Bethel Park sets goal to remain among Class 5A elite year in, year out

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, August 8, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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Only the strongest football programs can graduate a big, talented senior class one year and keep winning the next — a short list that Bethel Park wants to join.

For six months, the Black Hawks have talked about having “something to prove,” said third-year coach Phil Peckich. That idea describes many of the players individually but also the program as a whole.

“We want to continuously be in the conversation as a premier team in 5A,” Peckich said. “That’s something that maybe Bethel Park has not done year in and year out. They’ve had teams that had success and teams where they maybe took a step backward. We want to be over that hump.”

Bethel Park went 10-3 last season and reached the WPIAL semifinals behind the highest-scoring offense in Class 5A. The team doesn’t have that same offensive firepower this fall after graduating a 6,000-yard passer and a running back who scored 32 times last year.

But the Black Hawks bring back seven starters from a solid defense that held opponents to 16.3 points per game — fifth-best in WPIAL 5A — so they’ll lean on those skills while the offense finds it stride.

“Complementary football and understanding who we are is key to success,” Peckich said. “For our defense, there are high expectations. The standard of the offense doesn’t change … but our goal is not to score 40 points. Our goal is to win the game. If we have to beat St. Clair, 6-3, that’s our goal.”

Returning senior defensive tackle Bryan McGuire, junior safety Will Sabatos and senior offensive tackle Santino LaMolinare earned all-conference honors last year.

The Black Hawks return starters at all three levels of the defense and bring back three offensive linemen, among others. So, they believe they have the roster to compete again in the tough Allegheny Six.

“My expectations are to win a section title and go on to win a WPIAL championship,” senior linebacker Charlie Simmons said. “I believe this team can do big things and be in contention late into the season.”

Simmons and Tim Ondo as the inside linebackers are joined by David Dennison, who moved from cornerback to outside backer. Jovian Smith and Ryan Bergia join McGuire on the defensive line. All six are seniors.

Senior safety and third-year starter Kahanu’ola Kuewa returns in the secondary alongside Sabatos, a junior with a Miami (Ohio) offer. Junior Santino Nowozeniuk joins them at cornerback.

“There’s a multitude of guys back on that side of the ball that we feel really good about,” Peckich said. “And there are some guys who’ve played a role for us on special teams or in certain packages that will be stepping into the other starting positions.”

The offense, however, has less experience. Last year’s group averaged 40.6 points per game and more than 400 yards from scrimmage behind then-seniors Tanner Pfeuffer, JaVaughn Moore, Mitchell Paschl and Ryan Petras. The team outscored opponents, 528-213.

LaMolinare (6-3, 275), who has nine Division I offers, anchors the offensive line with juniors Bergia and Nate Purcell returning as guards.

Senior quarterback Evan Devine emerged from a multi-player competition this summer to replace Pfeuffer, who graduated with 6,044 passing yards and 66 TDs. Dennison takes over in the backfield for Moore, who led WPIAL 5A in rushing yards.

Sabatos and Nowozeniuk will play two-way roles as starting defensive backs and pass catchers, joined at the wide receiver spot by junior Brady Bruckner.

In all, the team graduated seven all-conference players since last season.

“We’ve lost a few studs to graduation,” said Bruckner, whose brother, Jack, was one of those all-conference players. “We’ve graduated most of our passing, rushing and receiving yards. Our coaches will put us in a position to succeed. We just need to produce.

“We expect to continue the winning tradition of Bethel Park football.”

Freelance writer Ray Fisher contributed.

Bethel Park

Coach: Phil Peckich

2024 record: 10-3, 3-2 in Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference

All-time record: 492-404-31

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 Seneca Valley, 7

8.29 Mars, 7

9.5 Armstrong, 7

9.12 at West Mifflin, 7

9.19 at Trinity , 7

9.26 at Moon*, 7

10.3 Baldwin*, 7

10.10 at Upper St. Clair*, 7

10.17 at South Fayette*, 7

10.24 Peters Township*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Tanner Pfeuffer*

156-260, 2,656 yards, 31 TDs

Rushing: JaVaughn Moore*

285-2,084 yards, 27 TDs

Receiving: Mitchell Paschl*

39-656 yards, 11 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Phil Peckich is 14-10 with two playoff appearances in two seasons at Bethel Park’s coach. He served the previous three years as the Black Hawks’ offensive coordinator following five as OC at his alma mater Montour.

• Bethel Park overpowered Latrobe, 42-7, and Woodland Hills, 49-22, in its first two WPIAL playoff games last season before losing a 28-7 decision to Pine-Richland in the semifinals.

• Former Bethel Park coach Brian DeLallo is serving as interim coach at Canon-McMillan in place of Mike Evans, who is battling cancer. DeLallo was Bethel Park’s head coach from 2019-22.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

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