Championships always the goal at Mt. Lebanon
MT. LEBANON – Coaches may change, but goals remain constant at Mt. Lebanon.
“To be competitive and compete for championships,” said Greg Perry.
Perry is the third head football coach in three years at Mt. Lebanon. He was hired in February to replace Mike Collodi, who resigned after a 5-6 inaugural campaign. Prior to Collodi, Bob Palko led Lebo, guiding the squad to WPIAL title and PIAA championships in 2021 before retiring.
“Mt. Lebanon has a tradition of high standards in athletics as well as education,” Perry said. “It’s one of those jobs and places anyone would look forward to having. The goal is to maintain that pride and tradition.”
Perry brings a track record of winning to Mt. Lebanon. His coaching career has spanned more than 30 years and included stints at Seton LaSalle, Keystone Oaks and Canon-McMillan as well as Duquesne University. He has worked with NFL and collegiate quarterbacks as well as guiding teams to WPIAL titles and appearances in the PIAA finals.
“Everywhere you go, they will tell you that they want to make the playoffs and vie for that (state) championship. We all want to get to the PIAA,” Perry said.
In 2024, however, Perry has his work cut out for him. He is implementing a new operating scheme and he is doing so in the highest classification, dominated recently by Central Catholic and North Allegheny. The Vikings have won eight WPIAL championships, three of them in the past six years. The Tigers have won six district titles, including last year with a 44-41 win against Central Catholic. The Vikings have been to the eight state finals, winning four times. NA owns two PIAA championships.
“NA and Central are the two-headed monster. They have been on top and will remain the favorite until somebody knocks them off,” Perry said. “We want to try and be that person.”
The Blue Devils will attempt to do so with a youthful look. They will start juniors in some critical positions, including quarterback.
Patrick Smith, along with sophomore Brady Wagner, have been tasked with running Perry’s fast-paced, no-huddle, pass-oriented attack.
“Pat has the ability to run the football and a strong arm to throw it. He’s a dual threat,” Perry said. “Brady has really high potential and once we get him up to speed in the system, we expect him to be a viable helper.
“In my years running this offense, it takes time to progress. If they work with me, then they’ll put up great numbers, which will lead to wins. The first year will be what it is but we expect it to become custom made.”
Smith is also tailored to start at linebacker, much as his brother, Jack, did when Lebo won its last state title and as his dad and uncles did when the Blue Devils ruled the WPIAL in the 1980s.
“We have no qualms with Pat going both ways. He’s a good enough athlete,” Perry said. “I love his athleticism and the respect his teammates give him because he is such a good athlete.”
Lebo’s roster is teeming with multi-sport athletes. For example, Kris Kambitsis and Grayson Beck played on the lacrosse club that produced a WPIAL title this spring. Both are juniors.
Kambitsis will be in the backfield with veteran Jimmy Green, who Perry expects to have a good year running the ball as well as catching it out of the backfield. Beck combines with Joe Malone at tight end. Both are 6-2 juniors that are expected to complement Smith.
“I love crossover kids and lacrosse is a great fit (for football) because of its physicality and running,” Perry said.
Noah Schaerli leads the receiving corp that includes junior Colin Kramer and senior Vince Musial. The 6-2, 175-pound senior was an all-conference performer and Lebo’s leading receiver last fall with 22 receptions for 476 yards and five TDs.
Schaerli, along with Musial and Kramer spearhead the defensive secondary with Green, and Billy Robertson, a senior.
Smith and Beck dominate the outside while Kambitsis and senior Dom Huff control the inside while the line will be dominated by two-way players, among them Malone and Jackson Kraemer at tackle and Lucas Bovino at nose guard.
A returning starter, Bovino anchors the O-Line at right guard. A junior, Kraemer has experience at right tackle.
Jackson Steiner is the left tackle. A junior, he gained playing time last season. Jeff Frieden is a returning starter and is slotted at left guard. Senior Ben Taback is the center.
The Blue Devils will utilize the talents of junior Mickey Murphy and Steiner on both sides of the line.
“We have a little inexperience as two have played a lot and two played some,” Perry said. “Plus, they are working under a new system. It’s no-huddle and fast-paced. We’ll go as far as our O-Line goes. We need that group to gel.
Some 100 players came out for the team, of them 35 were freshmen and 27 were sophomores. The Blue Devils list 17 seniors and 21 juniors on the varsity roster.
“We need to grow up fast,” Perry said. He noted Lebo’s schedule is not favorable, starting with arch-rival Upper St. Clair on Aug. 23 followed by defending WPIAL 5A champion Peters Township on Sept. 6 before facing Central Catholic in the conference opener Sept. 13.
“Confidence is the biggest hurdle,” Perry continued. “They need to know they can compete with those teams. We need to develop enough to be ready for those early hurdles until we get comfortable with what we are trying to be and that is a WPIAL playoff team.”