New Blackhawk coach focusing on staying in the moment

By: Josh Rowntree
Saturday, August 10, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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Jake Wickline isn’t worried about Blackhawk’s struggles of the past or its challenges of the future. He’s all about the here and now.

Wickline was hired as the Cougars’ new head coach in February, becoming the third person to lead the program in a six-month stretch.

“This job opening came up and I applied,” said Wickline, who admitted to having never even walked in the building at Blackhawk when he went for the job. “You grow up in Beaver County and you know that Blackhawk has always been a prideful community. It’s full of people with a lot of character, integrity and pride. And resources. I never forgot that and it’s why I wanted to come here.”

Wickline, 35, was at Beaver Falls from 2013-2022, serving as the program’s defensive coordinator. Last year, he joined Beaver’s staff as an assistant. Then Blackhawk came calling.

“The kids are tough-nosed. The parents are reliable and respectful,” he said. “It just seemed like there were more positives than negatives at this place, and there is a lot of hope for the future.”

Wickline could add some stability to what’s been a bit of a tumultuous year for the Blackhawk program.

Last August, around two weeks out from the start of the season, former Blackhawk coach Zach Hayward resigned to take the athletic director job at Chartiers Valley. Long-time assistant Pat Feeley stepped in, but the team stumbled to a 1-9 record and the job was reopened following the season.

“The kids have just been receptive,” said Wickline. “They’re hungry and they’re been giving great efforts. I like their attitudes. We have a group of core seniors that have bought in. They’re responding to our coaching and the new regime here.”

A star player at Riverside, Wickline went on to play at Edinboro and then was an all-conference linebacker at Slippery Rock. He’ll bring a hardened defensive mindset to the Cougars.

“Eleven heads to the football,” he said of his philosophy, while admitting that he’s still waiting to see if a defensive leader emerges before the season. “We play all four quarters and there’s no quit. We want to play physical and we want to play fast, with no excuses.”

Offensively, the first-year coach will benefit from a quarterback who has some experience in senior Stephen Knallay.

“The cat’s 6-foot-3, 205 (pounds),” said Wickline. “He’s very mature, has a lot of character and a lot of integrity. He’s a natural born leader. I have nothing bad to say about him. His athleticism is impressive, but it’s how he carries himself and his poise.

“It’s a good situation. I couldn’t ask for a better quarterback right now.”

Tyler “Chucky” Heckathorn, a 6-4 receiver, will be the top playmaker on offense. Cody Woodward is another big-bodied wideout, while AJ Montgomery and Sam Stewart are smaller, speedier targets for Knallay.

The backfield will be a committee of younger players mixed and matched depending on the situation.

“I just want to get the ball in our athletes’ hands,” said Wickline, playing some scheme and personnel cards close to the vest. “If we do that, things are going to work out.”

The offensive line returns five players with varsity starting experience, most of whom will turn around and play on defense.

The reality, for Blackhawk — which has won two games in three of the last five seasons — is that it’s staring at a steep, uphill climb. The Parkway Conference of Class 4A is a brutal grind with the likes of defending PIAA champions Aliquippa, plus West Allegheny and Montour as teams always in contention.

An opening could be there for the final playoff spot, but Wickline is far from thinking about conference games, which don’t start until Week 5.

“We’re just going to take this one day at a time,” he said. “We’ll start with Week Zero first. It’s kind of weird with all of our conference games being later on in the season.

“Myself personally, I’ve never coached against a West Allegheny or a Montour. So I’m just coming in fresh. I do know that they’re very respectable and competitive programs and we’ll need to bring our A game.”

And, while a new coach can bring new expectations, Wickline is tempering those a bit, with a shorter focus paramount.

“Goals are overplayed,” he said. “We’re process-driven over here. I’m just worried about getting better every day. You’re only guaranteed that day. We don’t live in the past and we don’t worry about the future.”

Blackhawk

Coach: Jake Wickline

2023 record: 1-9, 1-6 in Class 4A Parkway Conference

All-time record: 331-208-8

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 Beaver Falls, 7

8.30 at Beaver, 7:30

9.6 North Catholic, 7

9.13 at Southmoreland, 7

9.20 Yough, 7

9.27 Montour*, 7

10.4 at Ambridge*, 7

10.11 Aliquippa*, 7

10.18 West Allegheny*, 7

10.25 at New Castle*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Stephen Knallay

27-68, 346 yards, 4 TDs

Rushing: Maurice Watson-Trent*

147-949 yards, 3 TDs

Receiving: Dontae Campagna*

21-216 yards, 1 TD

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Blackhawk opens the season with nonconference games against Beaver Falls and Beaver — the two programs Wickline worked for before taking the Blackhawk job.

• In addition to the games against Beaver Falls and Beaver, Blackhawk plays nonconference games against North Catholic, Southmoreland and Yough.

• The Cougars were a playoff team just two seasons ago — Zach Hayward’s last with the program. They were semifinalists as recently as 2019 as well, falling to Thomas Jefferson 49-0.

• As a senior at Riverside, Wickline rushed for 1,720 yards and scored 31 touchdowns.

Tags: Blackhawk