From:

Antonio Rossetti

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 | 6:01 a.m.

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The Beaver Bobcats finished 9-3 last year, one of the highest winning percentages in Pennsylvania high school football history. They have 675 wins, ranking 25th all-time.

Beaver set that record last season despite playing with a roster full of freshmen starters following the mass exodus of seniors the season before. The Bobcats made the playoffs and won the first round before losing to Avonworth in the second round.

This season, 11 seniors and 15 juniors return to Beaver.

Coach Cort Rowse has high expectations for the senior group. He sees the tireless work they put in during the offseason and he said they have done a lot of good for the program over the past few years.

“They’re a selfless group. They really are,” Rowse said. “It’s a talented senior group. Last year they were all freshmen starters, but this year they bring a ton of talent. With talent comes high expectations, but what I love about these guys is they don’t get complacent just because they had some success last year. They drive the process and practice. They show our younger guys how to do things at a high level to be successful.”

Two of the seniors are Amari Jackson and Brady Mayo.

“Amari and Brady can do a lot of great things on offense and are top-notch defensive players,” Rowse said. “I mean, they’re both Division I football players. That’s not an accident. Those are things they’ve earned.”

Mayo has committed to Bucknell and Jackson has received numerous Division I offers.

Jackson caught 28 passes for 681 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He also ran for 123 yards. Mayo caught 30 passes for 319 yards and seven touchdowns.

Mayo is excited to see this year’s offense in action.

“Amari is very explosive when he gets the ball in open space,” Mayo said. “He’s a very explosive athlete. (Quay Cain and Drey Hall) are just bruisers. They run hard. They run through the hole. They don’t dance much. They just walk and nobody really wants to tackle them. Travis (Clear) is great. He’s a great leader. He calls the plays, he calms us down and he throws the ball when it needs to be thrown.”

Rowse said Clear improved mentally and physically during the offseason and that he is looking forward to his second year as starting quarterback. Clear threw for 1,051 yards and 10 touchdown passes last season.

Rowse is also excited about the running back duo of Cain and Hall. Together they have rushed for over 2,000 yards, with Cain rushing for 1,124 yards and 16 touchdowns and Hall rushing for 1,012 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“They complement each other and are unselfish,” Rowse said. “Sometimes it gets a little contentious when you have two guys that can run the ball so well, but these guys are actually great teammates and good friends. They encourage each other, and that’s just a testament to who they are.”

Jackson echoed that sentiment, saying the line put in a lot of work in the offseason. He also noted that their H-back, Gabe Lutton, helps lead the offense.

“We have two great running backs,” Jackson said. “They’re really good, they push each other and complement each other. Gabe complements us. He’s our main blocker on offense and our leader on defense. Travis is the focal point of our offense.”

Jackson also added that the roster has a lot of skill, with high hopes for safety Junior Marino, wide receiver Rudy Young, incoming freshman Avery Scales and linebacker Isaac Sessie.

Rowse is optimistic about Jonah Justice and Sessie at linebacker.

“I’m excited to see those two guys on defense,” Rowse said. “We have seven starters on defense, so there are three or four spots those guys have to fill, and (Jonah is) one of them who’s doing a really good job right now.”

Also returning to the Bobcats is Alex Korcinsky, who was an all-conference defensive end.

“He’s just a smart all-around player,” Rowse said. “I think he has the ability to help us in the passing game. He’s a very, very effective run blocker. I expect more big things from him this year as a junior.”

In defense, Mayo and Lutton lead the attacks.

“Gabe is a great leader on defense,” Mayo said. “He tells everyone what to do and calls the plays. I think he’s a great leader and I’m really excited to be working with him again this year.”

Although the Bobcats, with 26 seniors, won nine games last season, everyone wants more.

“Everyone has been playing together for so long,” Mayo said. “This is our year. We play very well together and everyone is very excited to get the ball rolling.”

Jackson expressed similar thoughts.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Jackson said. “We didn’t win the Whips or the states last year, so we always have a goal in front of us. We could always push ourselves to accomplish something. There’s always something to accomplish. So we just have to come back hungrier every day.”

Both Jackson and Mayo feel like they are in the senior class twice, knowing that last season they were team leaders on a team with a small selection of Year 12 students.

Mayo said the loss to Avonworth in the regular season helped the team grow closer together. They overcame a three-touchdown deficit and although they were unable to cap the game with a win, they showed they are competitive in every game.

“Everyone is very close,” Mayo said. “As far as chemistry goes, we know what we’re going to do. We know how each other plays. We know each other’s tendencies. I know what Amar wants to do. I know what Quay wants, and I think that’s going to help us win games because we stick together.”

The ultimate goal, of course, is a WPIAL and state title, but Rowse wants to take it one step at a time.

“Our goal is to be a better team day to day and week to week,” Rowse said. “We know that preparation is the key to winning every rep and every practice. All the rest will fall into place.”

Both Mayo and Jackson said everyone encourages each other and that Rowse makes sure everyone is engaged.

“He’s a great guy,” Jackson said. “He gets everyone going. If we’re having a bad day or our energy isn’t up, he makes sure the energy comes up. He makes sure we all do everything we need to do. No shortcuts or anything.”

Rowse said it’s a blessing to coach where he and his family grew up. He played under coach Pat Tarquinio and became a coach under coach Jeff Beltz. The players understand the tradition at Beaver.

“Our coach preaches it all the time,” Mayo said. “It’s important to us to continue the tradition and the great teams at Beaver.”

beaver

Trainer: Cort Rowse

Record 2023: 9-3, 4-2 in Class 3A of the Western Hills Conference

All-time record: 675-422-55

SCHEDULE

Date, opponent, time

8.24 Westinghouse at Woodland Hills, 7

8.30 Blackhawk, 7:30

9.6 at Imani Christian, 7

9.13 Hopewell*, 19:30

9.20 a.m. in the Central Valley*, 7

9.27 McGuffey*, 7:30

10.4 at Deer Lakes, 7

10.11 at North Catholic*, 7

10:18 Quaker Valley*, 7:30 p.m

10.25 Avonworth*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL GUIDES

Passing by: Travis clear

61-134 1,051 yards, 10 touchdowns

Rush: Quay Cain

159-1,124 yards, 16 touchdowns

Reception: Amari Jackson

28-681 yards, 10 TDs

FAST FACTS

• Beaver was the only team to win WPIAL titles in different classifications (3A in 1981 and 2A in 1982) until Thomas Jefferson did so in 2015-2016. Beaver won its first WPIAL title in 1972.

• Beaver is the fourth oldest program in the WPIAL, with its inaugural season in 1899.

• Beaver holds an all-time record of 675-422-55. Jeff Beltz and Pat Tarquinio are responsible for 403 of those wins.

• Brady Mayo can play the piano.

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