Junko earns first win as USC head coach
Eleanor Bailey/The almanac
Upper St. Clair’s Ben Lund makes a reception while being defended by South Fayette’s Ryan McGuire during Friday night’s game.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Upper St. Clair’s Mateo Cepullio escapes the grasp of South Fayette’s Nolan Lutz and races for the end zone. Cepullio’s 24-yard reception from Ethan Dahlem sealed the Panthers’ victory over the Lions Friday night.
Mike Junko knew it wouldn’t take long to get his first victory as Upper St. Clair’s football coach because he believed in his players.
His young charges carried the Upper St. Clair banner and in Panther tradition outmuscled South Fayette, 27-13, for a Week Zero victory.
“It’s so exciting,” said Junko, who replaced longtime USC head coach Jim Render.
Render retired in January with 406 victories — the most in WPIAL history.
“I’m so happy for the kids because they worked so hard. They put so much into this. So the joy is really for our kids and everything they have done.
“At no one point in the game did they ever lose faith and trust, and when you believe, magic happens,” he said during the postgame celebration.
Veterans and newcomers provided the magic for the Panthers.
Returning defensive starters David Pantelis and Brandon Shearer both had interceptions. Shearer’s came at a critical moment with 3:45 to play. Pantelis’ interception occurred in the first quarter. Both turnovers resulted in scores.
Pantelis scored on a 28-yard reception from Ethan Dahlem at 5:53 in the first quarter in response to SF’s 21-yard field goal by Justin Caputo three minutes earlier.
The earlier interception, combined with a fourth-and-2 conversion grab by Dany Harkleroad, set up Mateo Cepullio’s 24-yard touchdown grab from Dahlem.
Dahlem, a first-year starter at quarterback, completed 13 of 19 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore also rushed for a 26-yard score with 3:52 remaining in the third quarter to lift USC into the lead for good.
Though Caputo tacked on another field goal to start the final quarter, Luke Banbury capped a strong rushing drive by the Panthers with his 1-yard plunge into the end zone with 4:45 to play.
Though USC surrendered 360 yards passing as Naman Alemada completed 34 of his 53 attempts, the Panthers picked off four, including a second by Pantelis and another by Ethan Hiester. Additionally, Harkleroad, Pantelis, Roman Murgi and Joe Houck managed tackles for losses. Murgi and Houck were credited with sacks.
“Physicality has been a part of USC football a long time and we don’t want to lose that,” Junko said. “It really showed and it helped us win the football game at the end for sure.
“All credit to our defense,” he added. “You’ve seen South Fayette make plays, but our defense kept making play after play. I couldn’t be happier.”
Dahlem led all rushers with 104 yards on 19 attempts. Pantelis had four catches for 49 yards while Joe Lackner finished with three receptions. Ben Lund and Cepullio had two catches for 39 and 30 yards, respectively.
For Junko, the first victory was special for so many reasons. He is a USC graduate and excelled on school’s only WPIAL championship team in 1992. He played quarterback at Akron.
“To be at USC means so much to me,” Junko said. “I stood in front of the kids and told them before hand that to be their coach creates such a family atmosphere and to come here to play against this storied program and win in their stadium makes it extra special,” Junko added of the dynasty Joe Rossi has created at South Fayette with two state championships and four WPIAL titles in 12 seasons.
While disappointed in the defeat, Rossi agreed the Week Zero game was good preparation for next week’s conference opener against Beaver.
“Hats off to USC,” Rossi said. “We played a game in front of a great crowd against a good football team. Now we just have to make our corrections. Only way to get better is to experience this kind of pressure.
“We learned a lot about our team. We will get better,” he said. “Conference play is all that matters.”
CV blanks Rams
In other Week Zero football action, Chartiers Valley whipped Ringgold, 42-0, at Joe Montana Stadium
Griffin Beattie rushed 13 times for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also hauled in two passes for 98 yards and another score.
Andre Thomas ran for three TDs. He gathered up 82 yards on 10 carries.
After a scoreless first quarter, Thomas raced nine and five yards, vaulting the Colts into the lead, 14-0. Beattie’s 72-yard TD pass from Anthony Mackey made it 21-0 at halftime.
Mackey, who was 3-for-3 for 100 yards, also scored a touchdown as did Anthony Zambrano, who had 40 yards on five carries.
The win spoiled the coaching debut of Darwin Manges, who replaced Mike Zmijanac.
The Colts (1-0) opened conference play at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 at West Allegheny.
Mt. Lebanon and Canon-McMillan prepared for their battle at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 at Canonsburg Memorial Stadium against some stiff competition.
Lebo, C-M fall
While the Blue Devils dropped a decision to Gateway, which is ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, the Big Macs succumbed to Thomas Jefferson, which is considered the top team in Quad-A.
In Lebo’s loss, 46-20, Derrick Davis rolled up 173 yards rushing and reached the end zone on 35-, 57- and 64-yard sprints. He also had a 75-yard TD catch and 104 yards receiving.
Sophomore Joey Daniels hit Mason Ventrone for a 75-yard score. Drew Vaughn added a 1-yard run to narrow the gap, 27-14.
Daniels went 4 for 9 with 105 yards and the one touchdown. In the second half, Evan Jones completed two of four passes for 61 yards. He scored on a 2-yard plunge in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Shane Stump led to C-M’s 54-10 demise. He passed for 294 yards and four scores. He also ran for 120 yards and another touchdown.
Stump threw TD passes of 75 yards to Dan Deabner, 73 yards to Preston Zandier, 48 yards to Ian Hansen and four yards to Zandier. Stump also had an 80-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that gave TJ a 14-3 lead.
Blake Joseph caught a 72-yard pass from Jon Quinque for the Big Macs’ only touchdown. Ben Popko converted a 35-yard field goal for the Big Macs.
PT beats Foxes
Peters Township thumped Fox Chapel, 45-0.
Josh Casilli racked up 70 receiving yards while Ryan Magiske rolled up 81 yards on the ground. Both scored two touchdowns.
Aidan McCall returned a punt for a score. Logan Pfeuffer tossed three scoring strikes, including a 61-yard bomb to Adrian Williams in the second stanza, which stretched PT’s advantage to 31-0.
Mario Pusateri, who accounted for the extra points, also kicked a 38-yard field goal for the Indians, who led, 45-0, at intermission.
The Indians host Upper St. Clair on Aug. 30. It is the conference opener for both squads.