NEWPORT – The Bear cubs have grown up.
Rob Beaudrie was basically sending a junior varsity team out on the field to play a varsity schedule during his first two years as Jefferson’s football coach.
The boys are turning into men.
The evidence can be seen with one look at senior lineman Caiden Pfeiffer. He was a 190-pound quarterback when he participated in his first practice for the Bears.
Three years later he is a sturdy 265-pound lineman.
“It’s a big difference,” he said with a smile when asked what it’s like to finally be able to compete against opponents his own size.
Physical size isn’t the only area where the Bears have grown.
Jefferson had 23 players in Beaudrie’s first season. The number grew to 36 last season and has ballooned up to 63 this fall.
The school will have a junior varsity team for the first time since 2022.
“We have a big eighth-grade class and a big seventh-grade class to follow, so we’re going to keep rebuilding,” Beaudrie said.
Jefferson’s returning players are enjoying having more company on the practice field.
“It’s been exciting,” said junior linebacker Bret Gennoe. “It feels a lot different.”
“It’s going to help us in terms of depth,” Pfeiffer said. “We won’t be as tried.”
One player who should benefit by being fresher is junior quarterback Luke Beaudrie. He ran for 1,339 yards last season and threw for 1,122.
“We’re growing for sure,” he said. “It’s beautiful. We’ve never had the kind of experience that we have this year. We could do something special.”
His father and coach agrees.
“It’s nice to see 60 guys out here,” he said. “We’ve been very young. Now we have some experience. I expect our line to be big and strong and the backfield will be fast. We’ll be able to move a couple of guys around.”
Jefferson has notched just total four wins over the past three seasons, including a 1-8 record in 2024. That could change for the better this fall.
“Having more experience is huge,” coach Beaudrie said. “These guys have played my system for two years now. And they are old enough to compete against varsity teams. They will be playing people their own age.”
Former head coach Gene Gennoe has joined the staff as an assistant.
“It’s amazing,” Bret Gennoe said of having his father coaching him. “He loves the game and is glad to have the opportunity to help.”
Bret Gennoe is hoping to see more time on the field this year. He has played only a handful of games over the past two seasons because of a pair of unrelated injuries.
“It’s been terrible to just watch the guys play and not help,” he said.
He plans to be part of a group of tight-knit Bears.
“The chemistry is great,” Luke Beaudrie said. “We have a very close bond. It’s a brotherhood.”
“No matter what happens in terms of wins and losses, at the end of the season we’re going to be brothers,” Pfeiffer added.
TRAINING CAMPS
Airport
Monroe
Milan
Erie Mason
Bedford
Whiteford
Ida
Summerfield
Dundee
Gibraltar Carlson
JEFFERSON SCHEDULE
Aug. 28: at Hanover Horton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 5: AIRPORT, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12: at Milan, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19: RIVERVIEW, 7 p.m.
Sept. 26: at Flat Rock, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3: NEW BOSTON HURON, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10: at Grosse Ile, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17: SMCC, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24: at Benzie Central, 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Jefferson football expects more wins as players get older, stronger
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
