Sportsbeat Preview: Brockway Rovers

BROCKWAY, Pa (WTAJ) — Brockway football has been on the rise over the past two seasons with the Rovers winning a combined 16 games. The program enters year five with head coach Jake Heigel with one goal in mind; win a District Nine Championship.

Last year the Rovers season ended when they lost in the District Nine semifinals to Port Allegany. The last time Brockway won a district title was in 2010, all the way back when coach Heigel was a player. In order to take the next step to become a district champion, Heigel wants the team to be tougher. This season Heigel feels the defense will be their strength after allowing just 16 points per game and they will be bringing back three of their top four leading tacklers.

“We’ve got to be tougher. I think that’s the difference between a district championship the last couple of years and where we ended,” said Heigel. “And the pull off season has been not just physically tough, but mentally tough, too, when the chips are down. How do we react? And I think these guys have done the mental work to bring toughness back to the table.”

“When you’re down and we just need leaders to be able to pick us up and that’s where the toughness comes in,” said sophomore lineman Madox Decker. “You need people that are mentally tough to pick everybody up to come back and win a game.”

Key Losses: Brayden Fox (QB) Jendy Cuello (RB/DB) Reese Yahner (DT/C)

Key Returners: Caleb Dougherty (WR/CB) Ben Yale (DT/G) Johnny Varischetti (MLB/C)

A key game to watch out for this year is in week nine against DuBois. Last season when these teams met, the game went to overtime with the Rovers squeaking out a 14-13 win.

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