THE SUM OF THE PARTS MAY ADD UP TO SUCCESS

By Dom DiPasqua/Staff Writer

Sunday evening, August 24, 2014

BROADVIEW HEIGHTS – Even though Brecksville-Broadview Heights graduated 20 starters from a 10-2 team that won the outright Southwestern Conference championship and advanced to the second round of the Division II state playoffs, the cover isn’t totally bare on Mill Road.

A few players with star quality remain and the supporting cast of Bees aims to get the job done this season by whatever means necessary. Whether it be by committee, by heretofore unknowns stepping up, or by guys literally coming out of nowhere.

And when you think about it, that sounds at least a little like what we were saying last year around this time. The Bees mantra for 2014 is “Why Not Us?”

And why not?

Jason Black is now in his sixth season as head coach at the Bee Hive. And aside from the usual worries that keep guys of his ilk up at night the bottom line is that football, even in this high-octane, pass-happy era, remains a simple game. Black and his veteran staff of assistants like to keep it that way.

However the true value of the Brecksville program is grounded, first and foremost in the classroom, where for the past several years the Bees have had one of the highest accumulative team grade point averages in the state. That is something that Black takes tremendous pride in because it is those same intelligent guys on Monday through Friday from 7:20 am  to 2:20 pm that possess a high level of “getting it”. And they carry that brain power into Friday nights at 7:00 pm when thousands of people are watching.

It also helps when your offensive coordinator is a former NFL player whose career spanned nearly two decades. And that your defensive coordinator who, as a former offensive coach, tackles his mission with the same mindset that an OC does.

Brecksville is looking to build on the legacy that the 2013 team laid the foundation for. Black and his players welcome the challenge. “Building on what we did last year, I look at that as a positive. Let’s go get that again. We’ve tasted it. Why not do it again? This team is prepared and ready to play,” Black said this morning during a lengthy conversation in his office.

The Bees return just two starters; one of offense and one on defense. They both made sizable impacts last year.

Tyler Tupa is a 6-1, 195-pound two-way talent that has already garnered offers from Bowling Green and Kent State. As a wide receiver he is the teams top returning receiver (56/864/10TD’s). By the way his father, Tom, is the teams OC.

On defense Danny Shirilla (6-0, 160) is back in the secondary. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions in 2013 and led the club in INT return yardage by a long shot with 85. As another aside Danny’s dad, John, is the units coordinator.

Tupa and Shirilla are natural leaders and co-captains. The better news is that both are only juniors.

 

Lets Meet The “New Guys”

 

BEES OFFENSE:

Coach Black said this past spring that Tom Tupa reinvented offensive football at Brecksville. Because of the talent that sons Tommy and Timmy (both Division I college players) brought to the the Hive the Bees transitioned from a run dominant offense, which they had been known for for decades to a team that had no qualms about winging the pigskin around the lot on any down and distance from any place on the field. The result was multiple seasons of incredible numbers in the passes attempted, completed, touchdowns and scoring columns. In other words, the record book was totally rewritten. The Tupa’s dominate the top of the programs leader board.

And even though the Bees, with Tom Tupa being the mastermind, have more plays in their playbook than a video game offers the objective is really quite simple. “Our offensive philosophy is to throw it to who is open and do what is working,” Black said. “Our offense is the same as it has been the last four years. We’ve set records in points scored with Tom Tupa as our offensive coordinator.”

Basically the take is, if it isn’t broke don’t fix it.

Replacing first-team All-Ohio quarterback Timmy Tupa will be the duo of Danny Shirilla and Luke Strnad (5-11, 190, sophomore). This is not a Brian Hoyer-Johnny Manziel quarterback derby. Both will play. How that breaks down depends on the game, the situation and a myriad of other factors that the mad scientist Dr. Tupa feels in his gut on Friday night.

“Our quarterback position will be a two-headed monster. I couldn’t tell you who is going to take the first snap at quarterback Friday night against Holy Name,” Black said. “They both bring different things to the offense.”

Carrying the ball as the teams feature back will be junior Josh Underwood (5-8, 175). Underwood raised eyebrows last fall when he came on, late in games, in a mop-up role. Ironically he is the teams top returning rusher. In 2013 the speedy and dynamic Underwood averaged 4.7 yards per crack on only 27 attempts.

Also seeing action in the backfield will be sophomore Joey McGonegal (5-9, 150) and senior co-captain and three-year varsity mainstay Joe Dimitrijevs (5-11, 185). “Underwood has earned the position and he will get the majority of carries. Dimitrijevs will fill the role that Jay Rose had for us last season,” Black said.

The Bees will rotate five guys at the wide receiver spot. Playing WR at Brecksville as of late is akin to being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. The light shines bright. The position has been manned with plenty of big number guys in recent years.

In that spotlight, in addition to Tupa, who was a first-team-All Southwestern Conference performer in his rookie season, will be four other gents who have grown up in the “Tupa Offense.”

“Tyler Tupa’s presence on the field will keep every defense honest,” Black said. “But we have plenty of interchangeable parts and various combinations of other options.”

Garret Patterson (5-11,155) is the teams second-leading returning receiver. He caught 16 passes for 225 yards and scored three touchdowns a year ago. The senior opened eyes for his ability to get open, make tough catches and make his presence known in big games. “Patterson is a very good number two receiver. The more effective he is the more effective Tyler and the others guys can be,” said Black. The translation: Don’t fall asleep on G-Pat.

Senior Jared Schott (6-0,175) will see plenty of action at WR. He caught four balls for 51 yards in 2013. And here is the twist. Shirilla and Strnad will also line-up as wide outs when they are not calling the signals. Black opened this mornings meeting by saying that the Bees “have a lot of interchangeable parts”. He wasn’t kidding and this is just the beginning.

“These five guys have to be the smartest players on the field because Coach Tupa has 650 different offensive formations and that’s just pre-snap,” Black said. “These guys flat out have to know what they are doing.”

For a scribe that played in the two tight end era what Black said was mind-boggling. “This is nothing new to these guys,” said Black.

The tight end position at Brecksville is basically where guys line-up at on the line of scrimmage. Listed at those roles are a pair of seniors in Joe Mandato (5-11, 190) and Mason “The Threat” Mackovjak. Mandato is a headsy veteran who has paid his dues with the program and has the respect of his teammates.  Mackovjak spent the last two years camped out in the weight room in order to get to this point. He has a personality the size of Texas, enjoys poetry, calculus and knows Art. He is a modern day Renaissance Man wearing number 44.

In the trenches senior Doug McArtor (5-5, 200) will snap the ball. Senior Evan Baschko (6-4, 275) will line-up at right guard and sophomore Matt Tilk (6-0, 200) and freshman Cole Costanzo (6-0, 260) will play directly to the left of McArtor.

“McArtor is a smart player who has worked extremely hard. Baschko is a cerebral player. Tilk is a hard worker who knows his assignments and Costanzo is a big, physical guy who plays with a chip on his shoulder,” Black said of his interior offensive linemen.

Yes, Tilk and Costanzo are just a sophomore and a freshman respectively, but here is an even more improbable story. Baschko has never played football before. When the pads went on and the hitting began at two-a-days it was his first taste of football at any level. The topper. Baschko played tuba in the Brecksville Marching Band his first three years of high school. He also played on the Bees baseball team. “I’m anxious to see how Baschko does under the Friday night lights. He is smart and athletic and wants to learn,” said Black.

The Bees will have beef at the tackle positions. Juniors Andy Siegman (6-4, 230) and Nick Sokolowski (6-5, 250) will both be counted on heavily. Siegman suffered a knee injury in the Holy Name game last year and missed the remainder of the season following surgery. Sokolowski earned his keep on both sides of the ball, providing quality depth as a sophomore. He is a dyed-in-the-wool football player who has already earned an offer from Bowling Green.

“Siegman is the strongest player on the team. He has all the physical tools. Sokolowski is a physical player who has a relentless motor and loves to play football. He will be the leader of the offensive line,” Black said.

Black recapped what he just said and expounded. “On offense we are going to be very young, but skilled. Those kids will have to find their way on Friday nights,” the sixth-year head coach said.

 

BEES DEFENSE:

Much like the Bees offense Black said that there will be multiple people filling a lot of roles on defense as well. There will be eight players alternating in at the five defensive backs spots. Seven seeing playing time at the four down linemen positions and four fellas rotating in at the two linebacker posts. Buy a program as soon as you enter the stadium. Try to keep track.

Despite huge graduation losses the Bees defensive philosophy remains the same. “Our defense has two components. Swarm and attack,” Black said. “You must have multiple hats to the ball. That’s the swarm part. The attack part is that we play defense with the mentality of attacking the offense. It’s about effort, intensity and getting after it.”

Up front will be nose tackles Jon Linden (5-10, 265) and McArtor. Linden is strong, physical and has a low center of gravity. “We are looking at him to be our next Dan Duncan,” said Black. “And McArtor will use his size to his advantage.”

At tackles will be Sokolowski and Baschko. Mackovjak, along with sophomore Victor Bierman (6-1, 165) and junior Ryder Seballos (5-10, 165) will all see action at the two defensive end positions. “Speed is Bierman’s game. Seballos has the potential to be one of the best in the league,” Black said.

Veteran Joe Dimitrijevs will be the “Sam” linebacker. Joe Mandato will play the “Will” position and call the signals. These are not your ordinary Joe’s. “These two guys will be the leaders of our defense,” Black said.

They will be backed up by Underwood and Mackovjak as the situation necessitates.

Brecksville might need a traffic cop to direct who is coming and going in the secondary. Tupa and Shirilla are proven, athletic and know the game as well as anyone. They will be counted on to make plays. Neither will disappoint in that department.

Strnad will also play DB. He is too athletically gifted to keep off the field. The same can be said for Schott, who is a program guy that will do whatever it is he is asked. He understands his jack-of-all trades role and relishes in it.

Seniors Troy Walter (6-0, 170) and Ryan Lambert (5-6, 160), along with juniors Zach Venesile (5-8, 165) and Niall Lewison (5-10, 170) will all see playing time. “All these guys are interchangeable. All these guys are going to play on Friday nights,” said Black.

Last seasons defense was one of the very best in school history. Through the ten-week regular season it had allowed opponents to score an average of 9.7 points per game. Can the Bees come even reasonably close to that type of performance this season?

“Why not us?” Black asked. “We’ve preached that to the guys for years. Why can’t we? The schemes are in place and obviously they work.”

 

BEES SPECIAL TEAMS:

Senior Jakob Nypaver (6-3, 180) will handle all of the kicking chores. He will kickoff and be the man for extra points and field goals. “Nypaver has worked hard in the off-season,” Black said.

Back for his second season as Brecksville’s long snapper is Mandato. His experience, with 12 varsity games in that role a year ago and many of them big games, will be invaluable to the team.

The holder is Mr. Sure Hands Danny Shirilla who assumes the role that his older brother Nick occupied for three years. By the time Danny graduates a Shirilla will have been the Bees holder for five straight autumns.

Tyler Tupa will handle the punting. He will not take tickets.

“Special teams are a very important part of the game. It’s one-third of the game. We are not going to give an inch in that department. We need to win that segment of the game,” Black said.

Does muddle-huddle live? “You can’t kill muddle-huddle. It has nine lives,” Black answered with a smile when asked about the Bees legendary extra point formation.

 

OVERALL:

Replacing 20 of 22 starters is never easy. But that challenge is why guys like Black get into the coaching profession. Teaching, mentoring and helping young people grow is the motivating force. Seeing them reach or surpass their potential is the reward.

Surely Black had plenty of questions in his mind going way back in the off-season. But a good winter in the weight room was aided by a feeling out process during the seven-on-seven season. Then came double-sessions and now the Bees have two scrimmages under their belts. How does Black feel today as compared to how he felt on say June 1st?

“Some of my questions have been answered. But there will be the typical first game concerns because of the great unknown,” Black said. “But this is truly a team. They really do pull for each other. And I enjoy coaching them.”

What has to happen for the Bees to have a successful season? “We need our young guys to step into leadership roles. We have to stay healthy because, due to pay-to-participate, our numbers are not exactly strong. We can’t beat ourselves. And we MUST get better every single day, every single play and every single game,” Black said.

 

FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Jason Black was asked to name a handful of players that should make the biggest impact for BBHHS this season.

TYLER TUPA … “I think Tyler is the best of the three Tupa brothers. I’ll add to that by saying he has Tommy’s poise under fire in high-pressure situations. And he has Timmy’s mentality of ‘I’m going to rip your throat out.’ Now, that being said, I’m sure that Tommy and Timmy are going to be texting and emailing me when they read this,” said Black with a laugh.

NICK SOKOLOWSKI … “Soko has an offer from BGSU. We need him to step up and be the Division I player he is,” Black said.

GARRETT PATTERSON … “He is the second receiver in our offense and he can get open. He makes things happen for us,” said Black.

DANNY SHIRILLA … “We expect him to be the leader of our secondary and of our defense,” Black said.

JARED SCHOTT … “His roles on offense and defense are very important. We are going to depend on him to do a lot of little things for us,” said Black.

 

THE SCHEDULE:

Brecksville has the same schedule they did in 2013 en route to a record breaking campaign. The difference this season is that the sites are flipped. Whom the Bees played at home last year they will play on the road this fall and visa versa.

“Holy Name is much-improved. They have a good quarterback and two good running backs. And their defense is much better. North Royalton is such an intense rivalry that you’ve got expect a one or two-point game there. And Hudson is one of the better teams, not only in the area, but in the entire state,” Black said of Beeville’s first three non-league opponents.

As defending Southwestern Conference champions Black knows that his team will have a bulls-eye on its back. Instead of doing the hunting, they are now the hunted. The good news is that four of its SWC contests are in the friendly confines of Community Stadium. And the two biggest ones, against Avon Lake and Berea-Midpark, happen to be in Broadview Heights. League roadies are to Amherst Steele and Westlake. The tricky part of those two trips west are that both the Comets and the Demons play on natural grass. Something that Brecksville is not accustomed to. A non-conference away game is at Lakewood in between those two trips.

“Winning is not an easy thing to do in the Southwestern Conference. They are all big games,” Black said.

The teams goals are as they have always been: Keep The Golden Shoe. Beat Avon Lake. And win the Southwestern Conference. As far as anything else Black keeps it simple there too. “We want win week one and then we will worry about week two,” he said.

And with that an hour and a half had gone by.

 

NEXT UP:

The Bees open the 2014 season this Friday night at 7:00 when they take on the Holy Name Green Wave at North Royalton’s Serpentini Stadium.

 

See You At The Bee Hive!

To contact: Ddipa67834@aol.com.

Follow the Lady Bees volleyball team on-line at: beesvolleyball.com. Brecksville hosts Avon Lake Thursday night at 7.

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