USC football set to open with GCC

The Upper St. Clair football team will host Greensburg Central Catholic at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 in its season opener.
Originally, the Panthers were scheduled to play West Toronto Prep. Because of U.S.-Canada border policy regarding the pandemic, that contest was canceled.
“There were just too many question marks about how the team would get back to cross the border,” said USC head coach Mike Junko.
The U.S. government for months has banned Canadian tourists from entering the country over land as part of its COVID-19 mitigation policy. Canada recently opened its borders to fully vaccinated Americans for the first time in 16 months. The United States, though, has not yet reciprocated.
Junko credits athletic director Dr. Kevin Dietrick with finding the game.
Since GCC was without a game because Beth-Center canceled, the Centurions sent out feelers for an opponent across the state and Dietrick responded.
The Panthers are a Class 5A school while GCC competes at the Class A level in the Eastern Conference. The Centurions were 2-5 overall last year.
“We really wanted a game because many of our guys are playing under the lights for the first time” said Junko. “We felt a game would be better for our guys as opposed to another scrimmage.”
Junko said GCC has a “long tradition of success” and noted the recent hire of head coach Marko Thomas.
“He’s brought a lot of energy to the program,” Junko said.
Junko said he is excited to finally see his team in action.
“We are such a young team,” he said. “So we are trying to eliminate turnovers and penalties. The game is not about the size of our opponent but about the little things we are trying to perfect.
“We are happy to get a game, especially when all hope was lost,” he added. “Having a game is real important to us so our young guys can get a feel for the experience of playing under the lights.”
The Panthers graduated 25 seniors from last year’s team that finished runner-up to Peters Township in the Allegheny Six Conference. USC finished 5-3 overall and was eliminated from the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs by Penn Trafford.
USC will look to replace the output of former quarterback Ethan Dahlem. A Case-Western freshman, Dahlem accounted for 5,121 yards of offense, throwing for 3,785 and 31 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,336 and 20 touchdowns the past two seasons.
The Panthers plan to rely upon Mateo Cepullio, Adian Besselman, Jamaal Brown, Ethan Hiester and Brady Bartusiak while bringing along the underclassmen.
Last fall, Cepullio finished with 31 catches for 432 yards while Besselman had 14 catches for 276 yards. Jamaal Brown rushed for 317 yards. Hiester was an all-conference punter that gained 421 rushing yards and has accumulated 103 career tackles. Bartusiak was a defensive stalwart.
“Those guys have been leaders,” Junko said.
“So far we have been having a good camp. We are progressing. Everybody has a good attitude. There is a lot of competition for positions. It’s made for a very spirited camp. Everyone has been locked in. It’s been fun competition.”