Keystone Oaks transitions with Perry at helm
Eleanor Bailey / The Almanac Keystone Oaks players Nate Galasso and Tim Mazzarini take a water break during training camp.
Keystone Oaks quarterback Kobe Phillippi focuses on his target as he prepares to make a pass during drills.
Keystone Oaks receiver Devine Thomas makes a catch during a passing drill at training camp.
DORMONT – After 20 years at Seton-La Salle, Greg Perry has come home. He crossed McNeilly Road and accepted the head coaching position at his alma mater, Keystone Oaks.
“For years, I was the enemy,” said Perry, who was 73-22 in nine years as coach at Seton-La Salle. “Kids are kids, but I think we’ve won them over. We’ve barely noticed the transfer. It’s been a smooth transition.”
When switching allegiances, Perry noted that it helps to live in the community and to know the parents of the players. Perry competed with many of the players’ fathers. The 1979 KO graduate played football, baseball and wrestled for the Golden Eagles.
Perry’s two daughters, Ashley and Lindsay, both graduated from KO. Plus, Perry has five grandchildren, one of them a 10-year-old boy.
“Right now, Tyler is into baseball,” Perry said. “The running joke in the family is that one way or another he will be here on Friday nights, whether I’m coaching him or I have to come out of the locker room at halftime and watch him perform in the marching band.”
While Perry said he enjoyed working at Seton-La Salle, he admits it’s nice to be at KO. The Golden Eagles, likewise, are pleased to have Perry. He has stabilized a program that had three head coaches in four years.
“We have been open with the kids and we’ve tried to teach them to work hard and they are buying into it.
“So my goals are simple for them. Somewhere along the line I get the sense that we can work hard, come together and have a good experience and give them a memorable season before they leave here. I’m hopeful. We’ll work hard, have fun and make it a good experience for the players.”
The past two seasons have not been good experiences for the Golden Eagles. They posted back-to-back 2-7 records under Matt Taylor.
“It’s been especially tough, particularly for my four seniors. It’s not been easy for them,” Perry said. “I feel bad because I’m the third guy they’ve had and they have to learn a whole new system and terminology.”
Perry brings to KO the same offense he ran at SLS. Because the offense regularly produced prolific passers, Kobe Phillippi should continue to thrive. The KO senior is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. A versatile athlete, he plays basketball and volleyball as well at KO.
“We look for Kobe to be a good leader,” Perry said. “He’s athletic. He throws the ball well and he can run well. Kobe gives us another dimension”
Phillippi’s top receiver will be Brandon Carroll. He had 17 receptions last fall.
“We expect (Carroll) will be our main go-to receiver,” Perry said. “He’s a good athlete.”
So is Jimmy Canello. The senior returns at tailback and linebacker. He had 10 receptions and led KO in rushing with 422 yards and five touchdowns.
“He’s smart. He has a lot of football sense,” Perry said. “He will be the leader on defense. He’ll make our calls. But, he’ll have to carry the ball on offense. We have to keep him healthy for us to make some noise in the conference.”
Senior Brian Hazel is also critical to KO’s success. At 6-1, 265 pounds, he anchors the offensive line at center and has experience at guard. Plus, he plays defensive tackle.
“We can’t start a play without him. He and Kobe are synchronized.,” Perry said. “Plus, he’s got to be able to block and give Kobe time to throw.”
Offensive line appears to be KO’s strength. The Golden Eagles have returning starters in Keynon Griffiths, a tackle and defensive end, and Joey Kazalas, a guard and defensive end. Zayne Jastrzebski is the left tackle. All three are juniors.
Kazalas, who had two brothers who played football at KO, also wrestled for the Golden Eagles. His success on the mats will help him, says Perry.
Sophomores Tim Mazzarini and Christian Forrisi will contend for the other guard spots.
Sophomore Devin Thomas joins Canello in the backfield at fullback while junior Leo Palmer looks to be the tight end. Sophomore Nick Hrivnak leads a field of talented young receivers to flank Carroll.
“He’s young but athletic like a lot of our players,” Perry said of Hrivnak. “Once they learn the system, we expect them to be around.”
With Kazalas and Griffiths at ends, and Hazel and Christian Forisi at tackles, the line will be the strength on defense. Sophomore Dan Black breaks into an athletic group of linebackers that include Canello, Palmer and Thomas. With junior Dylan Procopio and sophomore Dylan Knorr, the Golden Eagles can spell Phillippi at corner while Carroll freely roams the secondary at safety.
“An area of concern is depth in the secondary. We need to get reps and grow up. Offensively, we have a strong line and leadership at quarterback. That’s not a bad place to start,” said Perry.
KO’s schedule, however, does not favor an easy start. The Golden Eagles open with Quaker Valley and South Fayette, the latter the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion. According to Perry, they are considered two of the top five teams in Class AA, not just the Century Conference.
The Golden Eagles play Seton-La Salle Oct. 24. While conference talk centers around those three opponents, Perry notes mention hasn’t even been made of Steel Valley and South Park.
“Turning around a program can be a slow process, but I’m happy with our progress. The kids are a close-knit group and they work well together.
“Our goal is to get this program back to the point that it is fun for the players and there is excitement and pride in the community.
“I’m hopeful, but we are not at the point where we are saying win the conference and the WPIAL title (as our goals) but I wouldn’t rule these kids out.”