Bentworth, Chartiers-Houston ready for air raid
Bentworth’s Josh Hughes passes during the second quarter of the game against Frazier.
Chartiers-Houston’s T.J Johnston hands off to Spencer Terling, during a game against Bishop Canevin at Chartiers-Houston on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015.
When Bentworth and Chartiers-Houston meet tonight, what either team wants to do with the football shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Their respective plans are pretty much the same.
Throw. A lot.
These Class AA Century Conference schools have senior quarterbacks who have proven their ability to air it out.
The Bearcats’ Josh Hughes and Buccaneers’ T.J. Johnston run their spread attacks well.
“We’re familiar with playing defense against the pass,” Bentworth coach Ron Skiles said. “And so are they.”
These earned reputations as passing teams mean that when one of the quarterbacks throws six interceptions in a single game, the way Johnston did last week, it sticks out. The Buccaneers (0-0, 1-1) fell to Jeannette, 59-14, in a rematch of a first-round playoff game a year ago, which the Jayhawks also won. Eighteen of Jeannette’s points a week ago came on interceptions returned for scores. Chartiers-Houston failed to score again after ending the first quarter with a 14-3 lead.
Despite how rough his quarterback’s stat line appeared from that game, Chartiers-Houston coach Terry Fetsko described the turnovers as misleading, with three interceptions the result of athletic plays made by Jeannette defenders and a fourth coming on fourth down and ending up functioning more as a punt because of how far downfield it went. Johnston finished with two passing touchdowns and 241 yards.
“It looks worse than what it is,” Fetsko said. “He played tremendous.”
Fetsko feels his team needs to have success in other areas beyond the passing game to win. Johnston must avoid dispensing as many aerial presents to Bentworth (1-0, 2-0), and return to more efficient plays such as the ones he displayed in a 34-8 victory over Jefferson-Morgan in the season opener. Johnston completed 7 of 14 passes for 129 yards and three scores.
“He has a short memory, which is good for a quarterback. He knows that things like that are going to happen,” Fetsko said. “It’s about making plays and not worrying about making mistakes.”
Conversely, Bentworth’s offense scored in bunches over its first two games, posting 40 against West Greene in Week Zero, then 30 versus Brownsville.
Against Brownsville, Hughes threw for 257 yards and two scores, completing 14 of 34 attempts. His completions went for an average of 18 yards. Hughes has 398 passing yards this year.
“He’s the focal point of their offense,” Fetsko said.
Skiles said the standard gameplan for the defenses facing the Bearcats has looked the same: generate pressure on the quarterback while the defensive backs play tight man-to-man coverage on receivers.
Receiver Ben Peternel has stuck out for his ability to work well in such conditions. Last week, the 5-10 junior caught eight passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns, averaging close to 22 yards a catch. He caught four balls for 40 yards to start the season.
Fetsko highlighted a need to limit big-yardage plays by Bentworth, something that other teams have struggled to do. Peternel’s longest catch was a 58-yard touchdown reception. Yet, Hughes, like Johnston, has shown he isn’t immune to interceptions despite his production elsewhere. Hughes tossed a pair of TDs against Brownsville and one against West Greene. Skiles expressed confidence in Hughes and pointed out that Bentworth had seven drops a week ago.
What makes Hughes dangerous, according to Fetsko, is the ability to quickly progress through his reads in passing situations to find the open receiver. He keeps his vision downfield when forced outside the pocket and still looks to pass. Imitating the second skill at game speed in practice is difficult, but Fetsko has the scout team quarterback run around and improvise often.
“Usually, when a quarterback scrambles in high school, someone does break open,” Fetsko said. “And he’s going to find that player.”
His message to defensive backs has been to keep focused on their assignments during a given play, even when it appears to break down.
“Stay with your receiver. Stay in your zone,” Fetsko said. “It’s not a dead play until the whistle blows.”