Although the Berkshire Badgers’ football team will not have the same depth they had last season, they will mix in some new talent with their returning players in an effort to qualify for the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division V playoffs for the seventh straight season.
“The expectation is to build on what we have done over the previous seasons and continue to move that legacy forward so our expectations are to continue to play at the level that we have been playing at,” noted Coach Josh DeWeese.
The 14-year coach acknowledged that the Badgers graduated a big senior class but will return significant talent as well in ushering in a new crop of players.
Although the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division has once again been re-aligned, with Wickliffe departing and Conneaut and Fairview transferring in, DeWeese said that it is nothing new for Berkshire, which has dealt with the fluidity of the division for a while.
“That is what we have been doing in the CVC for the last decade when we have so many teams that are involved, you have to reassess school size and the level of competition that teams want with the mobility that we see in the CVC,” he added.
The Badgers will have a new leader on offense, as senior Oliver Miller and junior Zac Smith are battling to become the starting quarterback, taking over for the now-graduated Sam Barcikoski.
The 5-foot-7 Smith returns after experiencing several injury-plagued seasons, which kept him out for his entire sophomore year while the 5-foot-8 Miller will compete for a larger role on offense, after rushing for 400 yards and six touchdowns on 79 carries last season.
“Seeing the level of competition has been good and it is only going to make us stronger regardless of who plays where. Both players project to be involved in the offense and defense whether they are at quarterback or not,” DeWeese said.
Miller will play a large role in the rushing game, along with juniors Vance Rice, sophomore Trent Holland and sophomore Brice Walker.
DeWeese said that the Badgers’ wide receiving corp will consist of newer players, with seniors Dasen Marker and Bear Masink, and juniors Colton Miller-Gabbard and Bennett Miller occupying that position.
Marker will be the most experienced pass-catcher, as Masink and Miller-Gabbard are returning after not playing last year while Miller will receive his first taste of varsity action.
“We have some juniors and a senior returning to the game and another returning senior who was a part of that group last year coming back so we have decent experience just not a lot of playing time on Friday nights,” DeWeese said. “They get after it, they have size, they have speed and they are figuring out spacing, and we should look to be competitive in the passing game.
DeWeese said that what the unit may lack in varsity experience makes up in tremendous athleticism and size.
Juniors Estevon Huesca and Jacob Ulatowski will operate as the tight ends.
On the offensive line, senior Anthony Walker and junior Chase Bazjel will return as the starting guards while seniors Aidan Andre, Chris McDonald and junior Jeremy King are the favorites to fill out the remaining spots.
“Anthony and Chase set the pace for this line,” said DeWeese. “They are athletic, fast and powerful guards and in many degrees, they could be playing in skill positions as well, they have in the past, but they do a great job at the guard position.”
According to DeWeese, the defensive line can create havoc as the 5-foot-10 Bazjel, the 5-foot-11 Rice, the 5-foot-9 Andre and the 6-foot-2 King will work in the trenches, with freshman Brad Sheets expected to be a valuable contributor.
“We like to have that defensive front to be the engine of the unit,” he said. “We are looking for them to disrupt and make things happen for the back end and the next two levels.”
The 5-foot-8 Ulatowski, the 5-foot-7 Walker and the 5-foot-10 Huesca will fill the roles of linebackers, flanked by the 6-foot-3 Masink and the 5-foot-10 McDonald as rotational pieces.
Oliver will return to his safety position, joined by the 6-foot Marker and senior Ryan Demchek-Castro, while the 5-foot-8 Bennett, the 5-foot-7 Smith, the 6-foot-2 Miller-Gabbard and sophomore Josh Heiden will anchor the secondary as cornerbacks.
The Badgers’ season begins when they go on the road to face CVC rival Harvey in a crossover league duel at Jack Britt Memorial Stadium in Painesville on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.
