Upper St. Clair routs South Fayette with 40 unanswered points

By: Antonio Rossetti
Friday, October 3, 2025 | 11:49 PM

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Upper St. Clair piled on with 40 unanswered points, defeating South Fayette, 50-14, on Friday at Panther Stadium.

USC and South Fayette had “instant classic” written all over it. Two 5-1 teams heading into the game and an electric first quarter featuring four lead changes ended with South Fayette up 14-10 and set the game up for a thriller.

South Fayette’s Drew Welhorsky connected with Bryce Wright over the middle for 80 yards to go up 7-3. USC responded with a long drive, capped off with a Dante Coury 2-yard touchdown run.

Welhorsky took the lead back with a 27-yard touchdown run to go up 14-10.

It was all USC from there as it tallied 451 yards of offense while shutting out South Fayette for the rest of the game.

USC’s Ethan Hellman found John Banbury for a 22-yard touchdown on a wheel route to go up 16-14 at the end of the quarter.

Hellman finished with 178 yards, completing 9 of 13 passes for two touchdowns.

His biggest throw was an 81-yard bomb to Bryce Jones on a deep post to go up 23-14 in the second quarter.

Coury ran for 97 yards on 16 carries, mustering two touchdowns.

“The goal is just in the mindset,” Coury said. “It’s just taking it one play at a time and just doing the best I can. I really got to give the credit to my lineman and the coaches for trusting us to run the ball.”

Banbury ran for 22 yards on three carries and hauled in three catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.

“I just give all the credit to my line up front and my quarterback for getting me the ball,” Banbury said. “My receivers on the outside lock in and clear up space for me. The coaches give me the chance to go out there and put me in the right spots.”

The running attack combined for 278 yards.

“Our running back room is a very closely knit group,” Banbury said. “We have a great coach in Coach Morty. Everyone is close to each other, and we always try to make each other better and it shows on the field.”

Josh Snyder tallied 46 yards and a touchdown, and Luca Coury notched two carries for 65 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown.

“It felt great,” Luca Coury said. “It felt amazing. I mean, the blocks were just amazing. For that one play, to break that one felt amazing.”

Dante was happy to see his brother pop off.

“I love to see him make big plays,” Court said. “When the opportunity came, he seized it.”

He said Hellman opens up the run with his throwing ability.

Brown commit and defensive leader Nico D’Orazio added to his statement.

“We realized they were ready for the pass because everyone’s been watching us on film blow it up in passing game,” D’Orazio said. “We were able to run the ball. Dante had a great game. The line had a great game.”

D’Orazio spearheaded the defense with two interceptions. He also tackled Wright on an out route short of the sticks on a fourth-and-short when up 36-14.

“We struggled at first, as you guys saw,” D’Orazio said. “It was bang, bang, but our coaches made great adjustments and we showed we’re a really great defense.”

Said Banbury: “Our team plays so well as a unit. It’s hard for teams to make those splash plays like in the first half because everyone just plays off of each other. Once we’re lined up, we just get the job done.”

Banbury said the coaches made adjustments and got everyone on the same page, leading to their strong defense. They forced five turnovers, including an interception from Andrew Gaither and two turnovers on downs.

USC’s Jacobo Echeverria knocked through field goals from 33, 29 and 26 yards.

The Lions got their first stop of the game to start the second half, forcing a Snyder fumble. Bryce Watkins fell on it at the South Fayette 28.

USC, however, forced a three and out and were not fooled on a Welhorsky fake punt.

The Panthers capitalized on a 33-yard drive with Coury running in his second touchdown from 13 yards to go up 36-14.

USC forced another turnover on downs when Dorazio tackled Wright short of the sticks on a fourth and two.

Snyder put it up 43-14 on a 17-yard touchdown run.

Luca Coury got in on the action with his touchdown, extending the lead to 50-14.

“They’re a good team over there,” D’Orazio said. “They’re well coached, but we came in ready after a loss last week, so we’re excited keep moving on into practice and going to next week.”

Tags: South Fayette, Upper St. Clair