Bees continue to battle following slow start to season

by Dan Holland

Following a playoff run last year, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees varsity football team got off to a rough start in its current season with an 0-5 mid-season mark. Head football coach Jason Black is hopeful that a 33-13 victory at Stow-Munroe Falls High School in week six signals a turn in the right direction for the second half of the season.

“In general, this year has been kind of a struggle for us,” Black said in early October. “We’ve had opportunities to do things, and then one little piece of the pie just doesn’t come together. So, it’s been frustrating from that standpoint for both the coaches and players alike.”

Black said it was nice to finally start to see the pieces come together when the Bees took on the Bulldogs Sept. 27.

“A lot of things were clicking,” he continued. “The kids were all playing for each other, and they were excited to be there and showed their excitement throughout the game. It was nice to see in terms of that.”

The team includes only 14 seniors this year and has had to deal with some key injuries along the way.

”It’s a young team still trying to figure out what it is to play varsity football, and they’ve been able to start figuring it out,” said Black. “So, hopefully the second half of the season will be a little more productive for them. It’s the ebbs and flows of a high school football season – I’m just happy that the kids have stayed vested and were able to play a good game with hopefully more to come.”

The Suburban League, which features National and American Conferences, is traditionally one of the most competitive in the region and state, Black noted. “That’s part of the perks of playing here, and the reason why this league is so successful when it gets into the state playoffs,” he said. “You play such a hard week-to-week schedule, that you’re battle tested by the time you get to week 11 or 12.”

Black noted that a number of juniors have stepped up to fill key roles this year on both offense and defense.

“Our quarterback is Nate Henegar, and he’s been improving every week,” said Black. “He’s taken the role of leading the team, and he’s a very smart football player. It’s good to see him get more comfortable within the role of what we’re asking him to do and what he can do. Our leading rusher is Jacob Eterovich; he’s another one who can take it to the house every time he touches the ball, which is nice to have.”

Black also noted brothers Frank and Zach Aquila as being major contributors this season, along with junior Peter Chermonte.

“We lost senior Evan Rizzo to an injury against North Royalton, who was the heart and soul of our defense, but we’ve had other kids step up, including seniors Nate Garito, Riley McPherson, Cayden Pluhar and Frank Aquila. We’ve had to have a lot of kids step up this year, but that’s how high school football is and how Brecksville football is – players step up and play and have a little bit of fun while they’re at it.”

Most importantly, Black expects to see consistency and improved play from his players from week-to-week.

“The most important thing is to develop consistency with all of our habits in terms of practices, film, games and seeing positive results from their work,” said Black. “That’s what we’re trying to get them to focus on; to see that there’s light at the end of the tunnel and a method behind the madness. We just want to roll out there and compete in every game, and I expect to see that energy and enthusiasm they have for the game of football moving forward.” ∞