Bearcats to experiment with youthful roster

By JEFF OLIVER
MVI Sports

A year after the COVID pandemic wreaked havoc with most high school football schedules, Bentworth coach J.J. Knabb feels his team received a break this season.
And he intends to make the most of it.
“Our schedule has two scrimmages and then the first two games are non-conference,” Knabb said. “And I intend to take full advantage of those four weeks to do what it takes to make sure by the time we play our first conference game we will have the absolute best players on the field to give us the best chance to be successful.”
It’s a good thing Knabb’s first Tri-County South Conference game is almost a month away because the Bearcats will have one of the youngest teams in the WPIAL.
“We have four returning senior starters who we will be depending on a lot to develop into a cohesive unit,” Knabb said. “But overall, we are a very, very young team.
“Our young players will have to grow up fast as varsity football players.”
Bentworth’s senior quartet is made up of quarterback Seth Adams, wide receiver Caleb Peternel, tackle Ethan Heinrich and guard Ethan Luketich.
“Those guys are our leaders,” said Knabb. “We plan to build a solid team around them.
“The rest of the offense will be fresh faces. Some of the guys I’m listing as starters may not be there by the time we play conference games.”
Knabb has eight players vying for the remaining seven positions, and only junior center Cam McGaw is above the class of sophomore.
At running back will be either sophomore Drew Petrisek or freshman Xavier Bell.
The tight end, who also will line up at times in the backfield, is sophomore Vitali Daniels.
The other receiver in Bentworth’s one-back set will be either sophomore Ben Luketich or freshman Vinny Logan.
The other line spots will be manned by a pair of freshmen, Abe House and Alex Rusilko.
Knabb is particularly high on the massive Rusilko (6-4, 285).

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