The Berkshire Badgers had an historic football season as the 2024 team became the first in school history to win a playoff game.
Game photos click here.
The Berkshire Badgers had an historic football season as the 2024 team became the first in school history to win a playoff game.
After defeating the Chagrin Falls Tigers in the first round of the OHSAA Playoffs, the Badgers advanced to the District Finals where they took on the Manchester Panthers on Nov. 8.
In the contest with the Panthers, the Badgers gave a hard fought effort against an extremely tough physical football team.
In this week 12 playoff game, the Badgers trailed early as the Panthers took a 7-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
To their credit, the Badgers kept the score close for most of the first half.
However, over the last five minutes of the second quarter, the Panthers scored 21 points to take a 28-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Badgers outscored their opponent, 19-13, but the Panthers claimed a 41-19 victory to advance to the OHSAA Regional Semifinal Game.
Afterwards, senior Caleb Corbett said that the Badgers came into the game knowing they were going to face a tough physical opponent who had a great regular season record.
“We stepped up and tried to be as physical as them, but they out-physicaled us in the end,” said Corbett. “It was a good game, I’m proud to say that was a team I respect, plays well, and they played clean.”
Added senior Jason Brent, “Coming into this game, I was so hyped for this game. I was ready to go out and win another one. Sadly, we couldn’t do that, we got out-physicaled, and I think we got out performed.”
Although they did not obtain the week 12 victory they had hoped for, the Badgers stayed resilient, exerting a high level of effort until the final whistle.
Indeed, the Badgers scored three second half touchdowns.
Senior standout running back Justin Phillips had two of the three second half touchdowns for the Badgers.
Phillips got his first touchdown with 2:15 left in the third quarter. He then added a second rushing touchdown with 7:55 left in the contest.
For the game, Phillips rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries.
With Phillip’s week 12 performance, he ended his senior season with 1005 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns, while averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Certainly, the excellent play of the offensive line and the stellar running by Phillips was one the reasons for the Badgers great success and historic season.
In addition to Phillips’ two rushing touchdowns, the Badgers ended their season with a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Sam Barcikoski to senior wide receiver Paul Brent.
After the game, Paul Brent talked about the final touchdown drive.
“We were just trying to put our hearts out there and leave something on the field,” Brent said. “It was our last game ever, probably for most of us. Just getting that last drive and really doing something in this game, it meant the world to us, especially capping it off with that touchdown.”
In addition to the touchdown catch, Paul Brent led Badgers receivers with four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. Also, senior Abram Southern caught 2 passes for 36 yards.
For the game, quarterback Sam Barcikoski was 8-16 through the air for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Barcikoski ended his season completing 76 of 155 passes for 1,199 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also rushed for four touchdowns as well.
In reflecting upon this great season, senior Justin Phillips emphasized the important legacy the class of 2025 left for future Badgers.
“It’s more of the legacy that we left, building up the whole team, the younger team,” said Phillips. “It’s all the people we grew up (with). They have to realize that they still have to hold up the Berkshire mentality that we are a winning football team and we can win playoff games. We set the standard, so they have to keep it up.”
