Gateway grad Brady Walker coming into his own at quarterback at Saint Vincent

Brady Walker had a front-row seat for a wild college football game Oct. 2.

The Gateway grad, a starting junior quarterback for Saint Vincent, helped lead the Bearcats to a come-from-behind 42-40 Presidents’ Athletic Conference victory over Case Western Reserve.

Saint Vincent trailed 14-0 after the first quarter but came all the way back to lead early in the fourth before holding on.

Walker finished the game 17 of 28 for 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“We started out slow, but we never gave up,” said Walker, in his third year as a Bearcats signal caller. “That was the most important thing. We scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, and I was praying that the defense would get a stop. It was down to the wire. It was crazy.”

Walker said it was one of the wildest games he’s experienced in his two-plus seasons at Saint Vincent. He did recall two similar games from high school: the 2016 WPIAL Class 5A semifinal game against McKeesport at Norwin the Tigers won 41-38 on a last-second touchdown, and the down-to-the wire PIAA semifinal game against Manheim Central in 2017 when the Gators prevailed, 31-28.

For Walker, the opportunity to lead the Bearcats offense, he said, gives him the motivation to become a better athlete. He doesn’t want to take it for granted.

“Brady has done such a great job as a leader for this team, and it is why his teammates selected him as a captain this year,” coach Aaron Smetanka said. “It’s not just on the offensive side of the ball, but overall for the team in a number of situations. When we fell behind against Case Western, he was right there making sure that everyone knew there was a lot of time left in the game. He kept everyone’s spirits up.”

Walker played in three games his freshman year in 2019 and completed 55 of 103 passes for 599 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions. His season came to an end with a torn meniscus.

Walker had hoped to come back and play last fall, but covid concerns forced the PAC to move the 2020 season to the spring.

“It was tough last fall,” Walker said. “You had to go along with whatever the rulings were. With coming back from the injury, I wanted to play then and there. But it gave me some extra time to prepare for when we did play.”

Walker took full advantage of the mini four-game conference schedule in March and April. He threw for 880 yards (69 of 107) with 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions as the Bearcats went 2-2.

“His play in the spring, getting four big games under his belt, really helped him get ready for the fall season,” Smetanka said.

Walker finished tied for the most touchdown passes in the conference, was second in passing yards and first in pass-completion percentage and pass efficiency. For his efforts, Walker earned All-PAC honorable mention honors.

“I thought I did well, but I knew I could’ve done things better,” Walker said. “Now that I am in my third year with this offense, I feel more comfortable. The reads are easier, and the defenses are easier to read, just learning from that (spring) experience.”

It was a quick turnaround for Walker and his teammates from the last game of the spring April 17 to the start of camp practices in early August.

“I went really hard this summer in preparation for the season,” Walker said. “I was dedicated to it. I was in the weight room working on increasing my arm strength. After a few weeks of practice, you realize that the quick turnaround is no joke. This team at Saint Vincent, we’re trying to change the program. I feel really confident with everyone, so I was excited to get back for this season.”

Saint Vincent took a 3-2 overall record and a 2-2 mark in PAC play into Saturday’s home game with Grove City. The matchup was to be contested past the deadline for this week’s edition.

The Bearcats visit PAC foe Waynesburg this Saturday.

Through five games in 2021, Walker completed 83 of 144 passes for 1,273 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. He threw for at least two touchdowns in every game with a season-best three coming in a win over Thiel on Sept. 25.

“I feel confident in what we are doing right now,” Walker said. “I think we are a much more mature team than in previous seasons. We’re focused and motivated to win as many games as possible.”