Aug 17, 2025 By Eleanor Bailey 8 min read

The 2025 high school football campaign kicks off at 7 p.m. Aug. 22 with Week Zero contests, but don’t tell the participants these games are meaningless.

While they have no bearing on conference standings, they certainly carry significance because they pit rivals against one another. Bragging rights as well as pride are on the line especially when Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair compete.

In The Almanac’s Game of the Week, the Blue Devils host the Panthers.

“Boy, the rivalry is pretty intense,” said Greg Perry.

Although he is a long-time Dormont resident and Keystone Oaks High School graduate, Perry is relatively new to the backyard brawl between these two South Hills neighbors, separated by a mere 3.7 miles.

Perry enters his second season as Lebo skipper. Last fall, he suffered his first loss at the helm when the Panthers thumped the Blue Devils, 42-22. He has also attended two heated battles between the school’s basketball clubs last winter.

“Those were some intense battles,” he noted. “It’s as good as it gets. The kids know each other well and the community support for both schools is unbelievable. The games between them are great for high school football and sports in general.”

Mike Junko “understands” the rivalry well. He played football and baseball for the Panthers, winning WPIAL titles in each and a PIAA championship on the gridiron. He even taught at Mt. Lebanon High School and served as an assistant coach for the Blue Devils before returning to his alma mater in his current capacity as educator and head football coach.

“I think highly of the people there and am grateful for what they did to help advance my career, but when you are hired at USC, you understand the mission. The game means a great deal to both communities and one of the boxes that needs to be checked is that game.”

The players have waited for this date. It’s been circled on the calendar, particularly by Blue Devils like Patrick Smith. He quarterbacks the Lebo offense and starts at linebacker on defense. Last fall, he amassed more than 1,000 yards in both the passing and rushing departments last fall

“It’s motivation every day,” Smith said of the opportunity to avenge the USC loss. “It’s all we have been thinking about. Whenever I get tired in practice, I think about last year’s game.”

The Panthers have held the upper hand in the rivalry, winning the past four showdowns and owning a 6-1 record in the last seven encounters.

“We have had success recently, but our kids need to stay hungry in this rivalry and know that they are playing against a much improved opponent,” Junko said.

“For a Week Zero game, Mt. Lebanon is a tough place to play but there is no better way to start the season than against your primary rival and in that type of atmosphere.

“It is a big stage,” Junko continued. “Both communities care about the outcome of this game and Mt. Lebanon is a team that plays hard for four quarters.”

Smith anticipates a “fun” affair with his comrades as well as his friends in the stands.

“Everybody will be there. It’s going to be exciting. A game like this really gets you ready for the season.”

That’s the primary objective.

“The expectations around here don’t change,” Junko said. “This is a rivalry game and the focus is on winning. We will certainly find out more about our younger players and new starters in this game, but the intention is to throw them in the fire and see if they can thrive.”

After graduating nearly two dozen seniors from last year’s conference championship club, plenty of Panthers will be tested, especially on defense as USC returns only three true starters – John Banbury, Bryce Jones and Nico D’Orazio. So in order to post the W, the Panthers must stop Smith.

“Their quarterback is excellent,” Junko said. “He is dangerous as a thrower and a runner. He is a tough kid that is not easy to bring down.

“It is an early season game so we need to be fundamentally sound in our tackling,” he added.

Offensively the Panthers plan to “attack the entire field” by finding a pass-run balance with four-year starter Ethan Hellman at quarterback and Dante Coury and Banbury in the backfield.

Junko also noted Lebo’s Division I weapons. Three players are already Ivy League commits – Smith, Penn; Grayson Beck, Princeton; and Joe Malone, Cornell.

“We will need to know where they are on the field at all times,” Junko said.

According to Perry, the Blue Devils are better prepared for the showdown than they were last year. Lebo returns eight starters on offense and six on defense. Three players are already Ivy League commits – Smith, Penn; Grayson Beck, Princeton; and Joe Malone, Cornell.

“We didn’t get it done last year,” Perry said. “Obviously we need to be ready. We feel we are better at this point than this point last season. We need to ride our horses and get out early and gain confidence if we are to be successful.”

Peters Township will ride its Division I recruits to a successful season. Already, quarterback Nolan DiLucia is bound for Villanova while outside linebackers Lucas Shanafelt and Reston Lehman are committed to Stanford and Pitt respectively.

The Indians were WPIAL Class 5A runners-up last season and feel they have some unfinished business. In addition, DiLucia, Lehman and Shanafelt played key roles on the 2023 PIAA runner-up squad.

“We really want that WPIAL championship,” Lehman said. “A state championship is a goal, too, but that is really hard to win. I learned that speed and strength are really important and good schemes. Two years ago, they had us in speed and strength but not in schemes.”

The Indians will attempt to demonstrate they have the complete package when they host neighboring Canon-McMillan, but it will be a challenge for many reasons, the least of which is the rivalry between the clubs.

The Big Macs are motivated and playing for Mike Evans. A Peters Township product, Evans has taken a sabbatical because of health reasons. His assistant, Brian DeLallo, is at the helm

“Year in and year out, Canon McMillan is always one of our most physical games,” said Plack. The pride and effort that Mike Evans has brought to Canonsburg, and now Coach DeLallo is upholding never goes unnoticed. They always get our attention and give us their best effort.”

The game is a rivalry within a rivalry as the head coaches are mutual friends.

Plack is renewing acquaintances with DeLallo, who previously served as head coach at Bethel Park, where Plack resides. When they were combatants in the Allegheny Six Conference, the two coaches had a standing bet where the loser bought wings for the winner.

“If this was a week 5 game, there probably would be (a wager), as usual,” Plack said. “However, I believe we both have our hands full getting ready for the season. Week zero games kind of jump up on you.”

Plack outlined the things necessary for the Indians to find success and post a victory against the Big Macs.

“We need to do all the little things, win the line of scrimmage, make big plays, win turnover battle, and continue to play for each other because Canon-Mac will march a very talented, well-coached team onto the field Friday night.”

The Indians are concerned only with the contest, not their image and how their performance will be viewed regarding their lofty pre-season rankings.

“There is pressure every game, we do not worry about that,” Plack said. “Our thoughts are it’s not the first game, it is the only game for us this week.

“Both teams will be focused. Both will face adversity. It’s always interesting to see which young men are able to handle and overcome.”

In another confrontation between regional foes, Chartiers Valley hosts South Fayette. The Colts are under the direction of Steve Spence. He served as an assistant coach for 15 seasons at Washington and Jefferson College before being hired at CV.

Spence looks to 17 seniors, including Tayshawn Lewis, to improve upon last year’s 3-6 overall record that included a 1-4 showing iin the Big Six Conference. A veteran free safety with multiple scholarship offers, Lewis was the team’s top returning rusher with 922 yards on 97 carries for a 9.5-yard average and 12 touchdowns.

The Lions, who are under the direction of Marty Spieler for the second year, look to Anthony Charles and Drew Welhorsky to improve upon last year’s 6-5 overall mark that included a 1-4 slate in the Allegheny Six Conference.

While Charles is a Minnesota recruit, Welhorsky is again expected to be among the WPIAL’s top signal callers. Welhorsky completed 141 of 226 passes for 1,881 yards and 16 scores last season. He also rushed for 1,030 yards on 187 carries for an additional 12 touchdowns.

Finally, Bethel Park hosts Seneca Valley in its Week Zero battle.