Summit Academy quarterback Syamir Newkirk takes a snap during a recent practice in Summit Township. Newkirk previously played signal-caller at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pa. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle

SUMMIT TWP — Summit Academy doesn’t fit the mold of a typical high school program.

Most players don’t carry over from year to year. Some can start a season with the team and be positively dismissed from the school before it’s over. The Knights (1-8 last year) don’t sport a wealth of experience.

“The constant roster changeover, the building of team chemistry, I just try to teach them to be coachable,” Summit Academy fourth-year coach Anthony Becoate said. “That’s always the biggest aspect. It takes sometimes going to battle and figuring it out. The most important thing is, I tell them, ‘We go out there, play whistle-to-whistle and we never give up.’”

Summit Academy receiver Aveair Harrison, a New Castle resident, runs during a recent practice in Summit Township. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle

Becoate’s job doesn’t allow for building blocks. Instead, he does what he can with what he’s given, both on and off the field.

“Every year, it’s a clean slate. I call it an Etch A Sketch,” Becoate said. “I might get fortunate enough to have a kid returning, but it would be unfortunate for their circumstances. For the most part, everyone out here, this is their first time out here learning anything we teach.

“We take pride in teaching the foundation.”

Summit Academy houses court-adjudicated youth from Michigan, Ohio and Eastern Pennsylvania, among other locales. A good portion of the team is playing high school football for the first time.

“Every season, it’s roughly the same thing as far as the amount of (previous) experience,” Becoate said. “I would say about eight or nine of these guys actually have football experience at the high school level.”

Becoate starts out with conditioning and individual fundamental drills, with schemes and concepts being implemented closer to the season. The Knights stick with simple zone coverages on defense and run a spread offense to offset an undersized offensive line.

“It’s kind of rushed because we have a short period of time (to prepare),” Becoate said. “We don’t ramp up football until the middle of May because we genuinely don’t know who’s gonna be here for the entire season.”

Summit Academy faced off against Brashear a handful of times in seven-on-sevens. The Bulls are led by coach Andrew Moore, Becoate’s roommate at Clarion University. The Knights also went head-to-head with Springdale a few times in a similar setting.

Summit Academy football's field on Aug. 19, 2024. The Knights have more than 30 players on the roster this year. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle

1. Accelerated team building: Sometimes, Becoate’s crew will roster a few players from the same area, but “for the most part, they’re scattered out. Building team chemistry and building a foundation is the biggest challenge,” he said.

“(We’ve gone) from strangers to kind of trying to make it a brotherhood,” tailback Danarii Mickel said. “We’ve gotta be in the building with these guys all day, and we’re on the same football team. ... I feel like we’ve gotta be a family.”

Quarterback Syamir Newkirk has been with the Knights for less than a month weeks.

“We’re gonna get to that point,” Newkirk said.

2. Plan of guidance: Becoate is also a behavioral support counselor at Summit Academy. He tries to teach his student-athletes he has their best interests in mind as they get to know him.

“A lot of our kids are here for making the not-so-good choices, so we try to get them to understand that, if an adult is trying to correct you, it’s for a reason,” Becoate said.

3. Offensive foundation: Newkirk made starts at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pa.

“He’s the first quarterback that I’ve had that has come into our program with quarterback experience at the high school level,” Becoate said. “He’s a natural thrower.”

“I’ve never had a good quarterback like him,” receiver Aveair Harrison, a New Castle resident, said. “He takes his time with the ball and gets it to you.”

Mickel, an Erie native and Ames, Iowa, resident, was described by Becoate as “about 5-foot-9, about 220 (pounds), built like a pop can, but he’s very athletic.”

*Conference/Region game