Resurgent Seton LaSalle strikes fast in win over Carlynton

By: Don Rebel
Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 9:08 PM

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Blink and this WPIAL Class 2A Century Conference battle of turnaround programs was over.

Top-ranked Seton LaSalle used big plays early and often in all three phases of the game to roll past Carlynton on Saturday afternoon at Dormont Stadium, 49-14.

One of the day’s highlights was the recognition at halftime of the latest inductee into the Seton LaSalle Hall of Fame. One of those honored was former head coach and current athletic director and football coach at Montour, Lou Cerro.

Cerro was the coach of the two most recent district football champions for Seton LaSalle in 2002 and 2004.

The current 4-0 start this season has the Rebels thinking of gold for the first time in a long time.

This coming from a program that was winless two years ago, finishing 0-10 in 2022.

“The kids are buying into the process,” third-year Seton LaSalle coach Tim Storino said. “Normally it takes three years to make it your own. We’re getting leadership from our seniors who were sophomores on that 0-10 team and they have stuck to it and we keep doing what we’re doing.”

What they’re doing is winning.

The Rebels’ current six-game winning streak is the second-longest in the district behind the eight straight by Upper St. Clair.

The game was 15 seconds old when Seton LaSalle scored first.

Following a fumble on the opening kickoff, Rebels sophomore Khalil Taylor picked up the ball at his own 15, headed up field, cut to his right and raced down the sidelines for an 85-yard kickoff return.

“I’m not sure why anyone would kick off to Khalil,” Storino said. “He showed what he could do on that play.”

Following an interception on the Cougars’ first drive, Rebels senior quarterback Michael Pastirik connected with Taylor on a 4-yard touchdown pass

On the next play, Seton LaSalle recovered a fumbled kickoff by Carlynton, creating another short field, and on the first play from scrimmage, Pastirik hit sophomore Richard Littlejohn on a 22-yard touchdown pass to increase the Rebels lead to 21-0 just five minutes into the game.

“We had some big special teams plays early and they made some mistakes,” Storino said. “We can’t control them, but I thought offensively we executed the plays that we needed to and defensively we were strong.”

Before the quarter ended, Seton LaSalle scored two more touchdowns, one on a run by senior Logan King and the other on a 9-yard scoring pass from Pastirik to Littlejohn.

In the second quarter, Taylor scored his third touchdown on a 54-yard scoring pass on which he caught a short pass, broke a tackle and outraced the Cougars defense to the end zone.

Sophomore Legend Williams capped off the Rebels scoring later in the second half on a 10-yard pick-six.

Carlynton, off to a 3-1 start coming into the game after also going winless two years ago, scored in the second quarter on a 20-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Devontae Dean to senior Mark Jameson and a 7-yard fourth quarter scoring run by senior John Sciulli.

Pastirik enjoyed a perfect afternoon throwing the football, going 7 for 7 for 131 yards and four touchdowns.

“He does what we ask him to do and he’s a really smart kid who makes great decisions for our offense,” Storino said. “We’re really happy with the way he executed (Saturday) .”

Dean was under great pressure all afternoon from the Rebels defensive front but completed 10 of 20 for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Seton LaSalle is now 2-0 and tied for first place with neighbor Keystone Oaks in the Century Conference. The Rebels will visit Waynesburg Central on Friday.

Carlynton loses its conference opener and falls to 3-2 overall. The Cougars host Keystone Oaks on Friday and are home for four of their final five games.

Tags: Carlynton, Seton La Salle