Central Bucks West’s players have not forgotten the legacy of legendary coach Mike Pettine and will be looking to create a legacy of their own. For the latest SOL football news, follow us on Twitter @SOL1FB.
By Scott Huff
Doylestown – The smiles were still fresh on the faces of Central Bucks West tri-captains Kevin Duggan, Cody Riemenschneider, and Chris Bagnick after team photos at the recent Media Day held on the legendary turf at War Memorial Field.
The trio was only in kindergarten when the most celebrated coach in CB West history – Michael Pettine Sr. – coached his final game for the Bucks. But these 2012 leaders of CB West football all know the impressive resume of the illustrious Pettine and his significant contribution to scholastic football.
That magnificent resume includes a staggering 326-42-4 record over 33 seasons that included 13 perfect seasons and 59 consecutive wins. The Bucks also collected four state championship trophies in 1991, 1997, 1998, and 1999.
There was a terrific ESPN documentary titled The Last Game that featured the 1999 Central Bucks West football season – the last season with Pettine as head coach.
All three tri-captains have their own copy.
“I own a copy of that video and watch it all the time,” said Riemenschneider. “Coach Pettine has set a high standard for future CB West football teams, and we all know what has happened here before us.”
“Coach Pettine was not only the best football coach at West, but one of the best football coaches anywhere,” said Bagnick. “We all work hard here at West to work toward the legacy that he has left behind.”
“Sure we think about it,” said Duggan. “We have seen what the players here at West have done in the past, and we want to be able to add to that.”
“The kids on the team want to be that guy, that guy that has his picture hanging on the Wall of Fame in the team room,” said Central Bucks West head coach Brian Hensel. “The names and the pictures on that wall tell a great story about Central Bucks West football.
“Every player at West has an appreciation of what has gone on before them,” added Hensel. “Our goal is to add to that great tradition.”
When Riemenschneider, Bagnick, and Duggan were freshmen in high school, the West program was at a low point. The 2009 Buck football team finished with a dismal record of 1-10. The following year CB West concluded the 2011 season with a record of 9-3 and a place in the PIAA District One playoffs.
“That was the biggest turnaround in school history,” said Hensel. “These current captains were part of a team that changed our outlook on things. They knew what it took to be successful.”
The 2011 season provided some adversity to the Buck football program. The season ended with West owning an overall record of 5-6 and a 3-4 mark in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.
The future, though, looks bright.
“Sure last season was a disappointment, but this is a brand new season,” said Duggan. “We have been working hard on all the fine points of the game, and our goal is to make it back to the playoffs.”
“We will continue to become closer as a football family,” said Riemenschneider. “We are really excited for this football season.”
“We all have in our mind to win a championship,” said Bagnick. “This is a team that will never back down to anyone.”
Central Bucks West has a male enrollment of 711 boys – which makes them the third smallest school in the SOL Continental Conference. The remainder of the conference is North Penn (1575), Souderton (1078), Pennridge (1057), Central Bucks South (978), Central Bucks East (804), Hatboro-Horsham (642) and Quakertown (622).
If the Central Bucks school district did not split into the three high schools – West, East, and South - the talent pool for Central Bucks would be extremely deep with an astounding 2493 male students.
“I admit that sometimes I think about what it would be like the have all of us play on the same team,” said Duggan. “But I still love to play against both East and South.”
“Being able to play the other CB schools creates great competition,” said Riemenschneider. “Those games are all special.”
“North Penn is always the gold standard in this league,” said Hensel. “What makes them difficult to beat is that they have so much depth. They always seem to be able to find quality players that might not be starters until there is an injury.
“Sometimes I look at the roster of the East and the South players and wonder what it would be like for them to play together in high school,” added Hensel. “They have played together at lower levels of football in the community, and then they are split apart at the high school level. I can’t think of another community where that happens.
“The beginning of the football season is one of the best times of the entire year,” continued Hensel. “Everyone is undefeated, and everyone can dream of having a special season.”
The Pettine coached Central Bucks West teams realized those dreams – and don’t count these 2012 Bucks out just yet.
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