Franklin Regional rebuilds after heavy graduation losses
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Thursday, August 7, 2025 | 2:22 AM
Franklin Regional head coach Lance Getsy looks on as quarterback Nick Devola throws during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Franklin Regional’s Tyrone Leonard during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Franklin Regional head coach Lance Getsy looks during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Franklin Regional head coach Lance Getsy looks during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
As Lance Getsy begins his fifth season at Franklin Regional, he is faced with a retooling job.
The Panthers graduated 16 seniors from last year’s team that finished 8-4 overall and 4-2 in Class 5A Big East Conference.
There are a lot of starting positions available on the Franklin Regional football team this season.
Among the graduates were quarterback Chase Lemke (Cal, Pa. baseball), running back Kyle Dupill (Washington & Jefferson), receiver MacAllister Bresnahan (Robert Morris), linebacker Austin Kerns (Cal.), defensive back Jake Weir (Westminster), kicker Joey Bayne (Pitt) and offensive lineman Andrew Devola (Michigan Tech).
“We have some holes to fill, that is for sure,” Getsy said. “That makes it fun, finding players to fill those positions and creating depth.”
So, who is Getsy looking to be this year’s playmakers?
Sophomore Dom Devola and junior Tyler Pechar will get the first shot at quarterback. Devola saw limited action in 2024.
In the backfield, senior Jet Taylor, sophomore Amauri Jones-Lane and senior Mason Mullooy will battle for playing time.
Returning starters on the offensive line include senior center Troy Slezak, senior tackle Ron Schall Jr., junior tackle Ben Chiarizo, junior tight end Cole Devola and senior end Matt Moore.
Junior Tommy Verruggio is among the candidates for the H-back/end spots along with Moore, senior Jaymeir Austin and Austin McClure. Sophomore Antonio Delissio and seniors Tyler Ley and Damian and Logan Priest also will compete for spots on the offensive line.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Getsy said. “We have good overall team speed, especially on defense.”
The only starters back on defense are Moore at safety, Austin at cornerback and Slezak on the line.
Getsy said he expects senior Lochlan Bresnahan to be a force playing outside linebacker, along with juniors Sebastian Ponko and Tyrone Leonard in the secondary.
“A concern is the lack of game experience,” Getsy said. “We need to get the players reps. You cannot mimic the speed of the game until you put on the pads.”
Getsy said despite the graduation losses, he expects his Panthers to battle for a playoff berth.
“Penn-Trafford again will be good, along with Woodland Hills and Gateway,” Getsy said. “The entire conference will be good.”
The other teams in the conference are Armstrong, Latrobe and Kiski Area.
The Panthers open the season Aug. 22 against rival Plum.
Franklin Regional
Coach: Lance Getsy
2024 record: 8-4, 4-2 in Class 5A Big East Conference
All-time record: 318-279-12
SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
8.22 Plum, 7
8.29 Hempfield, 7
9.5 Upper St. Clair, 7
9.12 at Latrobe*, 7
9.19 Gateway*, 7
9.26 at Kiski Area*, 7
10.3 Fox Chapel, 7
10.10 Penn-Trafford*, 7
10.17 at Woodland Hills*, 7
10.24 at Armstrong*, 7
*Conference games
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Chase Lemke*
86-190, 1,310 yards, 15 TDs
Rushing: Kyle Dupill*
258-1,793 yards, 15 TDs
Receiving: MacAllister Bresnahan*
21-392 yards, 4 TDs
*Graduated
FAST FACTS
• Franklin Regional was a PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A champion in 2005. The Vikings defeated Thomas Jefferson, 31-14, in the WPIAL finals, and Pottsville, 23-13, to win the PIAA title.
• Greg Botta coached at Franklin Regional from 1994 to 2022. He compiled a 176-110 record and coached the Panthers to seven conference titles and one WPIAL and PIAA title.
• Franklin Regional has won or shared conference titles eight times. The last came in 2022.
ROSTER
No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.
0, Amauri Jones-Lane, RB/DB, 5-10/165, so.
1, Brandon Kash, WR/DB, 5-7/125, fr.
2, Austin McClure, WR/DB, 6-3/170, sr.
3, Mathew Moore, WR/DB, 5-11/165, sr.
4, Aaron Bennett, HB/LB, 5-10/175, sr.
5, Tyrone Leonard, WR/DB, 5-8/135, jr.
6, Jaymeir Austin, WR/DB, 6-3/180, sr.
7, Dominic Devola, QB/DB, 6-1/180, so.
8, Sebastian Ponko, WR/DB, 5-9/165, jr.
9, Oliver Leven, WR/DB, 6-2/160, so.
10, Evan Chadwick, HB/LB, 6-2/190, jr.
11, Lochlan Bresnahan, TE/LB, 6-2/215, sr.
12, Jake Pucka, QB/DB, 5-10/161, so.
13, Tyler Pechar, QB/DB, 5-11/175, jr.
14, Max Evans, QB/DB, 5-11/240, fr.
15, Dominic Mascara, K/P, 6-1/165, sr.
16, Gage Williams, WR/DB, 6-0/165, jr.
17, Jet Taylor, RB/LB, 5-10/185, jr.
18, Luca Aguilera, K/P, 5-10/135, fr.
19, Brock Bowser, QB/DB, 5-8/145, fr.
20, Kaydon Ferrell, TE/LB, 6-3/200, so.
21, Keyan Morrison, WR/DB, 6-1/155, jr.
22, Mason Mullooy, RB/DL, 5-10/175, sr.
23, Tommy Verruggio, HB/LB, 5-10/195, jr.
24, Colin Mullooly, WR/DB, 5-8/160, jr.
26, Austin Visnick, RB/DB, 5-9/175, so.
27, Veer Singh, WR/DB, 5-10/167, so.
28, Zack Verruggio, HB/DB, 5-8/160, fr.
29, Kaydin Clay, WR/DB, 5-9/130, fr.
31, Brendan Murtha, WR/DB, 5-3/120, fr.
32, Griffin Marsiglio, WR/DB, 5-7/125, fr.
34, Joseph Depaolo, RB/LB, 5-8/165, fr.
36, ColinCurley, WR/DB, 5-2/120, fr.
39, Tyler Aikins, WR/DB, 5-7/135, so.
42, Aiden Varghese, WR/DB, 5-9/172, so.
43, James Hlopick, WR/DB, 5-7/160, so.
45, Cole Devola, TE/LB, 6-0/230, jr.
48, Hrithik Singh, WR/DB, 5-6/125, so.
49, Eli Chadwick, TE/LB, 6-2/165, fr.
50, Logan Priest, OL/DL, 6-1/275, sr.
51, Evan McManis, OL/LB, 5-9/185, jr.
52, Taquann McBride, OL/DL, 6-0/245, sr.
53, Connor Bish, OL/DL, 5-11/190, fr.
55, Jordan Yates, OL/LB, 6-2/200, sr.
56, Gavin Young, OL/DL, 6-0/220, so.
57, Nolan McGuire, OL/DL, 5-6/180, fr.
58, Connor Grant, LS, 6-2/185, sr.
60, Nick Tedesco, OL/DL, 6-1/190, sr.
61, Damian Priest, OL/DL, 6-1/245, sr.
62, Julian Wedding, OL/DL, 5-6/200, fr.
65, Brendan Hurney, OL/DL, 5-9/180, fr.
66, Robert Hanson, OL/LB, 5-7/151, fr.
67, Majeed Boukaabar, OL/DL, 5-11/260, fr.
70, Ronald Schall, OL/DL, 6-3/230, sr.
72, Tyler Ley, OL/DL, 5-11/215, sr.
74, Ben Chiarizio, OL/DL, 6-1/240, jr.
75, Troy Slezak, OL/DL, 6-0/265, sr.
77, Antonio Delissio, OL/DL, 6-0/235, so.
78, Lincoln Montgomery, OL/DL, 5-9/275, so.
79, Clifford (CJ) Keough, OL/DL, 6-1/196, fr.
83, Raven Childs, WR/DB, 5-8/145, fr.
88, Michael Jezek, TE/LB, 5-10/180, fr.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Franklin Regional
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