Dec 11, 2014 6 min read

Success in high school football often hinges upon building the youth ranks and developing players through junior varsity teams.

South Fayette head coach Joe Rossi believes in that model. He hand picks alumni instructors for youth camps, and ensures the same offense and defensive philosophies used on the varsity are installed in junior varsity.

As senior Jack Relihan can attest, a football program is built by developing junior varsity players to make the jump to varsity.

During last season’s championship run, Relihan started on the junior varsity team. He played sparingly on varsity, seeing time on special teams and when defensive back Roman Denson was out with injury.

Learning the same defensive scheme through an undefeated JV season paid off. After two of South Fayette’s top defensive backs – Justin Watson and Conner Beck – graduated following last season, Relihan wanted to be the next cornerback to make an opportunistic tackle, interception or pass deflection for the Lions.

Now the Lions’ starting cornerback, Relihan will play a pivotal role Saturday when South Fayette (15-0) takes on Dunmore (14-1) at Hersheypark Stadium for the PIAA Class AA Championship.

Kickoff is noon.

To reach this point, Relihan, who averaged 10.6 points per game for the basketball team last season, worked tirelessly to get stronger on the field.

”I was thinking that even though basketball may be my sport, I love playing football,” Relihan said. “I’ve been playing ever since I was little with these guys, who are all of my best friends. I wanted to be a part of something special this year. I knew we had a chance to make it back to the state championship and I wanted to do my part.”

Relihan is tied for the team lead with six interceptions and is often tasked with covering the opponent’s top wide receiver. In the PIAA semifinal victory over Hickory, Relihan’s interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter sealed a return to Hershey.

”I saw (Watson and Beck) have so much success last year and I wanted to be like that,” Relihan said. “I wanted to be able to step up and make plays even when our offense wasn’t clicking at the moment. Or if we needed a big play, I wanted to be the one to make it.”

Senior Matt O’Rourke, who recovered the decisive fumble in the second quarter against Hickory and had a safety in the fourth quarter, is another example. He too honed his skills on junior varsity.

Senior Brett Beltz also had a stay on the JV team. He has excelled at outside linebacker – intercepting a pass against Aliquippa, sacking Quips quarterback Darrien Fields and playing two strong games in the state playoffs – giving the Lions an explosive pass rusher.

Others include sophomore wide receiver Dan Trimbur and sophomore lineman Alex Minford.

”In our program, you get developed and if you work hard, good things happen,” Rossi said. “Relihan could easily be the defensive MVP for us. It’s guys like him, Andrew Gedrys, O’Rourke, Beltz and Minford – and I could mention plenty more – who win championships.”

The JV players benefitted from facing a starting lineup last year that was the best in the state. The scout team is something Rossi takes pride in. Covering Watson and Beck in practice every day improves young players.

When South Fayette embarked on its state playoff run last season, senior quarterback Brett Brumbaugh began to notice the second-team defense rise to the occasion in practice. He credits Rossi’s ability to “get the most out of anyone.”

”Everyone waits their turn in this program, whether it’s your turn early or late,” Brumbaugh said. “We don’t get many people who quit because they are all waiting for their turn to come. And it’s going to come. They were going up against guys like Justin, Conner, our linemen and it really just makes them better.”

The lessons Relihan learned from Watson and Beck were invaluable. He put the lessons into action against Seton-La Salle Oct. 17.

With Denson out because of a torn ligament in his hand, Relihan was a key factor in the Lions holding Rebels quarterback Tyler Perone to 165 passing yards in a 41-14 win.

”I knew it was all starting to come together. I was nervous the first couple of games, but that’s when I saw it starting to click,” Relihan said.

Few people outside of South Fayette imagined the Lions being able to replicate last season’s state title run. With eight new starters on defense, three new starters on the offensive line, a new running back and a new receiving corps, there were many questions.

The development of players such as Relihan answered those doubts and has the Lions one game away from being the first program in PIAA history to repeat as Class AA champions.

”We knew we were losing a lot, but we knew we had guys right behind who could start on any other team,” Relihan said. “We just had guys who were seniors that were better than us and were there before. We knew we had guys who could fill in for those starters and get us back to where we were.”