Last season witnessed the Berkshire Badgers’ football team set a milestone by winning the first playoff game in school history. A year after the Badgers’ historic season, they will not rest on their laurels and use their wealth of experience to keep pushing forward for more success.
“We graduated eight seniors that really poured everything they had into the program so losing their guidance and leadership and experience will always hurt,” Coach Josh DeWeese said. “Among them were most of our linemen from last year as well as some guys on the back half so we are looking like a team that has the same mentality and same focus as far as offense and defense being aggressive and getting after it and attacking the other team.”
Although the Badgers graduated eight seniors that were significant varsity contributors, they return a team that will be fueled by upperclassmen that earned valuable playing time last season to continue pushing forward.
According to the 13-year coach, Berkshire’s greatest strength will be at the skill positions on offense. DeWeese lauded the depth of the program, as the Badgers’ roster has been between 45-50 players for the last several years, enabling them to absorb the sting of graduating some talented seniors.
“Of course, we always want more, that is life but with the numbers that we have it is nice for development and we have good depth on the junior varsity team so guys can get proper reps and come along at their pace and improve along with the varsity,” he added.
Returning as the starting quarterback will be senior Sam Barcikoski, who enters his second year as the team’s signal-caller after completing 76 passes out of 155 attempts for 1199 yards, six interceptions and nine touchdowns while also rushing for 202 yards and four touchdowns.
“We are really excited for Sam,” DeWeese noted of the 6-foot-1 senior. “He has put in a great offseason, he takes ownership of the offense, he has a great understanding of what we are trying to do, and he continues to grow as an athlete and as a person so we are really excited to see the kind of season that Sam can put together.”
Although the team graduated leading rusher Justin Phillips, the backfield still has experienced players with junior Oliver Miller, who galloped for 520 yards and four touchdowns, and senior Ayden Wiser, who recorded 321 rushing yards and five touchdowns last year. Senior Sam Bable will also contribute to the rushing game.
“You never replace great talent,” DeWeese said. “You move forward with what you have and for the new kids in that role, it is their time to shine and to find out who they are.”
The Badgers’ receiving corps will consist of seniors Luke Stute, Chase Wardle, Jackson Miller and Cameron Beam, with the tight end position being anchored by seniors Brady Wadsworth, who hauled in eight receptions for 166 yards and one touchdown, Nolan Morris, who recorded 32 receiving yards on two catches, and junior Dasen Marker, who caught two passes for 34 yards and one touchdown.
With an experienced group in the backfield and the receiving room, DeWeese said that Berkshire’s offense should adapt to whatever defensive formations their opponents utilize.
DeWeese acknowledged that the Badgers’ position group that is the least experienced is the offensive line, as senior Danny Tiller is the only returnee, but the team has seniors Alex Vulinec, Andon Hoskin, juniors Aidan Andre and Anthony Walker, and sophomores Chase Bazjel, and Vance Rice vying for playing time in the trenches.
“We are seeing a lot of growth from that group, and it is also about growing together and they are all doing a great job of jelling together as group between all eight of them in different capacities,” DeWeese said.
On defense, DeWeese said that the linebackers’ speed will be one of the Badgers’ greatest strengths, with the 5-foot-9 Bable, the 5-foot-10 Wadsworth, and the 5-foot-10 Wiser projected as the starters with freshman Trent Holland, junior Ryan Demchak-Castro and the 5-foot-7 Walker also expected to contribute.
“They are in the weight room every day,” he said. “They are at every speed workout, and they are at every extra workout. They are leaders and they are really fast. They work really hard in the weight room with speed training, and it has paid off greatly and they can all fly to the ball.”
Berkshire’s secondary will rest in the hands of the 6-foot-2 Wardle, the 6-foot-2 Stute, the 6-foot-1 Beam, the 6-foot Jackson Miller and the 5-foot-8 Oliver Miller.
The Badgers will host Chagrin Valley Conference foe Harvey for a non-conference crossover game in the season opener at Lakes Cheese Stadium in Burton on Friday at 7 p.m.
