Ambridge looks to use experience to create continuity within program

AMBRIDGE — Player retention is always an important aspect of growth from within a program. As Ambridge head coach Sherman McBride enters his fourth season at the helm of the Bridgers program, he has retained 17 seniors who look to play a key role during the 2024 season.

“I am more at ease this season because when I came here at Ambridge four years ago, we had 17 freshmen in the program and now I am sitting here four years later and we still have those 17 guys, so I am very proud that I have kept the guys around me for the past four," McBride said. "In some places, people would frown upon that number because your feeder system might not be as strong but that hasn’t happened here at Ambridge because I have 56 guys on my roster.”

With all of the returning players on Ambridge’s roster, the team has hit the ground running during the heat acclimation week and is now into full padded practices heading into the season.

More: High school football in the Beaver Valley: Coverage for the 2024 football season

Experience is flooded throughout the Bridgers program which makes the work of the team a lot more seamless during camp this season as players have been picking up on aspects offensively and defensively a lot easier.

“When you have 9-10 of your starters back from last year, things should be running smoothly,” McBride said. “So far through heat acclimation and this week, we have been running plays and have been running things on both sides of the ball well. Everything starts up front on the offensive and defensive line and most of those linemen are back.”

One of McBride’s seniors who is returning is Adam Fernandez, who has played an integral role in the team's success on the offensive side of the football throughout his four seasons with the program.

Fernandez has done it all from being the team’s second-leading receiver from last season to rushing the ball out of the wildcat and even returning kicks and punts. The senior has made his mark on all areas of the field for the Bridgers.

The way that Fernandez operates reminds Sherman of some of the players that he had the opportunity to play and coach at Aliquippa, which makes it even more special to watch the senior grow as a player.

“Over the years, I have seen a lot of guys play all over the field and Adam is one of those kids in that category that can play across the river at every position because he is an explosive athlete, he has nice size and great speed so I am looking forward to bigger and better things from him this season," McBride said of Fernandez.

Last season, the Bridgers had a tough go of things throughout the season as the team only mustered two wins throughout the 2023 season one coming against Freedom Area in week one and the other coming against Blackhawk in week three .

McBride believes that if the team can find a way to play a clean and productive 48 minutes of football, it can fix a lot of the mistakes that plagued them late in games a season ago and the Bridgers will be able to find success.

“Our biggest downfall last season was the second half of games,” McBride said. “We were in a majority of our games in the first half but when the second half rolled around I have to find out what is going on then and fix it. Big plays with playing football but we need to put a full 48 minutes in. If we can put in a full game, I think that more wins will come because of that.”

Head coach: Sherman McBride (Fourth season, 6-24 overall)

2023 record: (2-8, 1-6 Parkway Conference)

Top players lost: Grant Udovich, Carlito Chandler,

Top players returning: Adam Fernandez, Quinn Tkatch, Dante Prentice, Zavion Lewis, Jayce McCracken

Offense: The Bridgers bring back a plethora of experience on the offensive side of the ball and even though the team lost it big running back Carlito Chandler from a season ago, the team fills Chandler's void with several different options at their disposal this season including Zavion Lewis, Daron Cox and Stacy Jones. Along with the running back core, the team also returns its second leading receiver in Adam Fernandez who will once again look to make a major impact on all aspects of the offensive side. Ambridge will run several plays this season out of the shotgun and run a variety of zone reads which will in turn work at a quick tempo throughout the season.

Defense: On the defensive side of the ball, Ambridge's defense starts up front with several returning starters led by Quinn Tkatch on the defensive line. Along with the defensive line, the Bridgers return almost its full secondary from a season ago which will make the defense a cohesive unit throughout the season.

Classification: 4A

Last WPIAL playoff appearance: 2021

Last WPIAL title: 1932

WPIAL titles: 1

Schedule

8/23 7 p.m. Vs. Western Beaver

8/30 7 p.m. Vs. Laurel Highlands

9/6 7 p.m. at. Hopewell

9/13 7 p.m. Vs. Mount Pleasant

9/20 7 p.m. at. Greensburg Salem

9/27 7 p.m. at. West Allegheny

10/4 7 p.m. Vs. Blackhawk

10/11 7 p.m. Vs. Montour

10/18 7 p.m. at. New Castle

10/25 7 p.m. at. Aliquippa

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Ambridge looks to use experience to create continuity within program