Bentworth looking for ‘perfect ending’ in PIAA championship game

By: Jeremy Sellew
Friday, November 14, 2025 | 9:46 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Despite winning their third straight WPIAL championship a couple of weeks ago, there’s still something left to accomplish for the Bentworth Bearcats.

Win a state championship.

Bentworth (24-0) has that opportunity, and the chance to finish a perfect season, Saturday when it faces District 1 champion Delaware County Christian (21-3) at 4 p.m. at Northeastern High School in Manchester.

“The trip out was a good trip, nice and smooth, all you can ask for,” Bentworth coach Nick Malarbi said. “We had a great pep rally (Friday) and the town really sent us off nicely. Now it’s a business trip.”

After enjoying their team dinner Friday, the Bearcats went to work watching some more film on the Knights before playing in their second straight state title game.

Last season, Bentworth dropped a 1-0 decision to Lancaster Mennonite.

“There’s no doubt being in this game last year helps us going into this one,” Malarbi said. “The kids are nice and relaxed. They know what it’s like to be here and they know what the preparation and the process is now that we’re here.”

Watching the Knights on film, Malarbi said he’s impressed, as he should be at this point in the season.

“It’s a state championship game, right, so you know you’re playing a great team,” he said. “You see film on a team, but you know it’s going to be different in person. You see speed. Is it more quickness? How fast are they?

“With (Delco) I see some talent and speed on the wings that are going to put some pressure on our outside-backers.”

Players who the Bearcats will have to keep their eye on include Jude Sacks, who scored the Knights’ only goal on a penalty kick in their semifinal win over Wyoming Seminary.

“Justin Ma is another talented player,” Malarbi said. “He had a nice bicycle kick goal in one of the games we watched. Their keeper (Carter Dill) is a real confident kid. They have a lot of juniors and seniors that were part of their championship team from 2023.”

Delco’s state championship win that year came against Charleroi.

They feature a big back line with 6-foot-3 James Youst, Jonas Ma and Ian Kaufmann (6-2).

“The biggest thing, everyone knows we have Ryan (Moessner) and Adam (Moessner),” Malarbi said. “But we’re so much more than that. I call them role players, but guys like Blake Lusk, Billy Moyer, Dillon Colbert, Caden Hackinson … all those guys. They do so much for us that may not lead to goals and assists for them, but are like two or three steps from the goals.”

Experience is going to be key for both teams, Malarbi said. But he’s hoping the Bearcats can get their confidence up quickly.

For the Bearcat seniors — Ryan Moessner, Corbin McMurray and Blake Lusk — a state championship would cap off three of the greatest careers in Bearcats history.

“These kids know what it takes. It’s going to come down to if we can execute, can we put the ball in to the back of the net and get our kids feeling good and confident early,” Malarbi said. “Our guys have played 70 games together the past three years. They’re 66-4 together. Those three seniors and the rest of these guys, they just love going out and playing with their teammates. That’s what this game is all about. We just want to cap it off with that state championship. It’d be the perfect ending.”

Tags: Bentworth