Lebo’s Grattan to play against Pitt
Though homecoming for the University of Pittsburgh is not until October, Sept. 3 marks the return of Paul Grattan to the area gridiron when the Panthers host Villanova at 1:30 p.m. at Heinz Field.
The Mt. Lebanon High School graduate is the only freshman lineman to make the traveling squad, so he will be in uniform when the Wildcats take on Pitt.
The 19-year-old son of Paul and Patricia Grattan is a 6-3, 300-pound offensive lineman.
He was an All-State and All-Conference performer at Mt. Lebanon. A three-year letter winner, he also was named to the PA Preps Golden 33 Team.
Grattan comes from an athletic family. His sister, Olivia, played volleyball at Quinnipiac, and his other sister, Caroline, plays the same sport at Temple.
Villanova enters the season ranked No. 23 in the STATS preseason Top 25, which is a national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries. Villanova returns 10 starters and 29 letter winners from last year’s 6-5 team that posted a 5-3 conference slate.
Meanwhile, the Panthers’ roster features a wealth of local talent. Among the area athletes are Mike Grimm from Bethel Park; Rori Blair and Brandon Ford from Upper St. Clair; Canon-McMillan product Alex Paulina; Alex Bookser from Mt. Lebanon; Zach Challingsworth from South Fayette; and Scott Orndoff from Seton-La Salle.