Since their championship season in 2008, the Brashear program has produced Division I prospects and has been a participant in the City League playoffs each year. This summer, they joined forces with Langley, after it was shut down by the school board.
But they’ve begun this season with a lowly 1-4 overall mark, and face a must win contest against struggling Carrick (0-2, 0-5).
Head coach Rick Murphy is taking nothing for granted. “We have to start taking care of the football,” he said. “We’ve been making some really costly decisions and those have to stop if we’re going to be a competitive football team. We have to get that going, starting this week.”
Brashear has 10 seniors this season, six of which were Langley Mustangs last year.
“Only two of our seniors this year that we had last year has seen regular action on the field,” Murphy said. “We are extremely inexperienced and lost quite a bit of talent in our skill positions. But the guys we have now are learning and if we’re able to limit our mistakes, we can begin to be more successful.”
Carrick, with a number of off-the-field issues, is still hoping to get their first victory.
“We’re having problems with keeping some of our guys academically eligible,” Carrick coach Jeff McCafferty said. “As it is, we’re experiencing overall issues with the enthusiasm of our players right now. It’s not an easy or fun thing for us to be losing like we are right now. But we will muddle through this and continue to seek out wins.”
They, too, are inexperienced and only feature four seniors.
“Many of our starters don’t belong on the varsity level,” McCafferty said. “A lot of kids don’t have much experience on this level and it would probably benefit them to have a better introduction to the way that high school football should be played.”
In their non-conference matchup against Fort Hill High of Maryland, the Raiders were outgained 405-110 and their opponent scored on all eight of its possessions in the 54-8 romp.
“We just can’t tackle effectively,” McCafferty said. “It’s really been a struggle for us on defense. We have to tackle better.”
Brashear, on the other hand went down in a hard fought match with Erie Strong Vincent at Cupples Stadium. They lost, 21-14, and are winless against nonconference opponents.
Other games:
U.S.O. (University Prep, Sci-Tech, and Obama) had a bye and will face Allderdice on Friday night at 7 p.m. for a huge conference battle at Cupples Stadium. The Dragons are coming off their nonconference game on 9/29 against Wheeling Central Catholic that they dropped, 35-20.
Perry lost to Liberty Christian Academy of Virginia, 49-7, and was outgained 331-146. A 73-yard touchdown hookup from Ahmad Turner to Mallory Claibourne was the only scoring play that the Commodores were able to register.
Westinghouse remains winless (0-5) as they were defeated by Steubenville High by the count of 33-6.
(Follow our continuing coverage of City League football and add your comments to our website at www.newpittsburghcourier.com.)
(Malik Vincent can be reached at mvincent@newpittsburghcourier.com or on Twitter @malikvincent.)
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