Deep senior class ready to lead the charge for OLSH

By: Antonio Rossetti
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 | 11:02 PM

6492371_web1_ptr-OLSH-051423 — Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

OLSH’s Vann Kavals throws during the Willie Thrower quarterback camp May 13 at Valley High School.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’s Brazell twins have been collecting motivation over the past couple of seasons.

In 2021, it was a WPIAL Class A championship game loss to Bishop Canevin. Last year, it was a first-round playoff loss to Clairton.

Now, Brandon and Brady are joined by 12 other seniors on an OLSH team well positioned to make a championship charge.

“We’ve been to a championship game, and we came up short last year in a season we definitely shouldn’t have lost as early as we did,” Brandon Brazell said. “We have been through a coaching change and going through as much as we have in our four years that we’ve been here, it’s really about being able to share all those experiences and being able to get through all of that with our group and being able to show our young guys what to do in pretty much any situation.”

Second-year coach Donnie Militzer said that the team put together a great summer. He is excited to see how the team does with new personnel groups.

“We’re really excited about our offensive line,” Militzer said. “I think when people look at us, even in the 7-on-7s, we have athletes that can run around with anybody. We’ve got guys, but I think (quarterback Vann Kavals) behind this line is going to be pretty exciting to watch.”

The Chargers return an experienced line with seniors Damare Brough, Cam Branch, Joe Hatherley, Dylan Matlock and junior Tristan Vojtecky. Brandon Brazell is excited to run behind them.

“All of them want to prove that they’re the next man up,” he said. “I feel like that mentality is really going to carry the running game too because as a running back last year, running behind Ryan (Farell) was great, but these guys, I feel like we can use the running game more this year to open up the passing game. The running game, I think, will be a lot better.”

Militzer has high hopes for Brandon Brazell, who led the team in rushing last year with 451 yards.

“A third-year starter running back, we’re really expecting a big senior season out of him,” Militzer said. “He had a great year last year. I think he’s the kind of kid that can carry the ball 20-25 times a game for us. We’re looking forward to getting him the rock this year behind this offensive line.”

Brandon isn’t the only player returning who will carry the ball. Brady and Iseia Schulz will also rotate in.

“We have two H-back type kids who can play fullback and tight end: his brother Brady and then Iseia Schulz,” Militzer said. “Iseia actually started at tackle for us this year, but with our line, we’re able to move him in. It wasn’t a natural fit for him, but he looked fantastic playing that H-back spot and running the ball, so we’re excited about those three kids running the ball.”

The Chargers return the majority of their team, but star quarterback Nehemiah Azeem graduated. Kavals will be taking over those duties under center.

Kavals, who missed the majority of last season due to injury, is 6-foot-5, 230 pounds and has a different quarterbacking style than Azeem.

“We’re going to put a lot on his shoulders this year,” Militzer said. “I think he has some different abilities than Nehemiah. He can make all the throws, but again, it’s night and day, a complete 180 from last year. Nehemiah was on the shorter side where Vann is big and tall. It definitely gives you some different things you can look at.”

The Brazells said Kavals’ arm is impressive and that he’ll be difficult to take down with his size.

As for his targets, Dereon Greer, Dorrien Tate Jr. and Ethan “Speedy” Gardner all return.

“I put our three up against anybody, as far as our talent as a group,” Militzer said. “Everybody knows about those kids. I don’t think they know the other pieces that we have. I think initially, if people are going to try to take those three away, fine, we have other things we can do. We’re still going to find a way to get those kids the ball.”

Greer finished with 834 receiving yards, tops on the team. Tate tallied 548 receiving yards and Gardner notched 262.

As for the defense, the Brazells are prepared for a strong season. Brandon elaborated on how their experience will help them throughout the season.

“Our defense, we’ve been playing three years together, so everyone knows where they’re supposed to be doing,” he said. “Everyone knows their job. Everyone knows how hard they have to work and how hard they have to play every play on both sides. I feel like the experience together and everyone wanting to show that we are a team that definitely is better than our results last year and definitely can win a championship. I feel like with a chip on our shoulder this year, we’re going to be pretty special on both sides.”

He added that the team has been focusing on getting together as much as possible, even outside of practice. He believes that it has been helping their team chemistry.

“That same chemistry that we built, you just have to trust that if you do your job that everyone else is going to do their job,” Brandon Brazell said. “If everyone focuses on that specifically, our team chemistry on and off the field building, that just can help us get better and trust each other more when it comes down to on-the-field activities.”

As for chemistry, the Brazells have plenty. After all, they are twins.

“We both think the same. We both have the same toughness. We both think not as individuals but together,” Brandon said. “We have to play a big part mentally and physically on our team. A lot of people will look to us to be leaders, especially this year as seniors, and I think both of us being together as that two-person unit is of great importance to our team that’s kind of young.”

Brady added that they both motivate each other and are both hard on each other.

“Going into a game, we are both going to be on the same page and both have the same mentality to get the whole team on the same page,” Brazell said. “You never want to go into a game, especially not just watching with your team but especially when it’s me and him just watching film, you never want to see yourself getting beat.”

Militzer is expecting big things out of the Brazell brothers. He is very happy with how the seniors have led the team already this year.

“They lead the charge,” Militzer said. “It’s been really nice to see guys Dereon and Dorrien really take control this offseason along with the Brazells, and they want to win. They’re passionate about winning. They like each other. They want to play hard for each other, and they’re going to be the heart and soul of what this is this year. We’ll go as far as their leadership takes us.”

As for the underclassmen, the Brazells said they’ve been impressive. They added that they will keep getting better and better as the season rolls along.

They both want to make it back to Acrisure Stadium to claim the coveted WPIAL title. The seniors want to cap off their high school careers with a championship, especially after falling short a couple of seasons ago.

“Obviously the team goal is always to win a championship, especially after coming up short,” Brazell said. “The way we did it just keeps replaying in everyone’s mind and everyone wants to just get back there and have another shot at it.”

OLSH

Coach: Donnie Militzer

2022 record: 8-3, 5-2 in Class A Black Hills Conference

All-time record: 70-63-0

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 Shenango, 7

9.2 Rochester, 7

9.8 at Clairton, 7

9.16 Carlynton*, 7

9.22 at Fort Cherry*, 7

9.30 Chartiers-Houston*, 7