Bishop Canevin’s goal: Keep playing ’til it’s cold outside

By: Antonio Rossetti
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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Bishop Canevin’s football program continues to achieve success, going 40-9 under coach Rich Johnson.

Last season, Bishop Canevin went 10-2 and was 6-1 in conference play, advancing to the WPIAL semifinals before falling to eventual champion Fort Cherry.

The Crusaders, who won a WPIAL title in 2021, are now looking to rise up and grab another one.

“We’ve been getting after it,” senior starting quarterback Kole Olszewski said. “We have new coaches this year, which we put like a whole new playbook, whole new scheme in, which has been real fun to learn. A lot of new kids are stepping up to the table, filling in positions that seniors graduated in. It’s been a heck of a grind, but it’s going good.”

Olszewski threw for 2,180 yards with a WPIAL-leading 36 touchdown passes last season. Olszewski has 4,428 career passing yards and threw two touchdown passes in the 2021 WPIAL title game as a freshman.

His main targets last year were Jason Cross, Az’Jaun Marshall and Jayden Lindsey. With Cross and Marshall graduating, Johnson knows the connection of Olszewski and Lindsey is essential.

“It’s going to be big time,” Johnson said. “We’re going to depend on that a lot this year, especially with the losses that we’ve had in that wide receiver position group and in the backfield.”

Lindsey had 30 receptions for 615 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He and Olszweski are always on the same page.

“We’ve known each other since we were 6 or 7 years old,” Lindsey said. “We grew up with each other, so our connection has been there for our whole lives, almost. We’re just ready to go out and light up the WPIAL.”

Olsweski is excited for one last go-around with Lindsey.

“I’ve played with him my whole life,” Olszewski said. “We both went to Chartiers-Houston, so me and him have good chemistry. I’m ready to get him the ball, and I think he’s ready to make me look good too.”

Lindsey isn’t the only weapon, however. Junior Damar Olds, senior Henry Barbisch and sophomore Justin Melvin are three targets that Olszewski will throw to.

“Damar Olds stepped up big time as far as that new group of guys that needed to take that next step,” Johnson said. “Obviously, we still have Henry (Barbisch) playing well this summer. Cole (Olszewski), Jayden Lindsey, they’ve been playing well in the 7-on-7 circuit.”

As for the running back position, last year’s starter, Marquis Carter, graduated. Junior Ka’vere Holeman and sophomore Myontae Mott will be the top two ball carriers.

“Those two are kind of fighting it out as it looks like they’re going to be our lead guys going into the season,” Johnson said. “They both bring a different dynamic in a backfield that we haven’t had before.”

Olszewski said he was impressed with Mott last season when he earned the opportunity to get reps. He had three rushes for 82 yards and a touchdown.

As for the offensive line, Braiden Sudor leads the charge. Johnson and Olszewski have seen him take big steps as a leader on the team. He also will anchor the defensive line.

The Crusaders have a speedy and athletic offense with many weapons. Nonetheless, Lindsey said the offense isn’t what teams should be worried about.

“We’ve always been a defensive team,” Lindsey said. “We’re ready and locked in on defense.”

Lindsey mentioned that Barbisch, Olds and sophomore Alex Kirk will play a key role on the defense. Olszewski said he’s seen a lot out of Jayden Lindsey, senior Jermell Lindsey and Mott. Olszewski said he looks forward to seeing Barbisch and Sudor on the defensive line.

Bishop Canevin will also use its speed and physicality to their advantage.

“We’ll impose our will on both sides of the ball,” Johnson said. “We’re always going to be a fast, physical team. Canevin football, that’s what we are. We’re fast and physical. We’re going to have a lot of speed. We’re going to be very, very physical with you and hopefully our depth can hold up. We’ll throw a lot of bodies at you.”

The Crusaders have experienced players returning, entering the season with seven seniors.

“A bunch of the guys are stepping into new leadership roles since we had such a big senior class the last couple years,” Olszewski said. “It’s new for some of the guys, but for me, Braiden, Jayden and Henry, our four captains, we’ve been leaders before. I know me and Braidon have been leaders for a while. It’s a great experience teaching young kids. I feel like such an old head now.”

Johnson loves his senior class.

“They’re special young men,” Johnson said. “Forget the football part. I don’t know of many of them that aren’t above a 3.0. I think the whole senior class that we have is above a 3.0.”

He commented on their resilience with players transferring out over the years.

“There were 18 kids in that freshman class. Now they’re down to seven, but those seven have been leaders since they’ve been at Canevin. … They’ve been through the ringer,” Johnson said. “They understand what it takes to succeed and now they’re just trying to filter that down to some of the younger guys that may not know.”

Bishop Canevin brought in Marcus Ademilola, a former Bucknell and Robert Morris tight end, as the offensive coordinator. Pitt alumnus Cheyton Pine and six-year NFL player Lafayette Pitts come in as the defensive coordinators.

“They’re young, knowledgeable guys,” Johnson said. “They’re hungry. They’ve got stuff to prove. Coach Pitts is a Woody High guy. He brings a lot of knowledge, a lot of intensity. Coach Pine, a linebacker for Pitt … is very cerebral. A lot of mental stuff. He’s not a real big yeller, but he will be the first person to get into a drill show correctly.”

He added that Pitts will also run sprints with the team and will be sure to show the players how things are done.

“They have a lot of knowledge,” Lindsey said. “They’ve seen different things. They’ve been places. Lafayette Pitts, he was in the NFL for six years. We’re just just soaking it in and learning what he has to teach me and my teammates and we’re all just taking it in. We’re all grateful that we have coaches that have been on the big stage and did what we dreamed to do one day.”

Olszweski added that he’s learned a lot from Ademilola.

“He gave me a bunch of control over the offense,” Olszweski said. “It’s something different. It’s like a no huddle offense. It’s amazing. The amount I’ve learned, I probably learned more this summer than I learned in three years of high school football.”

Olszweski believes the team chemistry will help tremendously. He also added that the coaches have a real connection with them, especially Johnson.

“I can talk to him about more than just football,” Olszweski said. “I can talk about life, if I’m having life problems or anything. It’s great because we feel real close, so when things get rough, we keep going and we keep making plays for each other, for him, for everyone.”

Johnson and the team keeps its goals simple.

“Our goals are that we want to be playing when it’s cold outside, however that may look,” Johnson said. “We still want to be in those types of games where it matters. In playoffs, when you’re wearing long sleeves on the sidelines, got the hand warmers on, that’s when we want to play.”

Bishop Canevin

Coach: Rich Johnson

2023 record: 10-2, 6-1 in the Class A Black Hills Conference

All-time record: 341-289-12

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.30 at Seton-LaSalle, 7

9.6 Steel Valley, 7

9.13 at Laurel, 7

9.20 at Cornell*, 7

9.27 Chartiers-Houston*, 7

10.4 at Serra Catholic*, 7

10.11 Fort Cherry*, 7

10.19 Monessen*, 7

10.25 at Burgettstown*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Kole Olszewski

119-189 2,180 yards, 36 TDs

Rushing: Marquis Carter*

139-1,055 yards, 11 TDs

Receiving: Jason Cross*

34-668 yards, 15 TDs

FAST FACTS

• Bishop Canevin has won two WPIAL titles, one in 1990 and one in 2021.

• New co-defensive coordinator Lafayette Pitts played for the Dolphins, Bills and Jaguars after graduating from Pitt.

• New co-defensive coordinator Cheyton Pine helped Pitt to an ACC Championship in 2021.

• Dormont Memorial Stadium is also the home of Keystone Oaks and Seton Lasalle. It’s been the home of Bishop Canevin since 1962.

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