Dec 3, 2013 3 min read

The South Fayette Lions football team will still compete in WPIAL’s class AA next year, where they have been dominant.

But school Director Leonard Fornella earlier this year suggested voluntarily moving the football team up a class to AAA. That idea was nixed after talking with the district’s administration, including athletic director Joe Farkus and head football coach Joe Rossi.

“Based upon knowledge, we were only about four or five kids away (from being an AAA team) two years ago,” Fornella said the board’s meeting Monday, as the topic again was discussed. “We are presently the largest AA school in the WPIAL.”

Fornella said when the classifications were done two years ago, the numbers were based upon the current junior class at South Fayette, which has about 156 students in it, significantly less than other classes. AAA schools have larger student enrollments.

“I feel you and your staff could do a tremendous job in AAA. I have complete confidence the students would be able to compete in AAA,” Fornella told Rossi.

Fornella added if WPIAL had waited until next September to do its calculations, the number would be consistent with that of an AAA school.

“Next year we will be an AAA school in football and playing at an AA level,” Fornella said. At a previous meeting, Fornella pointed out that games this year were not as competitive as they used to be, with the football team beating opponents by upward of 50 points.

The Lions, who are undefeated this season, are scheduled to play Hickory in the PIAA Class AA semifinals Saturday at Slippery Rock University. The team beat Karns City in the quarterfinals.

Rossi said Monday that two years ago, the team lost two games by 20 points.

Rossi said that a reason the team is so successful is because it plays extra games and that the exposure the team has received from its playoff run this year and in the past has provided college opportunities for the players. He added that representatives from Penn State and West Virginia universities were on campus recently checking out the team.

“I would never want to lessen the opportunity the kids have,” Rossi said of the players having a chance to play in high-intensity games. Rossi added that younger students have the opportunity to play in most of the games during the third and fourth quarters.

“Additional playing time is key. There are a ton of challenges in AA,” said board member Paul Brinsky.

Board member Teresa Burroughs countered that she supported Rossi and said, “We should follow the grid and when (the WPIAL) moves us, we will move accordingly.”

“We have two years to gear up to move to AAA. We know this is the last hurrah for AA,” said board member Alan Vezzi.