USC, Lebo renew rivalry on the gridiron
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Everett Lefever of Mt. Lebanon makes his move during previous football action this season against North Allegheny. The Blue Devils host arch rival Upper St. Clair at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 in a non-conference clash.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Mike Trimbur makes the reception and bolts 47 yards for a touchdown during South Fayette’s 21-0 win against Blackhawk. The senior caught two scoring strikes in the victory and Andrew Franklin rushed for the final score.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Charley Rossi, Rayquin Glover (11) and Ryan McQuire (18) congratulate Mike Trimbur after his TD reception propelled South Fayette to victory, 21-0, against Blackhawk.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Upper St. Clair running back Antonio Orsini attempts to hold off Mateo Vandamia of West Allegheny while quarterback Jason Sweeney scrambles to find a receiver during previous football action this season. USC visits Mt. Lebanon in a non-conference clash at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Anthony Chiccitt will lead Bethel Park into an Allegheny Eight Conference fray at Chartiers Valley on Oct. 5.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Connor Barrett (No. 8) of Chartiers Valley breaks a tackle during a scrimmage against South Fayette earlier this season. He will lead the Colts into battle as they host Bethel Park in a key Allegheny Eight Conference clash on Oct. 5.
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.”
BP visits CV
Jeff Metheny’s last visit to Colt Country with his Black Hawks still stings.
“We got beat a few years ago over there,” Metheny said.
It is with that memory of defeat that Bethel Park prepares for this Allegheny Eight Conference showdown at 7 p.m. Oct. 5. The Hawks are 2-1 in the league and 3-2 overall after their 38-14 win at Moon last week while the Colts slipped to 0-3 in the division and 3-3 overall after a 20-14 loss to Baldwin.
“We don’t know a whole lot about those guys but they have a running back that’s a good kid and a quarterback that puts the ball on the numbers. They are sound in what they do and disciplined,” Metheny said. “So, we have to be prepared. The big thing, though, is we need to take care of us.”
Against Moon, the Hawks did just that.
Powered by Sean McGowan, they snapped a 14-14 deadlock. McGowan rushed for 202 yards and two scores of 31 and 2 yards on 14 carries. Luke Surunis tacked on three more scores of 23, 3 and 2 yards. John Gummo kicked the extra points and a 22-yard field goal.
The backs have picked up the slack in the wake of an injury to Jehvonn Lewis. The senior tailback had 10 TDs and 454 yards on 56 carries before getting hurt. He may return to the lineup this week.
Regardless of his availability, the Hawks must continue to do what they have been doing.
“We have to keep growing and putting together sound football,” Metheny said. “We are at mid-season and no, we are not perfect, but we’ve made it through so far and got kids some experience. If we keep working, then we could be in the mix. We want to continue getting better so that we can be a place where we have a chance for a high seed in the playoffs or even be a conference champion.”
CV saw that chance fade away with the disappointing loss to Baldwin.
In the defeat, Connor Barrett rushed for scores of 1 and 19 yards. Adam Weiss kicked the extra points.
“It was a tough loss, but a loss where you are proud of the players. They fought and played hard to the very end,” CV coach Dan Knause said. “When games go down to the final series you know both teams battled hard.”
SF travels to Knoch
South Fayette’s longest bus ride of the year to play at Knoch Oct. 5 may come with some sweet snacks aboard.
See, assistant coach Bill Yoest promises his defense doughnuts whenever they post a shutout. The Lions (5-1) have been rewarded three times this year.
The Lions earned those snacks when they held Blackhawk to a doughnut, 21-0, last week in a clash between two unbeaten Northwest Eight Conference clubs. That effort was particularly pleasing as the Cougars boasted a potent offense. The Lions limited Blackhawk to 203 total yards and no points.
“We’re all eating because that was well-earned against a very good football team that’s going to go deep in the playoffs,” South Fayette head coach Joe Rossi said.
If the Lions continue their defensive and offensive escapades, they too will go far. They are ranked only behind No. 1 Thomas Jefferson (5-0) in Class 4-A.
They boast on of the top passers in the WPIAL in Jamie Diven. The senior completed 8 of 19 attempts for 241 yards and two scoring strikes to Mike Trimbur of 47 and 36 yards in the second half.
But it was the defense that led the way against Blackhawk. Tinney and Ryan Koskoski recovered fumbles. Nolan Lutz, Joe Mowod, Quentin Franklin, Rayquin Glover rank as the team’s top tacklers with 28 or more. Tom Elia and Glover are tops in sacks followed by Zack Blank and Ben Coyne. Ryan Coe, who has 36 points as a place kicker, is also an asset on defense because of his punting abilities. Trimbur, Rossi, Tinney and Eli Snider each have an interception on defense for the Lions, who stretched their conference winning streak to 53 games.
In facing the 2-4 Knights, the Lions must stop their triple-option offense designed by head coach Frank Whalen. Chase Mullen directs the offense at quarterback while Matt Goodlin and Noah Cetnar are his go-to backs. Dalton Reed affords the protection on both sides of the line.
“It’s the offense you see from Army or Navy in college football,” Rossi said. “They have been able to move the ball on everybody this season because it is difficult to prepare for in just one week. They force you to be disciplined and limit what you can do on defense.”
After back-to-back shutouts and three on the season, that really shouldn’t be a problem for South Fayette as these Lions relish sweet success.
PT looks to rebound
After a disappointing loss to rival Canon-McMillan, 35-26, in a thrilling non-conference clash, Peters Township looks to get back on the winning track when it returns to Allegheny Eight Conference action. The Indians (4-2, 2-1) host Moon (2-4, 1-2) at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5.
In the loss to the Big Macs, Logan Pfeuffer excelled. The sophomore quarterback completed 22 of 28 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns to Jackson McCloskey (30 yards) and Aiden McCall (15 yards).
But things started poorly for the Indians as Drew Engel returned an interception 24 yards for a score on their first possession. Josh O’Hare then rambled for 214 yards and three touchdowns of 1, 35 and 23 yards.
Engel also pulled in a 15-yard scoring strike from Jon Quinque, who completed 13 of 21 passes for 198 yards. Engel finished with 101 yards on six receptions.
McCloskey had 117 yards on four grabs. Ryan Magiske added two running touchdowns of 16 and 6 yards for the Indians.
“You had two good teams out there battling,” PT coach T.J. Plack said. “We lost the turnover battle, and that’s exactly what it came down to.”