot tougher than last year, but as I told the kids you have to beat them all anyway. You have to win in the playoffs,” Pordash said. “Our goal is to make the playoffs every year.”
The Bearcats make the move to the Black Hills Conference with Brentwood, who moved from the Eastern Conference.
Also moving in are Washington and Sto-Rox. Both move down from the Class 2A Century Conference.
The three holdovers in the Black Hills are Burgettstown, Fort Cherry, and Monessen.
The non-conference also stands as a challenge for the Bearcats. They will open the season hosting Class 2A McGuffey.
In weeks 2 through 4, Bentworth’s opponents were decided by the WPIAL. They will go on the road to former conference rival Jefferson-Morgan, host Keystone Oaks and travel to Greensburg Central Catholic before starting the conference slate at home against Brentwood.
“Jeff-Morgan is tough. Keystone Oaks is going to be pretty good. Greensburg Central Catholic is good. We got no love from the WPIAL this year,” Pordash said. “I’m disappointed in the whole process. But again, I told the kids we’re over it, and we’re going to make a run for the playoffs.”
To do so, Bentworth will need to adjust to a roster that lost its top playmaker.
With Ben Hays one of the WPIAL’s top rushers last season there was little reason to do anything but hand him the football. Now, with Hays headed to college, the Bearcats will adjust by balancing the offense this season.
“We’re going to open up the pass game more this year,” said Pordash. “I think last year we were probably 90 percent run to 10 percent pass. We’re going to try to come out and be more 50-50 or 60-40.”
Pordash will deploy a pair of brothers at running back. Senior Alejandro Leichty joined by his sophomore brother Noah.
The Bearcats return their quarterback, senior Ty Watson, who threw for nine touchdowns last season.
Senior Kaden Ayres is his most established returning target. He will be joined on the outside by juniors Tim Bassich and Hayden McMillan.
The strength of the offense, however, might be in the offensive line.
“I think our offensive line is going to be tough this year. I think the running backs and our wide receivers, if we spread it out, we should be able to hold our own this year,” Pordash said.
Up front, Bentworth returns seniors Levi Urcho and Quincy Brown. Urcho and Brown were both all-conference selections last year. Gavin Haynes is another returner who will join them up front this season. All three will look to be big contributors on defense once again.
After allowing 9.2 points per game last season, Pordash expects the Bearcats’ defensive unit to stabilize the team again.
“I think our defense is going to do very well. It improved from the first year when I took over and the years prior to that. I think it’s a big culture change for Bentworth,” Pordash said. “Our defense should keep us in games.”
The back end of the defense will be led by Ayres, who was an all-conference selection after picking off five passes. He is joined in the secondary by senior Bryce Crowson, Ty Watson and the Leichty brothers.
The Bearcats’ goal of making the playoffs will be dependent on putting together a strong resume in their tough conference.
“I think if you have four good wins you might be able to squeak in as a wild-card team,” Pordash said. “Us playing two years in a row in the playoffs helps us a lot.”
Pordash is joined on the coaching staff by Jerry Cavanaugh, John Fundy, Shawn Dziak, Jerry Maley, Dante Sicchitano, Troy Garove, and Dom Sicchitano.