Returning the bulk of last year’s team may seem like a great advantage, but Berkshire Badgers’ football coach Josh DeWeese said his team is not taking anything for granted as they begin to embark on a new season.
“We focus on things right in front of us so nothing really changes, it is us going after the things we need to,” the 12-year coach told The Weekly Villager on Aug. 9. “The goals are still the same and it is about getting the work done and putting in the time to get the benefits in the end.”
With a senior class of only eight players, the Badgers return seven starters on offense and nine on defense. DeWeese acknowledged that while that may have given Berkshire a leg up on getting ready for the start of the season, it still hinges on the players performing, including the seniors.
“They have locked in,” he noted. “The seniors have bought into the culture for four years and were taught by great players before them and are working on helping the younger players acclimate to our culture, what we are about and what they need to do day in and day out.
Despite qualifying for the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division V, Region 17 postseason for four consecutive seasons, Berkshire is still chasing its first playoff victory.
One new position that the Badgers are filling is at quarterback with junior Sam Barcikoski stepping in.
He has shown great poise and coachability,” DeWeese said of the 6-foot junior. “He is going after everything he needs to do in his techniques and he is learning the systems of everything and he is handling his business and is leading as we go through the process.”
Barcikoski’s job will be made easier by the return of all starting five offensive linemen consisting of senior right tackle Caleb Corbett, junior right guard Danny Tiller, junior center Mike White, senior left guard Jason Brent, and senior left tackle Vinny Crea.
“It is huge having your front five who played together for multiple seasons come back for another season,” DeWeese said. “That continuity really stabilizes the offense and really on the defensive side as well.”
Senior tailback Justin Phillips returns as Berkshire’s lead back after rushing for 1032 yards on 156 carries for five touchdowns last year and will be backed up by sophomore running back Oliver Miller, who totaled 141 yards on 33 rushing attempts and one touchdown while catching five passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
“Justin has breakaway speed but he is not going to shy away from running through or over and around people,” said DeWeese of the 6-foot senior.
DeWeese added that Miller is a little more elusive but also has the power and breakaway speed he needs to run through a defender.
Although the Badgers graduated leading receiver Jack Hastings, the cupboard remains full at the position with seniors Abram Southern, Paul Brent, juniors Luke Stute, Chase Wardle and Jackson Miller.
Southern will be the Badgers’ most experience receiver, having hauled in five receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown last year.
Abram Southern played a lot of tight end last year after coming off of injury,” DeWeese said of the 5-foot-10 senior. “He fits right in the system and knows what we are doing and is an explosive player as well so we look forward to seeing what he can do.”
On defense, the Badgers’ experience remains deep with Phillips returning as the middle linebacker after recording 29 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for losses and five sacks, with junior Brady Wadsworth serving as his running mate, who made 11 tackles including six tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks.
DeWeese said the defensive line consists of four rotational defensive tackles who are all dynamic in terms of speed and size with Tiller playing defensive end again after posting 19 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for losses while forcing two fumbles.
According to DeWeese, Berkshire’s biggest defensive strength is that the entire unit moves together as one.
“Defense is not about one guy running around making all of the plays,” he said. “It is about everybody doing their job on any specific given play, so they do a good job on understanding the role on the defense and understanding what the guy next to them is doing and executing at a high level.”
The Badgers will begin their season when they hit the road to play against Chagrin Valley Conference foe Cuyahoga Heights in a non-conference game at Ralph P. Adams Stadium on Aug. 23 at p.m.
