Brentwood hopes to compete for playoff spot in coach’s 2nd season

By: Ray Fisher
Monday, August 19, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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It was a somewhat inauspicious debut for Brentwood coach Nick Caponi.

His Spartans football team didn’t win its first game last year until mid-October and finished 2-8 overall.

“Our motto this year is ‘Win in the Dark.’ It’s something our defensive coordinator, Jake Thomas, brought up at a staff meeting. Jake’s a smart guy and he reads a lot of books, so I listen to what he has to say,” Caponi said.

“It means that in order to be successful, you have to be willing to put in the work that nobody sees — the lifting sessions, the conditionings when it’s 90 degrees outside, the extra time you put into the playbook, etc. That work in the dark reveals how truly prepared you are.”

Caponi welcomed nine returning starters on offense and eight on defense this year.

“We believe we have a team that can compete for a playoff spot,” Caponi said. “We return many starters on both sides of the ball, kids that love to compete, work hard and want to win.

“The coaching staff has been pleasantly surprised with the overall improvement of the kids, from the offseason lifting sessions to the field practices. As long as we stay healthy, we should be right there in playoff contention at the end of the year.”

Cedric Davis is back at quarterback for the Spartans, as is RB/HB Owen Beck in the offensive backfield. Forrest Betz, Colton Rosing and Daysaun Spencer also have returned to the receiving corps.

“Cedric Davis has been much more confident in the offensive system,” Caponi said. “He has a better understanding of the concepts and play-calling and it has shown this summer. He has looked great.

“Forrest Betz is another guy who seems like he’s gained more confidence.”

Brentwood also has experienced players on the offensive line in Daymire Spencer, Antonio Weir, Max Rock and Gio Miller.

“The offensive line seems determined to be a group we can rely on to win battles play in and play out,” Caponi said. “Defensively, the kids seem to be playing a little faster this year, which comes from being more confident.”

Returning defensive starters include Daymire Spencer, Weir and Miller on the line. Zach Vickless and Beck will line up at linebacker, flanked by Daysaun Spencer and Betz at cornerback and Rosing at safety.

Daymire Spencer was an all-conference selection as a defensive lineman in 2023; Betz was named all-conference at wideout.

“This year, there has been a group of players that have stepped up into a leadership role,” Caponi said. “There are about 15 kids who have rarely missed a lifting, conditioning or practice this offseason. To me, that’s leadership; guys like Owen Beck, Zach Vickless, Cedric Davis, Daymire Spencer, Daysaun Spencer, Max Rock, Anthony Henry and Ray Rieber, who will step into a starting role on the offensive line.

“Those are the guys who are providing a quiet type of leadership by showing up and working relentlessly to better themselves and their teammates.”

Brentwood’s former field boss Kevin Kissel resigned following the 2022 season. Caponi, who served as an assistant under Kissel for 18 years, fulfilled a lifelong dream by taking over the program.

The second-year coach was hoping to increase interest in Brentwood football, but the numbers have not grown since last season. There were 33 players listed on the 2023 team roster.

“Unfortunately, the numbers have not increased. We will be right around 30 total players for this season,” Caponi said. “During signups in February, we had a decent turnout, but once the offseason conditioning and practices pick up, some kids realize how much of a commitment and how much hard work they have to put in and some of them just are not ready to do that.”

Caponi said he is much more at ease following his rookie year as Brentwood’s head coach.

“Not just myself, but the rest of the coaching staff and the returning players are much more comfortable,” he said. “The offseason was much smoother. The players came into this year with a better understanding of the expectations the coaching staff has for them.

“During our practices, it’s obvious the players are more familiar with the offensive and defensive systems that were installed last year. In fact, we have stated many times over the summer just how far ahead we are now compared to last year.”

The 2023 campaign definitely was an educational opportunity for Caponi.

“I learned that being a head coach is definitely a different kind of grind than it is as an assistant,” he said. “There is a lot more behind the scenes stuff that a head coach has to take care of that is very time consuming.”

Along with Thomas, Brentwood’s assistants have remained the same: Steve Hubsch (OC), Dan Caponi (RB/LB), Jeremy Cenci (OL/DL) and Ken Solomon (OL/DL). Austin Veatch and Michael Trent are volunteers.

One addition is Sidney White, the team’s quarterback coach.

“I think I have the best staff in the WPIAL,” Caponi said, “so why would I change anything?”

Brentwood

Coach: Nick Caponi

2023 record: 2-8, 2-4 in Class 2A Century Conference

All-time record: 429-432-28

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Yough, 7

8.30 South Allegheny, 7

9.6 Sto-Rox, 7

9.13 at Springdale*^, 7

9.20 at Greensburg Central Catholic*, 7

9.27 Frazier*, 7

10.4 at Riverview*, 6 p.m.

10.11 Jeannette*, 7

10.18 Leechburg*, 7

10.25 at Clairton*+, 7

* Conference game

^ At Freeport

+ At Thomas Jefferson

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Cedric Davis

107-222, 1,444 yards, 13 TDs

Rushing: Daelinn Drew*

57-176 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Forrest Betz

35-634 yards, 7 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Dan Caponi, former baseball coach at Baldwin from 2000-16 and Nick Caponi’s uncle, is a varsity baseball assistant at Upper St. Clair.

• Nick Caponi started out as a high school baseball coach. He was an assistant at Brentwood and Baldwin. He also served as an assistant ninth grade basketball coach at Peters Township and, for one year, was an assistant for the middle school girls volleyball team.

• One addition to the Spartans’ coaching staff is Sidney White, the team’s quarterback coach. White, who is from Baltimore, played college football and has extensive experience training quarterbacks.

• Brentwood qualified for the playoffs seven consecutive years from 2008-14 and 11 times since 2006. The Spartans have sat out the postseason the past four years with records of 3-4, 1-9, 3-7 and 2-8.

Tags: Brentwood