Productive offseason provides optimism as Sto-Rox rebuild continues

By: John Phillips
Sunday, August 17, 2025 | 5:01 AM

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Brendan Blair knows the grind of football in Western Pennsylvania.

Having grown up in Stowe Township, Blair played for Sto-Rox, graduating in 2014. After attending Cal (Pa.), where he earned a business degree, he returned to the area and got involved in coaching. Before long, Blair was announced as the new head coach at his high school alma matter in 2024.

Like many schools in Western Pennsylvania, a departing and declining population has hit Sto-Rox. The Vikings will carry only 25 players into the new season. They had that many in 2024, and the lack of depth hurt the club as it posted an 0-9 season in Century Conference play.

Disappointing for sure, but not a deterrent for better things in year two for Blair, who said the rebuilding effort is just a small phase in his overall plan to return the Vikings back to winning football.

“The rebuild is temporary. At Sto-Rox, we’re a school that’s always in the playoffs. We’re always in the mix,” said Blair. “This offseason has been great. We’ve got consistency from all our players, starting with the seniors on down to our freshmen. Our middle-school program won a championship in 2024, so we are getting those kids this year. That will help us. Keeping our kids here and creating that hard-working environment builds a winning culture.”

Blair, like many coaches in this area and in America, knows the struggles and challenges that come with the job in world we live in today. Stressing family and hard work is a clear message he sends each day to convince his players they can win.

“We have this thing called ‘culture days’ where we will do community service, team chemistry day to build chemistry with each other like doing a pool day or even a paintball activity that builds a bond,” Blair said. “It’s not all about football. It builds character, integrity, team bonding, all those kinds of things. Those days have been helping to build relationships off the field, and that has helped with what we are doing on the field so far.”

Blair won’t have many seniors to lean on in 2025 — the class will max out at five total — so the underclassmen will be in his new system for several years and have a chance to grow into his development program. That he feels will help overcome not just the inexperience, but the challenges of coaching kids growing up now.

“It’s different coaching (versus) how I was brought up,” he said. “You must have a balance. For me, I was one of those kids who came from here. Played and graduated from here. Went to college. Got a degree. As soon as I did, I came back, volunteered as a coach for three years under coach LaRoi (Johnson) and started that process of teaching.

“I’m taking some of that tough love he taught and relaying that to this generation of kids. You have to tend to them with care. You must be hard with them at times, but also be able to talk to them. You either get right or you get left. It’s a different day and age. On the field, you have to be hard with them, but off the field, you can come to us and talk about things.”

Second-team all-conference junior receiver/defensive back Karic Willis is returning for the Vikings. Blair will rely on his presence and leadership with so many underclassmen. His offensive line will have another returning starter in junior tackle Matthew Harsh, along with sophomore Marcus Johnson.

The Vikings will start a freshman at quarterback, one who played on the middle school championship team, in Daluan Harris. He replaces Devant Jackson, who started for nearly two full seasons under center and led the team in both rushing and passing in 2024. Blair hopes to use him at wide receiver.

The Viking will run a spread offense with multiple formations. The changes over the past 10 years have been noticed by the second-year boss.

“RPO wasn’t a thing when I was playing,” he said. “There was more running. Now, you have to make the defense think. You have to make them adjust. You play fast and that’s your advantage. If you have a good running back that can make guys miss, you can run whatever you want. But rarely do you have a guy like that. It’s a different time, the game now.”

Blair also discussed what a successful season would be for him this year.

“For us, it’s being better than last year,” he said. “There is no going backwards. Playoff is the goal. One game at a time, that’s the goal. Teaching them to win, that’s the goal. We have talent, and the kids don’t know that. We are trying to unlock that. Believe in yourself. We can compete with anybody in 2A.”

Sto-Rox

Coach: Brendan Blair

2024 record: 0-9, 0-6 in Class 2A Century Conference

All-time record: 326-264-9

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at South Side, 7

8.29 at Carmichaels, 7

9.5 Brentwood, 7

9.12 Keystone Oaks*, 7

9.19 at Washington*, 7

9.26 at Charleroi*, 7

10.3 Seton-LaSalle*, 7

10.10 Carlynton*, 7

10.17 at South Allegheny, 7

10.24 Waynesburg*, 7

*Conference game

FAST FACTS

• Sto-Rox’s last playoff appearance was in 2022.

• The Vikings have won two WPIAL titles, the last in 1987. Their last title game appearance was in 2020, a loss to Clairton.

• Sto-Rox was formed in 1966.

Tags: Sto-Rox