Seton LaSalle expects to contend for conference title

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 16, 2018 | 10:03 PM

The Lionel Express has departed.

Lionel “the Train” Deanes ended his brilliant high school football career as the all-time leading rusher at Seton LaSalle.

Deanes, who ran for 5,280 career yards and scored 56 touchdowns, plans to attend Assumption College in Massachusettes, where he will be a pre-med major.

Spurred by Deanes & Co., the Rebels won the Allegheny Conference last season, advanced to the WPIAL Class 3A semifinal round, and finished 9-2 overall.

Seton LaSalle has a healthy does of returning starters — nine — on this year’s squad.

“I expect this team to compete for a conference title and to make the playoffs,” coach Rob Carter said. “They have set goals for the upcoming year, and with hard work and focus they have the potential to be one of the top teams in 2A.

“Their attitude will determine their altitude is the old saying.”

Jamar Shegog (6-1, 210) will be one of the Rebels’ chief catalysts and an integral team leader. An athletic senior tight end/wide receiver/outside linebacker, he is a three-year starter and was a first-team all-conference selection last season.

Shegog, who led the team in receiving in 2017 with 23 catches for 336 yards and two scores, has received recruiting interest from Delaware, Brown, Cornell, Holy Cross, James Madison, St. Francis and Fordham, among others.

“I feel we have the talent to make a run in the playoffs,” Shegog said, “and bring a (WPIAL) championship back to Seton LaSalle. We have a lot of returning starters.”

Shegog expects the Rebels to be highly explosive on offense this season.

“We have a lot of players that can make things happen when they get the ball,” he said.

Seniors Nick Vari (RB/DB), Nate Ault (WR/DB) and Mike Kutschke (OL/DL), and junior Max Schipani (QB/DB) also were all-conference players a year ago.

Vari had 32 receptions for 286 yards and three touchdowns in 2017.

The Rebels’ other returning starters are seniors Mike Visnich (RB/LB), Jesse Byerly (OL/DL) and Tyler Hillebrand (WR/DB), and junior Dom Popa (WR/DB).

Players expected to step into more prominent roles include seniors Dean O’Toole (OL/DL), Logan Baldinger (OL/DL); junior Mike Orsi (OL/DL); and sophomores Shane Thrift (WR/DB), Luke Banbury (RB/LB) and Tyler Hill (WR/DB).

Seton LaSalle is in the Class 2A Three Rivers Conference, along with Brentwood, Burgettstown, Carlynton, Fort Cherry, Serra Catholic, South Allegheny and South Side.

The Rebels open the season with two games this month, away against Keystone Oaks (Aug. 24) and home against Burgettstown (Aug. 31) at Peters Township.

Schedule

Coach: Rob Carter

2017 record: 9-2, 7-0

All-time record: 357-244-13

Date, Opponent, Time

8.24, at Keystone Oaks, 7 p.m.

8.31, Burgettstown*, 7 p.m.

9.7, Brentwood*, 7 p.m.

9.14, at South Allegheny*, 7 p.m.

9.21, at New Brighton, 7 p.m.

9.28, Fort Cherry*, 7 p.m.

10.5, at Avonworth, 7 p.m.

10.12, at South Side*, 7 p.m.

10.19, Serra Catholic*, 7 p.m.

10.26, at Carlynton*, 7 p.m.

*Class 2A Three Rivers Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Matt Banbury*

105-194, 1,200 yards, 10 TDs

Rushing: Lionel Deanes*

298-2,112 yards, 25 TDs

Receiving: Jamar Shegog

23-336 yards, 2 TDs

*Graduated

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.