Backup quarterbacks step into spotlight for Hempfield, Mt. Lebanon

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 6, 2017 | 5:39 PM

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Justin Sliwoski spent Tuesday in the trainer's room getting his injured right shoulder tended to.

It's not where the Hempfield senior wanted to be.

Sliwoski was injured during the first series of last week's loss at Canon-McMillan and will miss Friday's Class 6A Southeastern Conference showdown at No. 5 Mt. Lebanon (1-1, 0-0).

With Sliwoski on the mend, Hempfield coach Rich Bowen will look to sophomore Blake Remaley to take over the offense. Remaley performed well in relief of Sliwoski last week, completing 11 of 24 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

“Blake will do fine,” Sliwoski said. “He did a good job last week after being thrown into the game.”

Bowen said he couldn't compliment his new quarterback enough on how he played.

“He did a nice job,” Bowen said. “With him getting all the reps this week, I think he'll be ready to go against Mt. Lebanon.”

Sliwoski had an MRI on his right shoulder Wednesday and said he hopes to return soon.

Hempfield (1-1, 0-1) isn't the only team dealing with a quarterback injury. Mt. Lebanon starter James Stocker missed the first two games of the season with a leg injury. In his absence, Seth Morgan has filled in nicely.

Through two games, Morgan has thrown for a WPIAL-high 740 yards, completing 58 of 91 passes, including seven touchdowns.

His main target has been senior Aiden Cain, who has 38 catches for 577 yards, both tops in the WPIAL. He had a state-record 27 catches last week against Pine-Richland. Cain missed his sophomore and junior seasons with injuries.

Mt. Lebanon coach Mike Melnyk said he didn't realize until after the game that Cain had set a state record. When someone told him he had 25 catches, he said: “No way. I found two more after film review.”

“When I saw Aiden at a basketball game last winter, I said to myself the best athlete in the school hasn't been able to play a down in the sport he loves,” Melnyk said. “When he was able to run out onto the field in Week Zero, I got a little emotional. It was very special.”

Melnyk said Morgan has done a fantastic job replacing Stocker.

“James is ready to come back,” Melnyk said. “I'm not sure how much he'll play.

“Hempfield lost a tremendous quarterback last week, but I felt his backup played very well.”

One thing Melnyk won't have to worry about this weekend is playing against the best quarterback in the state. Pine-Richland senior Phil Jurkovec has thrown for 677 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 173 yards and three scores. Melnyk said three turnovers, two in the second quarter, derailed Mt. Lebanon's upset bid in a 53-29 loss against the Rams last week.

“We've had six turnovers in two games,” Melnyk said. “It cost us last week. We have to clean that up.”

Hempfield and Mt. Lebanon played a thriller last season. The Spartans rallied in the fourth quarter to upset the Blue Devils, 41-38. Melnyk still remembers that game.

“We didn't finish,” Melnyk said. “It's something we've talked about. We let them hang around and, to their credit, they came back.”

Hempfield tight end Braden Brose had a big game, and Melnyk said containing him will be a key this week. Brose has 13 catches for 199 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Bowen said his team didn't match the intensity Canon-McMillan had early in the game.

“We can't afford another slow start,” Bowen said. “I give our kids credit: They faced a lot of adversity. We fought all the way back and had a chance to win it and gave up a score in the final minutes.”

Canon-McMillan led 27-14 at halftime, but the Spartans rallied to grab a 28-27 lead in the third quarter on an interception return for a score by Isaiah DiAndreth.

“We have to bounce back from this loss,” DiAndreth said. “We have to work hard in practice and fix our mistakes.”

Bowen said he respects the Mt. Lebanon program and the challenge his team faces.

“We have to be ready to play,” Bowen said. “We came out a little flat against Canon-McMillan and dug ourselves a hole.”

If they do the same at Mt. Lebanon, the bus ride home will be a lot longer.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Hempfield Area, Mt. lebanon