O-R Athlete of the Week: Drew Saxton, South Fayette
Name: Drew Saxton
School: South Fayette
Sport: Football
Year: Senior
Saxton’s week: Saxton completed 14 of his 20 passes for 342 yards and four touchdowns in the Lions’ 49-21 victory over Montour to win the Northwest Nine Conference championship. He also ran six times for 41 yards and two touchdowns.
The win extended South Fayette’s regular-season winning streak to 57 games. It also completed the Lions sixth consecutive undefeated regular season.
“Everything has been going well and we are where we want to be,” Saxton said. “Both offensively and defensively, the coaches put us in the position to succeed. All we have to do is go out and execute.”
Saxton has 2,203 passing yards and 32 total touchdowns on the season and is in the top 10 in career passing yardage in WPIAL history. He has thrown at least one touchdown passes in 20 consecutive games.
Since becoming the starter as a sophomore, Saxton has helped lead South Fayette to a 32-2 record, including a trip to Heinz Field for the WPIAL championship in 2015.
“When you call a play and have a quarterback see something and change it, or make checks at the line, those are higher level things,” said South Fayette head coach Joe Rossi. “He’s stepped up exceptionally this year.”
Taking control: The question many were asking is where South Fayette would find an heir apparent when Brett Brumaugh graduated in 2014, only years after his brother, Christian, held the starting quarterback position.
“I put pressure on myself because I always have expectations,” Saxton said. “I’m always looking to get better. I watched Brett. I listened to Brett and the other guys around me.”
That answer would come in a young Saxton, who would play in the second half of games when the Lions were dominating opponents.
“I’m not a big kid. I’m not going to go out there and have a rocket arm,” Saxton said. “I think my success comes from the communication with my guys on the field.”
Bigger plans: As South Fayette prepares to begin another playoff run, it’s with the memories of last year’s shocking first-round exit to New Castle, a team the Lions defeated in the regular season.
“A few other seniors and I were talking about how weird it was that our season ended at this time last year,” Saxton said. “This week of practice, we are really stressing that.”
The last time South Fayette failed to make the playoffs was in 2008.
Last year marked the first lost the Lions suffered in the opening round of the WPIAL playoffs in any of those seasons.
“The coaches have built a championship culture,” Saxton said. “If we come up short, the season didn’t end how we wanted it to end. I know a lot of kids that don’t get this opportunity and I really try to cherish it. It comes with a lot of pressure but allows you to grow as a player and a person.”
Compiled by Luke Campbell