Blackhawk's Josh Hathaway wants to go out with a Bang

Blackhawk's Josh Hathaway visited Eastern Michigan back in March 2020.

SOURCE: (TWITTER, @jhathaway_24)

In 2019, Josh Hathaway almost saw his Blackhawk football team in the WPIAL 4A football championship. However, his Cougars unfortunately ran into Thomas Jefferson in the WPIAL 4A semifinals and the Cougars lost by a score of 49-0. It was not pretty, and it was a night that they all want to forget. However, Hathaway was one of the Cougars that learned something after that unfortunate playoff loss.

"We learned that we're better than we were shown. After holding Thomas Jefferson by a score of 0-0 through the whole way into the middle of 2nd quarter, we knew we could beat them. We had a few mistakes and it costed us but now we are more than motivated to get past the 2nd round of playoffs and get to Heinz Field," Hathaway said.

Individually, Hathaway had a good 2019 season getting college coaches to watch his film. As a defensive back, Hathaway recorded 18 tackles, one interception, broke up 11 passes, and recovered a fumble in 2019 while also scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 74 yards. His ability to find a way to make tackles on defense is fun to watch. Also, when it looks like Blackhawk's defense is going to give up a big play, Hathaway will be there to bail his team out. That's what college coaches would probably like to see.

"The recruiting process has been slow because of the COVID-19 situation and not being able to get up to schools for visits, but I have been in contact a lot with Grove City College, Suny Cortland University and Ithaca College," Hathaway said.

With Hathaway talking to college coaches, he realizes that if it wasn't for his brother that he would not be in the situation that he is in today in talking to college football coaches.

"My brother played football and made me play the same year when I was 7 years old and he was 10 years old," Hathaway said. "After my 8th grade season, I told myself that I wanted to play college football."

Wherever Hathaway goes to play college football, he would want to go to a college that he could major in Criminal Justice major so he could pursue to be a Drug Enforcement Administration agent.

A reason of why Hathaway is playing at such a high level at Blackhawk is because of the PA Nike Elite 7 v 7 program as he admits that the program has helped him a lot as a player.

"It [PA Nike Elite 7 v 7] has helped me so much. Coach Will from PA Nike has taught me how to become more of a leader as well as a player. They don't just teach football; they are also making sure you bust your butt off in the classroom to make sure you have good grades as well. In the last two years, I have loved every moment playing with them," Hathaway said.

A lot of Hathaway's teammates at Blackhawk compare him to Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey which makes sense to him since he studies a lot of film on McCaffrey.

"I like to study Christian McCaffrey a lot. All my teammates say I run the ball just like him and have the same style of moves and explosiveness," Hathaway said.

Hathaway, a type 1 Diabetic, has been working real hard on the football field and in his life after he was diagnosed with his condition on his 8th birthday as he has been busting his butt off to make sure that he is healthy and make sure he does not have any more health issues. That's why him playing at a high level with his condition is much more inspirational for other football players who are trying to succeed at the varsity level.

When it comes to his senior year of high school football in the fall, he wants to make sure that his team goes out with a bang as he expects his Blackhawk's team to do well in their new section with Chartiers Valley, and Aliquippa joining while Ambridge, Highlands, Knoch, South Fayette all leaving.

"We're going to win our section and get us a section championship as well as win a WPIAL 4A Championship at Heinz Field," Hathaway said.

If you do not believe Blackhawk will win a WPIAL championship in 4A, Hathaway will do everything that he can to prove you wrong.

"Blackhawk has always been a hard nose, hard grit, tough style of football team. We preach on being the best and holding our team to being accountable to each other to continue to strive and make us great," Hathaway said.

With Hathaway and the rest of his Cougars hungry for a championship, let's just say that this fall is going to be a movie!

Brentaro Yamane: bkyamane@gmail.com and Twitter/Instagram @BYHilton13