No margin for mistakes: Consistency key at South Fayette
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Spence Hondru, front middle, works on a resistance drill with his South Fayette teammates. Hondru is one of the top returning starters for the Lions on defense. In 2021, he registered 68 total tackles (37 solo, 31 assists) with one sack and one fumble recovery.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
South Fayette football coach Joe Rossi encourages his players performing an agility drill during pre-season training camp.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Nate Deanes is a two-way returning starter for South Fayette. A junior, he rushed for 602 yards and added 318 yards on 27 receptions on offense. As a free safety on defense, he had 36 tackles and two interceptions
By Eleanor Bailey
Almanac Sports Editor
ebailey@thealmanac.net
McDONALD – South Fayette experienced an historic football season in 2021. Nothing went right.
The Lions posted an 0-5 record in the Allegheny Six Conference and missed the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2008. They finished 4-6 overall, an anomaly considering the Lions averaged 10 wins per season, won four district titles and two state championships in those 12 years.
“The sights are always set on championships and a lot goes into that, but right now we are trying to build consistency,” said coach Joe Rossi, who enters his 13th season with a 176-56 record. “Last year we played well at times. Other times we didn’t finish games.”
So the recipe for success is simple for the Lions this fall.
“In this league, there is no room for error,” Rossi continued. “We have to limit mistakes and be consistent.”
South Fayette will rely heavily on a youthful group as the Lions graduated 13 seniors, including Landon Lutz, Logan Yater and Connor Harcarik. The trio developed into one of the top passing/receiving combinations in the WPIAL.
In his first season at the controls, Lutz finished fifth in the district, passing for 1,714 yards and 13 TDs. Yater led the WPIAL with 57 receptions and Harcarik had 31 grabs.
Additionally, the Lions graduated all-state kicker Justin Caputo and all-conference lineman Keon Johnson, who led the team in tackles and sacks.
“Last year, we were inexperienced but senior heavy,” explained Rossi, “We have youth at a lot of positions but we feel like the group makes us as athletic as we’ve ever been. We feel we have good athletes.”
Only a junior, Nate Deanes already is one of the better players in the district. He starts on both sides of the ball.
On offense, he will be utilized at running back and wide out. Last year, Deanes rushed for 602 yards and four scores on 129 carries. He had 318 yards and one score on 27 receptions.
On defense, he starts at free safety. Last year, he registered 36 tackles and two interceptions.
“Nate will be our centerpiece,” Rossi said. “He’s a great leader and great kid, our hardest worker. He has a good blend of athleticism and his football IQ is high.
“On offense, we’ll look to distribute the ball to him in many ways and for him to become a good playmaker. On defense, he’s our quarterback, making the coverage calls and using his IQ to get everybody properly aligned.”
“For us to be good,” Rossi continued, “he needs to have a good year.”
The Lions will rely upon veteran Christian Brandi and Talan Mizenko in the backfield. Brandi rushed for 225 yards in eight games last year.
Mike Gimigliano and Wesmyn Wright will be depended upon to lead the receiving corp. Both were backups in 2021. They also had good track seasons and increased their speed.
Dom Monz is an addition to the receiving corp. He transferred from Seton LaSalle and provides instant offense.
“He is a tremendous playmaker,” Rossi said.
Nico Lamonde lends his skills to the quarterback spot. A 6-0, 170-pound junior, he is a versatile athlete, having excelled on the basketball team.
“He’s done nice things and we like where he is in his development,” Rossi said. “Nico is a little more of a runner than we had in the past, but we are going to throw it. We have high expectations of Nico and the passing game.”
The Lions also have a developing freshman in the QB mix. Drew Welhorsky has a nice arm, throws it well and has displayed a good mix of run and pass skills, says Rossi.
The Lions have the luxury of experience up front. Three starters return to the offensive line: Cameron Rosinsky, Tim Haviland and Nate Spolnik. Additionally, Matt Boyce has transferred in from SLS. All four will go both ways.
“We have a nice core coming back. We are experienced and solid on both sides of the line,” Rossi said. “We just need to develop some other guys, build depth and block because no matter how many skill guys you have, you still have to be able to block.”
Spence Hondru knows how to tackle. While he is one of the team’s H-backs on offense along with Tyler Head, Hondru anchors the linebacking corps. He was South Fayette’s second-leading defender in 2021 with 68 tackles.
“Spence is very physical and a good tackler,” Rossi said. “We expect him to make plays for us like he did last year.”
Mizenko also has experience and skill equal to Hondru. A wrestler, he will be in the rotation mix of linebackers with Morgan Spagnolo, Brandi, Gimigliano, Head and sophomore Silas Aitken.
“We are deep at linebacker,” Rossi said.
Because of that depth, Connor Cirra has moved from linebacker to defensive back to shore up the secondary with veterans like Deans and Monz. Cirra started every game last year.
Aiden Martincic and Wright, along with brothers Aaron and Noah Mathias, complete the secondary.
Defense will determine South Fayette’s ability to turn defeats into victories this fall.
“The concern is giving up the big play,” Rossi said. “Last year, we played really well on first and second down but not on third down. We just couldn’t get off the field. We’d be third-and-eight and give up the big play. So eliminating the big play and not allowing anything over top is the key. We just have to get off the field.”
In the rugged Allegheny Six Conference, capable might not be enough.
“Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair have the most experience coming back. Although Moon lost 30 seniors, once you build success like they had last year then kids want to play. T.J. (Plack) does a great job at Peters Township and they are always there.
“But we can’t worry about what other teams have. We have to focus on ourselves and be competitive in every game. We have to be methodical about what we do, be better playmakers and be consistent. Consistency is one of the primary goals.”