TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • 17
ETHAN DAHLEM
DAHLEM, PANTELIS LIFT
USC’S PASSING ATTACK
Ethan Dahlem and David Pantelis
have a quarterback-receiver
connection that Upper St. Clair
coach Mike Junko describes as
nearly clairvoyant.
The pair combined for 77 receptions
and more than 1,100 receiving
yards.
“It’s almost intuitive,” Junko
said. “They are very much in tune.
They just know. They’re developing
that rhythm where Ethan
knows exactly where David is going
to be and when he’s going to
get there.”
Dahlem finished last season
with 2,219 passing yards and 17
touchdowns, and Pantelis had 1,154
yards and nine touchdowns. Their
chemistry gives the Panthers confidence
they can improve on last
year’s 7-5 record and WPIAL Class
5A quarterfinals appearance.
“David takes an ordinary play
and turns that into a big play just
on ability,” Junko said. “He is a
talented kid who has a very bright
future.”
But, to make the offense even
more dangerous, Dahlem has
worked in the offseason to build
that connection with other receivers,
including junior Mateo Cepullio.
The team learned a lesson late
last season, when defenses turned
their focus on Pantelis.
USC won five of its first six regular
season games, led by Pantelis
and Dahlem. Pantelis had 928
receiving yards in those first six
weeks and only 226 in the final six.
Seven of his eight touchdowns also
came in the season’s first half.
“We saw some coverages that
were unique in their design and
certainly geared toward taking
him away,” Junko said. “We’ve got
to make defenses defend the whole
field. We probably didn’t do good
job of that late in the season. We
hope to be more balanced and find
ways to get him free.”
Cepullio, now a junior, was the
team’s second-leading receiver
with 374 yards on 17 catches. Junko
wants to incorporate more receivers
but also run the football more
consistently.
Dahlem led the team with 952
rushing yards and 15 touchdowns,
but running backs Jaden Keating
and Ethan Hiester may see added
carries. The two combined for 730
yards on 117 carries last season.
Offensive tackles Tim Pollock
and Connor Schmitt are returning
starters, and Luke Banbury is back
as the team’s H-back.
“We felt like we could do a better
job running the football,” Junko
said. “At times last year we had
to rely on the big play. If we didn’t
have the big play, we didn’t run the
ball well enough.”
But what Junko won’t do is limit
the roles Dahlem and Pantelis have
in the offense.
A year ago, they were dynamic
even though they were both new
to the offense.
“Ethan was just learning this
new system and trying to get a handle
on it,” Junko said. “And now
it’s really his system. He knows
it as good as any of the coaches.”
Pantelis is stronger than he was
last season, Junko said, and has
focused on improving his route
running and blocking.
“He takes pride in both of those
things, and he still has some of the
best ball skills out there,” he said.
“Balls that may be out of reach, he
finds a way to go and get.”
by CHRIS HARLAN
Coach: Mike Junko
2019 record: 7-5, 4-3 in
Class 5A Allegheny Eight
Conference
All-time record: 465-185-9
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 Bethel Park* 7
9.18 Pine-Richland 7
10.1 at Peters Township* 7
10.9 West Allegheny* 7
10.16 Moon* 7
10.23 at South Fayette* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Ethan Dahlem
142-210, 2,219 yards, 17 TDs
Receiving David Pantelis
77-1,154 yards, 8 TDs
Rushing Dahlem
211-952 yards, 15 TDs
FAST FACTS
• Dahlem had 560 total yards
in a Week 3 victory over
Woodland Hills last season.
His impressive total included
a school-record 485 passing
yards. He also rushed for 75
yards and three touchdowns.
• USC coach Mike Junko is
the son of longtime Pitt football
assistant Bob Junko.
• The Panthers played more
than their share of close
games last season. They had
three decided by four points
or fewer. They went 2-1 in
those games.
• Upper St. Clair got an early
look at the conference’s newest
team. The Panthers played
South Fayette in a nonconference
matchup in both 2018
and ’19. USC won 34-33 and
27-13.
DAVID PANTELIS
UPPER ST. CLAIR • ALLEGHENY 6