Time and patience key to Lebo’s high expectations
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jack Smith breaks up a pass during a defensive drill at Mt. Lebanon’s summer football workouts.
Joey Daniels passed for more than 1,300 yards last season for Mt. Lebanon.
Jack Smith is a returning starter at outside linebacker and an option as quarterback on offense for Mt. Lebanon.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Visawn Pennix will be one of Mt. Lebanon’s top rushers as well as a force in the defensive secondary.
By Eleanor Bailey
Almanac Sports Editor
ebailey@thealmanac.net
MT. LEBANON – Bob Palko aims high. Hence, he achieves much.
An architect of 8 WPIAL football championships at West Allegheny, Palko enters his second season at Mt. Lebanon with equal expectations.
“They’re high. They should be. It’s the only way I know how,” Palko said of his objectives for the 2020 campaign.
“Our goals are to win the conference and represent the WPIAL in the state playoffs, and the only way to do that is to win (the WPIAL). That’s not being cocky. That’s what our goals are. It’s not boastful. It’s the truth.”
With the graduation of 18 seniors, the Blue Devils honestly must rely upon “patience” and “time” to blossom into that postseason contender Palko envisions. Lebo finished 7-5 overall in 2019, reaching the Class 6A semifinals before falling to Central Catholic, 31-14.
“It’s a process,” Palko stressed, “and you’ve gotta trust the process. We are going to just keep plugging away. It’s going to take time and patience.”
Palko has taken his time in adjusting from being at the helm at West Allegheny to being at the forefront of Lebo’s vaunted football program. The Blue Devils have won six WPIAL titles but the last one arrived in 2000.
“Every particular community and school has its own personality. In order to be able to be successful at places, you got to know what that is,” Palko said. “Obviously, in my first year at Lebo that took time. You can’t speed that process up. I had to get to know my players and they me. It was the whole trust thing. What this and that means. … Does it help with the wins? I don’t know about that. But there is a comfort level. With that, we look to do better.”
The Blue Devils will do better as long as all are on board with Palko’s decision as to who will start at quarterback. Currently, Joey Daniels and Jack Smith are battling for the spot.
“At quarterback, there will always be a battle. Both are talented young men. Regardless of what happens they are both good enough athletes not to be on the field somewhere,” Palko said.
Last year, Smith excelled at outside linebacker on defense. Daniels shared QB duties with Evan Jones in 2019. He threw for more than 1,300 yards and six scores.
Of Smith and Daniels, Palko said that they are both “alphas” and that’s a plus. “They speak their minds. They are not afraid to do things and make mistakes. They stick their necks out there. And they both care.
“It’s a beautiful thing to have them both and to be in this nice situation. But this isn’t about guys in position. It’s about what’s best for the team.”
Visawn Pennix suits the Blue Devils best at running back. The senior ranked second on the squad in rushing with 493 yards and three touchdowns last year. Alex Tecza, who started at free safety as a sophomore, likely will be paired with Pennix in the backfield.
Noting the 20 pounds Pennix added to his frame, Palko says the running back is thicker, older and wiser. “He’s looked good and comfortable. He doesn’t miss a workout.”
Palko cautioned that the Blue Devils will have more than one guy “tote the rock.” Among others likely to contribute to the ground game are Cortland Peer and Ryan Martin.
Lebo has multiple receiving options in Andrew DeCaro, Brendan Anderson, Eli Heidenreich, Jacob Munoz, Sam Ward and Matt Wertz. Heidenreich started on defense last year and Anderson and Ward have strong athletic bloodlines. Anderson’s older brother, Patrick, won back-to-back cross country titles before matriculating to the University of North Carolina. Ward’s older sister, Trinity, swims for the Kentucky Wildcats.
“At wide receiver, we have a boatload of people, not to mention a few sophomores who could be a surprise,” Palko said.
Trevor Barrett is a curiosity at tight end. The Thomas Jefferson transfer will also help the Blue Devils at inside linebacker.
In addition to Barrett, Rowan Donnelly, Patrick Dunn, Billy Green, Charlie Pellegrino and Grayson Dee will be “cross guys” in the offense. They can fill the tight end or fullback positions.
Though only a junior, Cooper Austin will anchor the offensive line along with James Kline and Joey Peters. William Harvey also is a returning starter. Palko looks for big things on both sides of the line from Owen Halter and sophomore Capristo could be a contributor along with seniors Nick Gevaudan, Owen McGeary, Colin Plesco, Ben Streiff and Alex Tambouratzis.
Daniel King joins Martin and Barrett at inside linebacker while Dunn, DeCaro, Bohner and Munoz play on the outside. The defensive backs are anchored by Pennix, who started last season. The group features Anderson, Wertz, Ward, Heindenreich as well as Maurice Plummer and Tecza.
“We graduated a lot of seniors who played so we are inexperienced. We need to get our young guys reps. Bring people to the forefront. Learn as we go and get comfortable. That comes with time and patience. But it’s gotta be sooner rather than later,” Palko said.