South Fayette makes strong conference even better
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Joey Audia runs through an agility drill while his teammates take a breather during South Fayette summer football workouts.
Charley Rossi is expected to be one of the top recievers for the South Fayette football team as well as in the WPIAL this season.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
South Fayette coach Joe Rossi demonstrates a drill to his linebackers during summer football workout sessions.
South Fayette players are ready to kick up their heels this football season as the Lions venture into new territory. They will compete in Class 5A, the second largest classification in the WPIAL after dominating Quad-A for the past several years.
South Fayette head coach Joe Rossi supervises as his players practice a drill during summer football workouts.
By Eleanor Bailey
Almanac Sports Editor
ebailey@thealmanac.net
South Fayette may be the “new kid on the block” in Class 5A football but the Lions intend to contend. In fact, they plan on bringing their winning brand to the division of traditional powers.
While the 18-team grouping includes stalwarts like Penn Hills, Pine-Richland, North Hills, Penn-Trafford and Woodland Hills, the Lions will compete in the Allegheny Six Conference against perennial playoff contenders such as Bethel Park, Moon, Peters Township, Upper St. Clair and West Allegheny. While BP and Moon each have one WPIAL championship and PT reached the Class 5A finals last season, USC and West Allegheny have won seven and eight district titles, respectively.
However, SF boasts its own history. Under coach Rossi, the Lions are 168-46 with four WPIAL championships and three PIAA titles. The Lions won a Class 4A title in 2018 and reached the semifinals in 2019, falling to Belle Vernon, 41-30 to finish 10-2 overall.
“Without a doubt, ours is the best conference in the WPIAL. These teams have been so dominant. The coaches are phenomenal. The players are talented. These kids have been playing in the same leagues together since they were little so they are all great friends,” Rossi added. “That lends itself to a a great season.
“We’ll be playing games against quality opponents but we have a lot of tradition here too, and we like what we do,” Rossi continued. “We are proud of our players and their ability to keep up and work hard. Sure, it’s going to be a grind but I think we’ll be just fine.”
Because they boast some of the best talent in the WPIAL, not just in the conference, the Lions anticipate doing well.
Naman Alemada returns to call the signals. The senior ranked second in the WPIAL in passing, trailing only Eric Wilson from Sto-Rox. Alemada completed 205 of 282 attempts for 3,004 yards and 34 touchdowns.
According to Rossi, Alemada has grown over the past year. The 6-4, 200-pound quarterback also has improved his athleticism.
Alemada’s backup is Landon Lutz. The basketball standout is 6-5, 195. He completed 9 of 13 passes for 151 yards and 2 TDs last season.
With all those positive numbers, the concentration is on the 11 interceptions tossed in 2019.
“We want to cut down on those,” Rossi said. “We are fortunate to have tremendous throwers but we need to make good reads and take care of the football.”
Once the ball is in the air, Charley Rossi, Joey Audia and Ryan McGuire have taken care to catch and protect the pigksin. While seniors Javaughn Goodnight and Tristan Bedillon, along with juniors Logan Yater and Sammy Rosato, provide additional options, Rossi, Audia and McGuire have been Alameda’s top targets.
The 5-8, 168-pound Rossi caught 53 passes for 816 yards. Audia had 57 receptions for 736 yards. McGuire had 34 grabs for 778. All three caught 8 TD passes.
“Charley has gotten faster, stronger and he has a great understanding of the position. He’ll lead a deep group that somehow is always deep,” Rossi said. “Our kids have trained well and they have great catching skills. We have a good combination of receivers.”
While Shay Aitken is a passing option, the senior will be relied on to carry the ball along with Connor Harcarik. Aitken gained plenty of experience last season filling in for the injured Drew Franklin. Aitken ranked second on the team in rushing with 535 yards. He scored four times.
The Lions, likewise, have plenty of depth and experience on the line. Jackson Lotinsky, Logan Pitetti, and Bryce Spolnik each started last year. Blaise Fincham saw playing time and Ryan O’Hair (6-8, 293) has “sprouted” into a Power Five offensive tackle. Johathan Lesko, Alex Hall and Austin Stadler also afford SF the opportunity to have “a really good line,” says Rossi.
Those same players will join Keon Johnson on the defensive line. The all-conference performer registered 47 tackles, 14 for losses, and a team-high six sacks last year.
“He’s our home-run hitter on defense. A playmaker,” said Rossi. “Keon will be our anchor.”
Additionally, the Lions are deep and seasoned in the secondary with Rossi and Yater leading a defensive unit that limited opponents to 6.3 yards passing and 3.0 yards rushing last season.
Bedillion, however, represents SF’s limited experience at linebacker although Austin Demo has shown potential along with Rosato, Aiken and Harcarik. Bedillion made 32 tackles, recovered two fumbles and deflected three passes.
“Triton will be our anchor,” Rossi said. “We need to get our linebackers up to par.”
With Justin Caputo handling the kicking and McGuire returning as punter, special teams should be a plus for the Lions. Caputo converted 58 of 61 extra points and 5 of 8 field goals.
So while the Lions “adjust” to playing against bigger, stronger guys in Class 5A football, they have not altered their goals and expectations for the 2020 campaign.
“To be ultra competitive. Anything less is not what we’re about,” Rossi said. “This conference is a meat grinder and all the teams are good, but we are excited about our team. We have a good senior group and we expect to have a good season.”