Seton-La Salle reflects on season
Liam Sweeney rushes through an opening in the line during WPIAL AA football semifinal action. Despite Seton-La Salle’s 35-21 loss to South Fayette, Sweeney will be one of the players returning to help the Lions in their 2015 quest for victory.
Paris Ford (No. 1) is another underclassmen expected to help Seton-La Salle next season. The Rebels reached the WPIAL AA semifinals in football and finished with a 10-2 record. Both losses were to South Fayette, which is participating in the District 7 championship game Nov. 21 against Aliquippa at Heinz Field.
After Seton-La Salle lost to South Fayette, 35-21, to end its football season with a 10-2 record, nobody uttered a battle cry regarding the 2015 campaign. In amateur sports, there is no wait until “next year,” says Damon Rosol.
For his explanation, the Rebels’ first-year head coach referred to the Denver Broncos, who lost to the Seattle Seahawks, 43-8, in Super Bowl XLVIII. “Almost to a man, they knew they would all be back chasing that title again next season,” Rosol said. “Unfortunately, that can’t occur for this group of kids.”
Sixteen of them will not return. They are seniors and scheduled to graduate in May. They helped Rosol establish a new pride in the program.
“They know how much they mean to myself, the assistants and returning players,” Rosol said. “They have laid the foundation for a new generation of Seton-La Salle football, on which we hope to expound upon each and every day. Hopefully, some of them will find the right fit at the next level and are able to find success both academically and athletically.”
Danzel McKinley-Lewis has found the right fit at Toledo. He led the Rebels with 54 receptions and 754 yards. In 11 games, he scored a team-high 14 touchdowns, including one against the Lions on a 39-yard reception. McKinley-Lewis also finished as the team’s second-leading rusher.
Quarterback Tyler Perone and tailback Rick Mellick also graduate. Perone passed for 2,258 yards and 26 scores. He was 169 for 273. Perone completed 20 of 40 attempts against South Fayette for 214 yards and an 18-yard strike to Mellick, who finished with three receptions for 50 yards and 19 yards rushing and one score. Mellick led the Rebels in rushing with 1,121 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Included among the team’s senior class also were: Chad Murphy, Adam Ottaviano, Matt Reinmund, Quincy Leonard, Ryan Sago, Dequay Broadwater, Francis Sielski, David Ross, Justin Nedzesky, Alec Mastovich, Jacob Blahut, Adam Turzak and Billy Jackson. Broadwater and Reinmund ranked among the team’s top receivers behind McKinley-Lewis while Nedzesky handled the placekicking, racking up 43 points.
“I thought when the season started that this group had a chance to do unparalleled things, but we were, as a program, unable to get it done. It stings, it’s bittersweet and ultimately it is something we all have to live with.”
The Rebels must live with the fact they, at times, were their own worst enemy. Against the Lions, they turned the ball over four times, twice on interceptions and twice on fumbles.
“The game was mired by missed opportunities,” Rosol said. “Several times throughout the course of the game we had chances to grab a big momentum swing, but ultimately could never capitalize.
“After the game, I told them that obviously it was not the end that we all wanted but sometimes life is not always fair. You can’t constantly dig yourself a hole and expect to successfully fight out of it, especially against such a talented and well-coached team as South Fayette.”
Despite the defeat, the Rebels did win 10 games. Their lone losses were to the Lions, once in the WPIAL semifinals and once for the Century Conference championship.
“Even though we did not reach our ultimate goal, the kids can still view their season as a success,” Rosol said, noting the Rebels beat four playoff teams and a completely healthy Quaker Valley squad. “They can be proud of the season they had.”
Rosol, on the other hand, is not completely satisfied with the job he did at the helm. He views his first season as so-so and notes that he is his own toughest critic. “In my eyes, I failed them by not getting us to Heinz and beyond.” He says he will always second guess aspects of the last game, just like he does with former games he called when he was the offensive coordinator at Montour. “You try and not let the losses get the best of you but sometimes they do. It’s the nature of the beast. It is also the motivation I use to try and get better every off season.”
The Rebels begin the rebuilding process around Paris Ford, not to mention Liam Sweeney. A sophomore, Ford ranked second on the team in receptions with 34 for 529 yards and 10 scores. Sweeney led the Rebels in rushing against South Fayette with 77 yards.
“I believe the program is on an upward swing,” said Rosol. “Hopefully we are able to get more kids out for the team, seeing as how two kids who performed well for us, were both first-year basketball players who we talked into playing. They both thanked me and mentioned how much fun they had. Must mean we are doing something right.”