The Bradford High football team got a taste of winning last season, and they feel like that will lead to even bigger and better things in 2024.
With heat acclimation week in full swing, the Owls’ confidence is high as they look to build upon a 4-win season a year ago.
“The offseason has been great,” said Bradford coach Jeff Puglio at District 9 media in St. Marys last Thursday. “We had some really good commitment. The season ended, and we got started immediately. Our winter sports guys had basketball and wrestling going on, but we had 20 to 30 kids in the weight room every day since the season ended. The offseason couldn’t have went better.”
That commitment helped facilitate a big improvement in 2023, and this team is hoping to take another big leap in 2024.
A 34-12 Week 2 win over Coudersport last season snapped a 30-game losing streak overall for the program. It’s something that this group was eager to put in the rearview mirror as the continue to move forward. They certainly did that, going on to pick up wins over Otto-Eldred, Moniteau and Kane as well.
That momentum, to Puglio’s point, has trickled down to the commitment in the offseason.
“We’ve had a good core group of guys in the weight room all year ‘round, so we should be stronger than ever heading into the season,” said senior quarterback Talan Reese.
Reese will be one of the unquestioned leaders for the Owls this season. As a junior, he threw for over 2,000 yards and has received college offers from multiple Division II programs, as well as Mercyhurst, which is making the transition to Division I.
Another one of the leaders for the Owls will be lineman Jacob Abers, who like Puglio and Reese, echoed the increased commitment in the offseason.
“We’ve had a tremendous jump in the weight room,” Abers said. “We’ve had lots of linemen there. Our line is looking good and we’re feeling confident.”
Both players expressed that last season was a big turning point for the program, and they are confident they can take the next step.
“It was great to get a taste of winning,” Reese said. “Now, we have that feeling and we’re chasing it every day.”
Abers said it’s all about mentality.
“Last year was something we needed to happen,” Abers said. “We had the right kids with the right mentality. We had to ignore (the negative talk) and keep pushing through. We’re going to get there. It’s just a mentality.”
(Editor’s note: Full previews on the Pennsylvania schools in the Big 30 coverage area will be coming in the next two-plus weeks leading up to Week 1 of the regular season on Friday, Aug. 23.)
