Brashear looks to build behind young roster

By: Greg Macafee
Friday, August 22, 2025 | 6:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Last season didn’t go as planned for the Brashear football team, but there’s excitement surrounding the program heading into the 2025 season.

After a year in which they battled with low numbers and took just 24 players to their Week Zero matchup against Cornell, coach Andrew Moore and the Bulls (0-8, 0-4) have seen their numbers increase this offseason. Moore said a large freshman class has joined the program and a few others have come out to play football for the first time.

The Brashear program currently has 27 players, Moore said, but the roster is 70% freshmen and sophomores. So, while they are young, they have benefitted on the practice field this summer.

“It’s been phenomenal for us to be able to line up an entire offense, line up a defense, have a scout team out there and try to work on the realistic portion of practice and not just doing half lines stuff or small group drills,” Moore said.

The Bears didn’t win a game a year ago and were shut out in five of their first six contests while scoring 15 points all season. Moore said a lot of that had to do with mental mistakes and failure to succeed with fundamentals on both sides of the ball.

With the extra numbers, they’ve been able to iron out those aspects, and the fifth-year coach says that will pay dividends.

“Right now, we’re just rallying around the guys that have shown a level of physicality and willingness to stick their nose in there and go make tackles because that’s what the game is all about,” Moore said. “If we can tackle and then, offensively, line up the right way and execute our assignments, we should put ourselves in position to be successful.”

The Bulls start their season Friday at Cornell and will have a few familiar faces on both sides of the ball. Moore said roughly 13 freshmen started at some point last season and most of them are back.

Sophomore David Kessler, who ran for over 100 yards in Brashear’s final two games against Perry Tradtional Academy and Redbank Valley, will play both quarterback and running back and will line up at linebacker on defense. When Kessler is in the backfield, sophomore Eric Swan, who transferred in from Neighborhood Academy, will be under center.

“They have similar skillsets and we run the same thing no matter who is in,” Moore siad. “The thing with Dave is he’s naturally built to play tailback and that was something that he has expressed interest in. So, heading into our first game, Dave will play tailback and Eric will be our quarterback but when Dave is in there, it’s not like it’s a backup quarterback or a wildcat situation. Our full playbook is built toward both of them.”

Both quarterbacks will also have a few talented targets to lean on. Moore spoke highly of sophomore Joey Bell, calling him a “very dynamic guy.” Jahleel Anthony, who missed most of last season with a broken collarbone and has picked up offers from Kent State and Miami (Ohio), is also back, along with sophomore Justin Saunders, a transfer from Bishop Canevin, and Brandon Bonneau, a transfer from Seton LaSalle.

The Bears also return four starters along the offensive line in senior Aries Bey, junior Kris Lowry, sophomore Kaden Black and junior Jordan Burwell. All four will play on both sides of the line. Moore has also been impressed by freshman Luke Wolslagle.

“Luke has brought a level of toughness in the trenches from a freshman that we haven’t seen in a long time and we are going to expect some big things from him this year and down the road,” Moore said. “He’s just nasty, he has a motor. There are some freshman things that he has to get over but, for the most part, he’s tough, he’s nasty and he’s consistent.”

While playing a 3-3 stack defense, Kessler, Jaylen Pendleton-Sacasa and junior Mamadou Diallo will all see time at linebacker. Bell and Anthony will man the cornerback positions and Bonneau, Saunders and Swan will play in a rotation at safety.

Moore is also excited about what they could possibly do in the kicking game. Sophomore Dieudonne Menoudjou, who played soccer last year and joined the football team late in the season, has fully joined the football team and Moore said he’s made field goals from around 45 yards.

The Bulls will be young as they enter 2025, but with numbers on their side they are looking to develop their youth to build for the future.

Brashear

Coach: Andrew Moore

2024 season: 0-8, 0-4 in City League

All-time record: 264-213-8

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Cornell, 7

8.29 at Butler, 7

9.5 Westinghouse*, 7

9.12 at Carrick*, 7

9.18 at Allderdice*, 6

9.26 University Prep*, 7

10.3 at Perry Traditional Academy*, 7

10.10 Redbank Valley, 7

10.24 at Wheeling Central Catholic, 7

*City League game

FAST FACTS

• The Bulls were shut out in five of their first six games last season and scored 15 points all year.

• Brashear alum Manasseh Garner, who played football at Pitt and Wisconsin and spent time in the NFL, is entering his second season as the team’s offensive coordinator.

• City League opponents scored a combined 204 points against the Bulls last year.

Greg Macafee is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Greg by email at gmacafee@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Tags: Brashear