Despite graduation losses, count out Upper St. Clair at your own risk

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, August 8, 2025 | 6:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

Yes, Upper St. Clair graduated some all-conference athletes who were stalwarts for the Panthers, multi-year starters now playing college football.

But, no, the roster isn’t empty.

“We have more back than I think is perceived,” seventh-year coach Mike Junko said. “We have our quarterback back. We have two running backs back. We’ve got a couple of linemen back that did a good job for us last year. We certainly graduated a good group of talented kids, but we feel like the cupboard is not bare.”

So, there’s optimism around Upper St. Clair that this year’s team can follow up last year’s 11-1 record and WPIAL semifinal appearance with another similar season. But to get there, the Panthers won’t rely quite so much on the run-heavy offense they found success with last year.

Instead, Junko anticipates senior quarterback Ethan Hellmann, a fourth-year starter, leading a passing attack that’ll have a larger role. Hellmann was efficient last year, passing for 960 yards and 15 touchdowns on 101 attempts while throwing no interceptions.

USC ran the ball 440 times for 3,152 yards and 23 TDs in comparison.

“We were strong defensively and we ran the ball really well,” Junko said. “This year is really about finding balance and being able to attack teams not just on the ground but in the air.”

Upper St. Clair is 27-5 in games where Hellmann played, including an appearance in the 2022 WPIAL finals as a freshman. The 5-foot-11 quarterback has thrown for 2,938 career yards and 35 touchdowns.

Junko said Hellmann has had a chip on his shoulder this summer.

“I think Ethan has a lot to prove in his mind,” Junko said. “I think he understands the role he is going to have in this offense. He’s going to have to be a guy who does a little bit more for us than he’s done in the past. All summer long he has embraced that.”

He’ll have help all around him.

The Panthers bring back Brown recruit Nico D’Orazio, a senior wide receiver and safety who had a team-high 15 catches for 302 yards last year. Bryce Jones, who had nine catches for 205 yards, also returns.

Gone is leading rusher Julian Dahlem, a wildcat quarterback who rushed for 1,126 yards and 12 touchdowns. But returning are running backs Dante Coury and John Banbury, who combined for 1,231 yards and eight rushing touchdowns a year ago. Coury is a senior and Banbury a junior.

The offensive line looks different. Davidson-bound center Mason Geyer (6-3, 280) returns, as does left tackle Reese Pirain (6-3, 275). Both earned all-conference honors last year.

New starters include Ryan Robbins (6-7, 265), a junior with Kent State and Toledo offers who celebrated a WPIAL basketball title in the winter. Another new starter is sophomore Will Stohl (6-0, 255), whose older brother Nate anchored last year’s lines.

“We really relied on an offensive line last year that was a pretty elite group,” Junko said. “This is Upper St. Clair. We’re going to run the football. But I think we need to help those guys by making sure we stretch the field vertically.”

Banbury at middle linebacker and D’Orazio at safety lead the defense. They were the team’s second- and third-leading tacklers last year when USC allowed 9.2 points per game.

Starting cornerbacks Jones and Caffery Duplessis also are back. D’Orazio and Duplessis had three interceptions each. Among others on defense, senior Beck Shields and junior Nevin Shegan-Siniawski have experience at linebacker and junior Anthony Rozzo has played safety.

“We have a lot of guys who have played a fair amount of Friday night football,” Junko said. “I think our biggest challenge is going to be replacing our D-line. That’s where we’re going to have some new faces playing for the first time on Friday night.”

Upper St. Clair

Coach: Mike Junko

2024 record: 11-1, 5-0 in Class 5A Allegheny Six

All-time record: 505-199-9

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Mt. Lebanon, 7

8.29 Canon-McMillan, 7

9.5 at Franklin Regional, 7

9.12 Hampton, 7

9.19 McKeesport, 7

9.26 at Peters Township*, 7

10.3 South Fayette*, 7

10.10 Bethel Park*, 7

10.17 at Moon*, 7

10.24 at Baldwin*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Ethan Hellmann

56-101, 960 yards, 15 TDs

Rushing: Julian Dahlem*

136-1,126 yards, 12 TDs

Receiving: Nico D’Orazio

15-302 yards, 4 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Returning players Mason Geyer (C) and Jocobo Echeverria (K) earned first-team all-conference honors last season. Reese Pirain (OT), John Banbury (LB) and Nico D’Orazio (DB) made the second team.

• Echeverria made 8 for 13 field goal tries last year including a season-long 47-yarder. He also converted all 47 extra-point kicks.

• Mike Junko begins his seventh season as coach. His record is 47-19 with five playoff appearances. He was voted conference coach of the year in the Allegheny Six last season.

• Upper St. Clair celebrated the 500th win in program history last season. The milestone game was a 21-7 victory over visiting Peters Township on Sept. 27, 2024.

• USC has won seven WPIAL football titles, which ties Gateway, Glassport and Washington for the 11th-most in league history.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Upper St. Clair