Panthers pine for playoff position

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Sitting out the WPIAL playoffs after an 8-2 regular season enflamed Upper St. Clair last fall. It also motivates the Panthers in 2024.

“We got to feel what it was like to stay at home and It certainly was a frustration. Not having that playoff experience is something we are unaccustomed to around here,” said USC head coach Mike Junko. “So there is a real hunger among our young men to get back to the playoffs and not take for granted what it takes to get there.

Junko noted the process for qualifying for the playoffs was clear and the Panthers did not qualify because, though they tied Bethel Park and Moon with 3-2 conference records, they lost out on a berth because of the Gardner Points System as well as results against the competition. USC lost to WPIAL champion Peters Township, 31-0, and Bethel Park, 22-10, although they scored a thrilling double overtime victory, 43-42, against the Tigers.

“We don’t want to put ourselves in that position again so we are working hard to get back to the playoffs,” Junko said. “This group is very hungry and driven.”

The Panthers are also experienced. They return nine starters on offense and 10 on defense.

“We are excited about 2024 because last year we had a lot of inexperienced players that really matured and were playing their best football at the end of the year. We hope to continue to build off that growth and maturation. We have kids who grew together, fought battles together and trust one another. It’s good to go into a season with guys who have battled and have gotten experience playing under the lights.”

The Hellmann brothers, Ethan and Van, are among the veterans expected to make critical contributions. A junior, Ethan returns at quarterback while Van, a senior, is a veteran linebacker that provides versatility on offense as an H-back. Van, who is being recruited by Army, Navy, and Richmond, accumulated 57 tackles and picked up three sacks while Ethan passed for more than 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“As brothers, the Helmanns have a great rapport. They know where each other is on the field.

“Van is one of our biggest threats when he is healthy. He can prevent receivers from catching the ball and he is an excellent run blocker. A throwback. Old school,” Junko said.

“Ethan is a fiery kid. We excels in an environment where he is allowed to compete with intensity. He thrives because of his competitiveness. As a quarterback, he has very good pocket presence and is one of the most accurate that I have coached. He knows how to get out of trouble and when to hang in there. He has good field vision.”

The Panthers will have ample time to throw because they boast a very experienced offensive line.

Bobby Fleckenstein is a two-year starter at right tackle. Brock Gillespie is a veteran at right guard. He is being recruited by Davidson, Dayton, Pioneer League teams as well as other FCS programs. Junior Mason Geyer anchors the line at center.

A left guard, Nate Stohl is “unrivaled” on both sides of the line. He and Mike Albert are Princeton bound. A junior, Reese Pirain had the edge at left tackle.

Sophomore Ryan Robbins, senior Austin Middleton and junior Chase Kaczmarek provide depth on the line.

“It all starts with the O-line. It’s important to our program. Our ID,” Junko said.

“We hang our hat on our ability to create opportunities in both the run and pass game. Those guys have worked together for two to three years and they take pride in what they do. We will attack teams vertically but balance is the key. You want to stretch defenses horizontally, too, so our running game will keep things honest.”

Junior Dante Coury and sophomore John Banbury provide USC with a 1-2 punch in the backfield. A slasher, Coury and a pounder, Banbury complement each other with their styles. Plus, they can catch the ball, says Junko.

“Those guys will continue in the long tradition of good running backs at USC,” Junko said. “They fit the mold.”

Veterans Charlie Bywalski and Julian Dahlem return as USC’s leading receivers along with Bryce Jones and Nico D’Orazio.

Dahlem hauled in a team-high 30 passes for six touchdowns and accounted for 750 all-purpose yards in 2023. He also ranked second on the team in rushing and scoring. He is also the team’s backup quarterback as well as a starter in the secondary.

“We are excited about our receivers because they are guys that have a lot of experience,” Junko said. “Charlie has made a lot of big plays. We look for Bryce to have a breakout year. Julian has always been a playmaker for us. So we look for that veteran experience.”

While Mike Albert will be utilized as a tight end, the Princeton recruit has moved from linebacker to the defensive line this season and will play alongside Stohl and Pirain. Geyer and Middleton provide depth.

“This year we have a larger means to choose from in terms of who is Friday night ready,” Junko said. “We will access our depth see when we get to the fourth quarter, we do not run out of gas.”

Veteran starters Banbury and Hellman will be joined by Coury at linebacker. Coury moves from strong safety. Carter Stein’s talents will also be used at linebacker.

“We have an experienced, very physical group,” Junko said. “They love to hit and they love to take on isolation situations. It can be a strength of our defense.”

USC’s weakness on defense last year was its secondary but the group has gained experience as D’Orazio returns at safety, and Dahlem, as well as Jones, are back on the corners. Jake Casares is a strong safety along with Drew Sanderson and Bywalski.

“We struggled last year in the secondary. Gave up too many big plays in the passing game,” Junko said. “This is an area that we expect to see our most improvement because of the experience we gained and the lessons that we learned.

“We have to limit the big pass plays in the back. We will rely on our line. That is our strength. That was the one thing we saw last year was how they could make the splash plays that turned the game. The rest of the defense and the team fed off that.”

For all of its experience, USC will still be chasing Peters Township as well as rival Bethel Park for the conference crown. The Indians are the defending WPIAL champions as well as PIAA runners-up. The Black Hawks boast Navy recruit Clancy Orie, whose father is a USC graduate, as well as three-year starters in wide receiver Ryan Petras and quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer.

“When you look at our conference, the WPIAL champion or runner-up has come out of our conference for six years. So it’s the strongest in 5A,” Junko said. “Peters Township has an excellent quarterback and phenomenal linebackers and they always seem to be very physical up front. They are the odds on favorite and Bethel Park has a lot of talented, veteran players. South Fayette is excited about their new coach.

“Everybody’s goals are to win a conference championship and and the WPIAL and to play for a state title,” Junko said. “We need to be clear of our direction and the vision on where we want to go. We are a hungry group that did not get to play playoff football. The desire is to not let that happen again. So we have set a course to work toward those goals. We are excited to see them chase that dream.

“We have to play better in the conference though. We won a lot of games last year. Just not the right ones. We only have ourselves to blame for that.”