On the attack: Defeo leads a versatile Wissahickon offense

After a playoff season a year ago, Wissahickon looks to go further in 2021, with a certain degree of style.

“Offensively, I think we’re gonna be very dynamic and very explosive,” coach Bruce Fleming shares. “We run a spread offense but we have some guys who can do some great things with the ball in their hands. It helps having my starting quarterback (Aidan Defeo) back. I have my two top running backs back and I have a group of receivers that are looking to make a name for themselves.

“We are really excited,” Fleming said. “With the modified season last year due to COVID and now to have a true offseason to prepare, it’s great to have a full-go for a full season this year. We’re excited, the coaching staff is excited, and for us, the community is excited to see what we can do this year.”

Last year was a breakthrough season for the Trojans, as they battled through to a 3-2 finish in the shortened format and earned a District 1-5A Playoff berth.

They hope that is the new standard at Wiss.

And they have a proven guy under center to lead them.

“We wanna do better than last year, have that successful season and have that good feeling as a team,” said Defeo, a senior. “You know what you’re working towards. Once you get that feeling, you don’t wanna lose it.”

Said Fleming, who enters his fourth year as head coach: “For people that have followed our program the past 8 to 10 years know that we haven’t had a lot of success, and last year, even though it was a COVID-shortened season, that was the most success we’ve had in a very long time, being able to make the district playoffs for the first time in eight years.

“There is a lot of excitement, a lot of chatter in our community about what our team can look like. Can we duplicate what we did last year on a full slate? My players are excited for that opportunity, and just the school in general is excited to see us come out and play.”

The Trojans should be able to pile up yardage on the ground and through the air, and Defeo enters both of those equations.

“I have a little bit more running in me this year,” he said.

“We can throw the ball deep, we can run the ball, we can do the little short, dump passes,” described Chase Bethea, who mans the slot.

Along with a versatile offense that should make it tricky to prepare for, Wiss continues to build a strong, tightly-woven culture.

“My senior class this year, they’ve been through the tough times, with that senior class from last year that led us to the playoffs,” Fleming said. “This senior class has taken it upon themselves to continue the momentum, continue what the culture is about now and so with the new guys coming in, we don’t take those steps backwards.”

In making sure the team is always moving forward, Wiss has a select group within the team.

“I don’t do captains. I do what we call a leadership council,” Fleming said. “So our leadership council is made up of many seniors, although we have one junior that’s a part of that as well. They understand what it takes and keep everything in line with their team.

“They bring things to me after they discuss it as a council. They’ll have a players’ meeting to make sure everyone is on the same page. Anything they need to bring to my attention, they bring to my attention. So it’s a good format that has worked for us the past three years.”

Defensively, the Trojans should be tough on the back end. 

“I feel like (the defense) is gonna be the strongest part of the team. We have a lot of seniors on the defense,” said Bethea, a hard-hitting strong safety for Wiss. “We all know what it takes to hit and hit. I feel like we’re a very physical defense and this year we’re gonna stop the run better than we did last year. And I feel like we have the best (defensive back) core in all of the SOL, so I don’t think the ball is gonna thrown at us that much either.”

Said Fleming: “We have two linebackers returning and some role players who rotated in last year and now have an opportunity to step up and be leaders on that side of the ball. So it’s gonna be something to watch as those guys develop.”

For starters, it’s a big one: Wiss is at rival Upper Dublin Friday night at 7 p.m.

“People outside of our community will look at that as the reigning District 1-5A Champions vs. Wissahickon,” Fleming said. “But to us and the community, it’s our crosstown rival. This is the 49th consecutive season of playing against each other.

“The players have grown up with each other and see each other all the time. There’s a lot more to us and them just because of how close our relationship is with the Upper Dublin program.”

“That’s all we talk about. It’s still: beat UD,” Bethea explains. “Everybody’s ready. We’re all locked in. We know what it’s gonna take and we’re all just ready for it to happen.”

August practices have given way to anticipation.

“We’ve been working all summer so it’s nice to be not even a week away to the season and that first game. So we’re all excited,” Defeo said.

Bethea believes the wheels are turning for Wiss.

“I think we’re all excited to get back and make that a tradition, get back to the playoffs again. I’m excited to see what the future brings,” the senior said. “(Last year’s success) helps a lot. In past years, like when I was a sophomore, there was a negative view because we lost so much. I feel like ever since last year, everybody has had such a better experience. Everybody’s ready to get to it and keep winning.”