Aug 23, 2026 By Eleanor Bailey 6 min read

Second-best doesn’t play well at Upper St. Clair. So after years of almost, the Panthers are prepared to finish this football season.

“Expectations here never change,” said Mike Junko, who enters his eighth season as USC head coach. “Challenge for a conference title and find a way to win a WPIAL championship.”

The Panthers own seven district titles, the last coming in 2006. They were WPIAL runners-up in 2022 and back-to-back semifinalists in 2024 and 2025. 

“We’ve been knocking on the door,” Junko said. “The big thing for us this year is finishing. Everything we do, in drills and games, is about finishing because there is a fine line between winning and losing.

“We’ve learned a lot of lessons because we have been there. We know what it takes and while we are ready for a great challenge in a great conference, I am encouraged that this group is determined to finish.”

It certainly won’t be easy for the Panthers, who finished 3-2 in the Allegheny Six Conference and 10-3 overall. 

For starters, USC is now joined in the division by West Allegheny, which is again coached by Bob Palko (9 WPIAL titles and 2 PIAA championships), and Thomas Jefferson, which is coached by Bill Cherpak (10 WPIAL and 5 PIAA championships) as well as Trinity and rival Peters Township, which won its second WPIAL title in three years last fall.

“We played in the toughest conference in the entire WPIAL the last two years and it just got tougher with the caliber of programs and elite level of coaching,” Junko said. 

“The last few years prepared us. Every Friday night you are in a war and that helps us in the playoffs. We look at it as a positive but also as a great challenge.”

The 2026 campaign is a test because the Panthers are a young team. There will be a lot of new faces in the lineup, players who have waited their turn behind good players who graduated.

“We are excited to see what they can do on Friday night,” Junko said. “They bring a lot of energy and good competition.”

The Panthers know what Ryan Robbins can do. The veteran all-conference tackle is a Penn State recruit and the anchor of both sides of the line.

“He’s not just a big guy and good football player, Ryan’s that rare two-sport athlete that gives a great effort all the time, whether in practice or the weight room. He loves his teammates and has outstanding qualities of leadership that will carry us and him down the line.”

Junko added that Robbins is a “big piece” of what the Panthers are doing and as he goes, so does USC.

Robbins will be joined on the line by Will Stohl, who was an all-conference performer last fall, Anthony Bunn, Grady Elias, at the guard slots while Ben Bayles, Jake Gillespie and Logan Mittletown fill in at the other tackle position.

“We are fortunate to have a good group and a large part of that has been these guys grew up wanting to be like Nate (Stohl),” Junko said of the Princeton lineman, who won the Bill Fralic Award in 2022. “Nate passed down the expectations and what it takes to become extraordinary.”

USC had an extraordinary quarterback. Ethan Hellmann shattered school records for passing before matriculating to Fairmont State. 

Josh Snyder moves into the position vacated by the all-time passing leader. While he passed for 97 yards last year, Snyder scored six touchdowns, rushed for 179 yards and caught 16 aerials for 217 yards.

“The good news is he has experience and having played receiver gives him a unique perspective in that he’s lived that life and understands his teammates.

“Josh has a strong arm and an ability to use his legs to get out of situations. He can be elusive and use his speed in the open field to do things. He’s really immersed himself in the offense and made great strides,” Junko said. “We’re really excited about him.”

While USC looks to fill the graduation-depleted receiver slots with Anthony Rozzo, Evan Smirniw and Luke Holtschlag. The Panthers are thrilled to have John Banbury and Luca Coury returning to the backfield. The duo ranked second and third in rushing last season behind Coury’s brother Dante, who picked up 822 yards. Banbury had 415 yards. He scored nine times. Coury rushed for 262 yards on 25 totes for a 10.5-yard average.

“John and Luca will be a formidable duo for sure,” Junko said. “They complement one another. Luca has the ability to break big runs while John brings physicality to the party. His running style is punishing but he’s sneaky fast. He can make people miss. If there’s no other option, he’ll run you over.”

A four-year starter, Banbury pummels opposing running backs when he’s on defense. The Richmond recruit anchors a linebacking corps that also features Rozzo and Nevin, both returning starters, as well as sophomore Sam Bunn.

“John is the heart and soul of the defense. He has a knack for getting to the football,” Junko said.

“For us, it all starts with our linebacker play. We feel like our line has a lot of experience. Our whole front seven does but the back half needs some breaking in. We are encouraged because we feel like one of the hallmarks of the program has been how well we have played defense.”

The Panthers have managed to rank in the top 5 in scoring defense and expectations are for that to continue once the secondary rounds into shape. 

In addition to Coury, Snyder and Gaither at the safety slots, Wyatt Serdy, Carter Chojnicki and Beckett Mayfield hold down the corners. 

“We have a lot of new faces back there,” Junko said.

History indicates the group may succeed though as Serdy’s father played on USC’s state championship club in 2006, Mayfield is a standout on the school’s successful lacrosse system and Gaither has played on the basketball squad, which has won three straight WPIAL titles.

Finally, special teams again appear to be a formidable weapon for the Panthers. Last year, Jacobo Echeverria Lozano led the team in scoring with 54 points and 15 field goals. He matriculated to Purdue. Bennett Henderson handled the duties prior to Echeverria Lozano. He’s kicking at Fordham.

Cam Smith succeeds both. The junior will handle the kicking and punting duties for the Panthers.

“Cam has a big leg and he’s worked extremely hard. He’s another of our weapons and we have a lot of them to use,” Junko said. “On all parts of the field, we have weapons that can be dangerous. A lot of potential. The question is can we execute and can we take care of the football.”

History again says yes. USC did not fumble the football at all last season.

“That’s part of our culture. Something we value highly,” Junko said. “Turnover margin is a big predictor of whether you win or lose.”