Oct 1, 2018 By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 5 min read

Regarding athletics, Mt. Lebanon is much like Notre Dame. Like the Fighting Irish, everybody loves to beat the Blue Devils.

“When I first came to Uniontown, they said their big rival was Mt. Lebanon,” said Jim Render, who coached the Raiders for seven seasons before becoming entrenched as Upper St. Clair football field general for the past 40 years. “We wound up beating them and I have never seen a more excited locker room than after that game. The kids went crazy.”

On Oct. 5, Render’s Panthers likely will go nuts, too, if they should take down the Blue Devils in a non-conference clash scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. at Mt. Lebanon. At 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the Quad County Conference, the Blue Devils are ranked No. 5 in Class 6-A

Because the schools have been grouped in different classifications-Lebo at the Class 6-A level in the WPIAL and USC in the Class 5-A division-the teams have not faced each other since 2015.

“It’s a shame the game is not played every year,” Render said.

Lebo coach Mike Melnyk agreed, adding that he is happy that the WPIAL has worked to get the two teams back on the schedule after the Blue Devils lost many of their other South Hills rivals due to conference realignment. Though the outcome does not count against either team’s conference record, the game matters to both opponents, he said.

“Rivalry games are always important to everyone involved, and there is no sense trying to downplay the significance of this one,” Melnyk said.

The game is significant particularly for the seniors who have not had a chance to play their bitter rival on the gridiron until this season.

“I don’t know if kids care if it’s a conference game or not,” Render said. “They know what it’s like to play the neighbors. The game is important to them.”

Admittedly the game is important to both coaches, too. Render, who recently surpassed the 400-win milestone in his career, has participated in many USC-Lebo clashes and the rainstorm the Panthers played in two weeks ago brought back one of his fondest recollections of the rivalry.

In 2004, when Hurricane Ivan caused flooding and power outages in the area, the game was postponed. Instead of playing Friday night, the teams met in a rare Saturday afternoon contest the following day.

“There are so many memories, but I remember that one because we had one of those rainstorms like we did a couple of weeks ago,” Render said.

Render fondly recalled how Sean Lee made the decisive play. The current Dallas Cowboys’ linebacker scored the game-winning touchdown and USC went on to victory, 21-14.

While Render has participated in too many USC-Lebo clashes to remember, Melnyk recalls each of his team’s four encounters with the Panthers. The first meeting left an indelible mark as the Blue Devils suffered a defeat after having mounted a 17-0 lead.

“That is a bitter memory,” Melnyk admitted. “We won the last time we played,” he said referencing a 34-21 victory. “So it’s been a happy three years.”

The USC-Lebo frays are not necessarily friendly.

“Each was heated,” Melnyk said. “It doesn’t take long to feel the emotion.”

Emotions aside, there is respect for the opponent.

“USC is always well-coached,” Melnyk said. “You don’t win over 400 games by accident, so Coach Render has played in many of these games and he knows how to get the best out of his players.”

Melnyk, too, makes the most out of his players and they are talented, Render said, pointing first to Seth Morgan.

In Lebo’s 37-6 conference win against Hempfield last week, the senior signal caller threw for 219 yards and a touchdown as well as rushed for a 4-yard score. Morgan ranks as one of the top passers in the WPIAL with 1,155 yards on 80 completions.

“They have what amounts to be a veteran quarterback,” Render said. “He’s both a passer and a runner and they utilize his skills well.”

Render also noted Lebo’s size, particularly with “a couple of big defensive linemen” and athletic secondary spearheaded by Mason Ventrone.

Ventrone pulled in a 78-yard TD aerial from Morgan against Hempfield while Drew Morgan rushed for three scores of 14, 11 and 1 yard and Casey Sorsdal converted the extra points and kicked a 37-yard field goal.

“As a team, Lebo certainly has some talent,” Render said.

So do the Panthers. They are 5-1 overall after crushing Fox Chapel, 33-7.

In he triumph, Jason Sweeney completed 13 of 16 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for two scores. This fall, Sweeney has completed 59 of 113 attempts for 815 yards and nine scores.

Antonio Orsini rushed for 124 yards on 17 carries against he Foxes. He has 604 yards on the season. Also in the win, Colin McLinden rushed for one score, Brandon Shearer had a TD grab and Sean Martin converted two extra points and kicked a field goal. Chris Pantellis had four receptions for 107 yards to improve his season totals to 383 yards, five scores and 688 all-purpose yards.

Render said he was “pretty pleased” with his team’s overall performance against the Foxes as well as how the Panthers established “a decent” ground game and passing attack.

“We are at the mid-point of the season,” Render said, “and I am of the opinion that a team either gets better or worse. It doesn’t stay the same. So far, we have continued to get better. So hopefully that continues.”