Mt. Lebanon receiver named MVP
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Aidan Cain had a record-breaking season at Mt. Lebanon with 101 receptions for 1,749 yards. He also set a single-game record with 27 catches for 350 yards against Pine-Richland.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
While Aidan Cain (No. 1) led the WPIAL in receiving, he also played defense and special teams for the Blue Devils.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Aidan Cain pulls in one of his receptions during a game against Peters Township. The Mt. Lebanon senior led the WPIAL with a record 101 catches for 1,749 yards.
Aidan Cain wanted to cement a legacy as an athlete at Mt. Lebanon High School. Yet, he never dreamed the legend he would become since a series of injuries prevented him from playing a single down or quarter until this fall.
After a sensational senior season on the gridiron, Cain graduates not only as the school’s best receiver but also as the greatest of all time in the WPIAL, based on his statistics. He even can say he’s one of the elite in Pennsylvania.
Cain set new state and district receiving standards with 101 catches for 1,749 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also set the state record with 27 receptions for 350 yards in a game against Pine-Richland, which went on to capture the WPIAL and PIAA championships.
“I wouldn’t say I envisioned having the year that I did,” Cain said humbly. “I was just trying to be a successful player because I did not want to be remembered as that guy who was good at football but didn’t get to play because he was always injured.”
Cain caught the injury bug as a sophomore. He tore his ACL during a pre-season scrimmage. After surgery and an extensive rehab, he was back to playing baseball and preparing for his junior year on the gridiron. However, during a summer 7-on-7 passing competition, Cain ripped the same ligament in his left leg. He had surgery at the Steadman Clinic in Colorado and spent two months in Vail reconditioning the knee. Sports, including basketball, were forbidden, but by late spring, Cain had rounded into the best shape of his life and in the proper frame of mind.
“Initially, I was skeptical of my comeback for football but once I set my mind to that goal of getting back on the field, I pushed myself and planned for it.”
Cain didn’t intend to shatter records but he admitted he had high expectations after 18 months of rehab.
“Setting all those records was surreal because you set goals but you don’t exactly go into the season wanting to break WPIAL and state marks,” said the 18-year-old son of Kathleen McGinley and Sean Cain. “It certainly blew everything I expected away and once it happened it was pretty crazy.”
The records began falling immediately. In Week 1 of the season, Cain broke the state marks for the most yards in a single game (350) and most receptions in a game (27) during a loss to Pine-Richland. By the end of the campaign, he also owned the records for receptions in a season (101) and yards in a season (1,749). He averaged 17.3 yards per catch.
Cain said he preferred the total season record the best because it signified the outcome of what he accomplished as opposed to just one single game. He added, however, he would trade the numbers for a title. Lebo finished runner-up to rival Bethel Park for the conference championship and finished 6-5 overall after falling to North Allegheny in the first round of the WPIAL Class 6-A playoffs.
“Definitely disappointed,” said Cain of not winning a championship. “One of our team goals was to win the conference. And, we wanted to make it to Heinz Field but we fell short on that.
“All in all, with everything that I went through with the knee and the injuries, I was just happy to be back on the field with my friends. I was grateful for that. I wouldn’t trade that for anything for sure.”
This winter, Cain has traded his Nikes for a spot at the end of the girls’ basketball bench as a manager. He had played as a freshman on the boys’ varsity.
“After some consideration, I decided that basketball is a hard sport to jump back into,” admitted Cain. “I’m enjoying being a manger though. It’s a fun thing to do and a useful way to spend my time.”
Cain is also spending his time considering his football future. In addition to fitting in workouts in the weight room, he is on the recruiting circuit, having already visited Cornell and Lafayette. Because of his setback as a sophomore and the fact he did not play as a junior, Cain continues to be an unknown commodity.
“I wish I knew what the future held but a lot of people didn’t know about me until mid-season,” said Cain, who just last week received an offer from Pitt to be a preferred walk-on. “I’m hopeful of going to a good academic school that plays good football.”
In addition to those modest goals for college, Cain wants to earn a degree in finance. Plus, he wants to make a contribution as a freshman.
“To be honest, I haven’t thought of anything. No one ultimate goal,” he said, but added with a laugh, “I’ve definitely learned not to underestimate goals for sure.”
Yet all his undefined attainable achievements this autumn have yielded more unthinkable honors for Cain. In addition to earning all-conference honors, Cain has been recognized as The Almanac’s MVP for football this season.
“It’s an honor. Unexpected,” he said. “Especially with all that I’ve gone through, it’s more special.”