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USC holds on, ends South Fayette’s regular-season streak at 57

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

South Fayette’s Peyton Tinney makes a reception and attempts to elude the tackle of Upper St. Clair’s David Pantellis during the first quarter Friday night.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

South Fayette’s Charley Rossi (1) celebrates with teammates Rayquin Glover (11) and Nolan Lutz (22) after catching a 49-yard touchdown pass from Jamie Diven during the first half Friday night.

UPPER ST. CLAIR – Yes, South Fayette’s 34-33 loss to Upper St. Clair ended its 57-game regular-season winning streak but the Lions exacted everything they wanted out of this Week Zero contest that kicked off the 2018 high school football campaign.

“We wanted to play this game because we knew it would be a situations like a playoff atmosphere,” said SF head coach Joe Rossi. “Those were two good football teams out there.”

And because of a failed two-point conversion after Charley Rossi’s dramatic 49-yard reception from Jamie Diven with 3:04 to play and because Brandon Shearer made a game-ending interception, the Lions were the good team on the losing end as they head into conference action on Aug. 31 at home against Beaver.

“All good things come to an end,” said Rossi of the winning streak, “but we are still 0-0 in conference play. That’s the bottom line. That’s all that matters.”

What matters most is the Lions looked good in facing a team considered to be among the top four in Class 5A of the WPIAL.

In his debut, first-year starter Jamie Diven completed 23 of 33 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns.

“For his first start in our system, I thought he performed well,” said Rossi. “He made good decisions.”

Down 14-0 at the start of the second stanza, Diven found Peyton Tinney for a 40-yard TD and Charley Rossi for a 49-yard scoring strike but the Pantellis brothers, David and Chris, afforded USC the advantage by halftime, 27-13.

The Pantellis brothers accounted for most of Jason Sweeney’s 283 yards passing. The senior signal caller completed 14 of 20 attempts for four USC TDs, too. Both brothers had six receptions for 131 yards. Chris scored three times and also contributed a blocked extra point while David had one score.

“(Sweeney) did a nice job,” said USC skipper Jim Render. “I have been preaching to him to get the ball near the Pantellis brothers. Give them a chance and he did that.

“Jason has a nice arm. Give him some time and he’ll be alright but the Panthellis brothers are a force,” added Render.

Antonio Orsini proved the rushing force for the Panthers as he accounted for their lone second-half score on an 8-yard TD run. He finished with 160 yards on 14 carries.

South Fayette, however, dominated the second half. The Lions scored on the first possession as they powered their way down field and culminated with a 1-yard TD run by Drew Franklin.

Trailing 34-20, the Lions scored twice in the fourth frame on a 21-yard TD aerial from Diven to Joey Audia and a 54-yard scoring strike to Rossi, who finished with nine receptions for 154 yards and two TDs.

South Fayette went for the victory but the 2-point conversion pass failed.

“No one wants to go to OT,” explained Rossi. “It’s a situation there where we are going to try and win the game. We ran our play. It didn’t work out for us but what a great football game.”

Until the bitter end, the Lions still had a chance. They forced USC to punt the ball but on their last possession, Shearer intercepted.

“He was in the right position but he also made a fantastic athletic play,” said Render of the pick. “That’s a junior linebacker making his first start.”

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