PRZPA Team Preview, Upper St. Clair Part 2

<p>The Upper St. Clair Panthers are determined to bounce back after narrowly missing the postseason in 2023 despite an impressive 8-2 record. Head coach Mike Junko returns Division I talent, complemented by a mix of promising underclassmen and seasoned veterans. Last season, USC suffered two tough conference losses to state runner-up Peters Township and Bethel Park. The Panthers will look to avenge those defeats in weeks 6 and 8. Upper St. Clair opens the season at home against Mt. Lebanon on August 23 at 7 pm.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/brycejones2026/status/1799838355791937976?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Jones is a versatile two-way athlete with significant talent. As a wide receiver, he combines speed with reliable hands, making him both a deep threat and a dependable possession target. He runs crisp routes and exhibits the athleticism to quickly get in and out of his breaks. Jones can outrun defenders on fade routes and create separation on curls, deep outs, and speed outs. He's also good at finding gaps in zone coverage and settling in for receptions. On defense, Bryce is a natural cornerback, demonstrating patience and quickness in his backpedal. His ability to break on the ball and contest passes should draw attention from college recruiters. Jones transitions smoothly into his coverage, flipping his hips to stay with receivers on fades, and shows impressive makeup speed when trailing. Although he has received interest from a few Division I programs, he has yet to secure an offer.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ethanhellmann/status/1696199561176400081?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Hellman returns as Upper St. Clair's starting quarterback for the 2024 season. A dual-threat prospect, he threw for 1,122 yards and accounted for 14 total touchdowns (11 passing and 3 rushing), while also rushing for 200 yards. Hellman is equally dangerous passing from inside or outside the pocket. His ability to keep his eyes downfield under pressure, combined with his mobility to extend plays, makes him a challenge for defenses when they attempt to blitz him. As a sophomore, he demonstrated the capability to distribute the ball to multiple targets across all three levels of the field. He makes quick, accurate reads and has the offensive line protection necessary to enhance his production this season. In addition to his passing skills, Ethan is a skilled ball carrier who effectively utilizes his blocking to make plays. He avoids tunnel vision, excelling at distributing the ball evenly among his targets. I expect Hellman to experience increased success for USC this season.</p>    <p>Bobby is another offensive line prospect who moves exceptionally well for his size. Although he is on the lighter side for an offensive tackle at 6'4, 240 lbs, he has significant potential. I once coached an offensive lineman in college who was 6'4, 235 lbs as an incoming freshman; he went on to have a successful seven-year NFL career, Eric Kush. I believe Fleckenstein's best years are still ahead of him as a college offensive lineman. He is a skilled puller with the ability to latch on and drive defenders off the football. Bobby's kick slide is impressive, and he displays deceptive power in pass protection. I know for a fact that his head coach, Mike Junko, will continue to develop Fleckenstein into a productive starter, as he has been. Bobby has the potential to be a scholarship-level player and has been a starting enforcer for the Panthers. I'm looking forward to seeing his progression as a dominant offensive tackle this year for USC.</p>    <p>Coury is another promising athlete who demonstrates toughness on the field. He possesses breakaway speed as a running back and showcases playmaking ability on defense. Dante runs the football with vision, effectively setting up his blocks by utilizing his swift cutting ability. He is also a dangerous receiver out of the backfield, capable of scoring when matched up against linebackers. In 2023, he displayed good ball skills by intercepting a pass and returning it for a score. He is strong and effectively maintains outside leverage at the nickel position on outside runs directed toward him. He's also a reliable tackler in space, unafraid to sacrifice his body for the play. I'm very intrigued to see what he can do in 2024 from the running back position when given more carries. USC is blessed with a lot of talent this year, and Coury certainly contributes to that assessment.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/johnbanbury_/status/1758137109377142858 </div></figure>   <p>Banbury is a productive underclassman with the potential to be a serious threat for USC. He started as a freshman at the middle linebacker position, which speaks volumes about his toughness and advanced skill set. Offensively, he runs the football with strength and balance, effortlessly breaking tackles as a running back. He plays with a low pad level, allowing him to be explosive when moving laterally and tackling inside or outside the box on defense. His athleticism is evident when watching him zone drop and catch passes out of the backfield. He is also a skilled blitzer, consistently providing pressure and causing sacks and hurries on film. I admire how he embraced the physical demands of playing linebacker as a freshman. I will be closely watching John's progression as an overall playmaker in 2024.</p>    <p>Chase is another OL/DL who had a strong season last year. Like the other linemen discussed, Kaczmerek is a fundamentally sound player who plays with grit. Surprisingly mobile for his 270-pound frame, he consistently records sacks and batdowns on film from the defensive end position. He excels in both zone and man blocking on rushing plays and displays significant strength in shedding blockers while maintaining his positioning for tackles. Like his fellow USC linemen, he is physical on both sides of the ball and can put opposing players on their backs with a single punch. As an offensive tackle, he is a solid pass protector who has room to improve his kick slide but plays with an intimidating demeanor. Chase is another returning enforcer who makes an impact in the trenches for USC.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/masongeyer5631/status/1722031823734112539?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Another OL/DL with the potential to play at the scholarship level is [player_tooltip player_id='1155965' first='Mason' last='Geyer']. At 265 pounds, he is surprisingly mobile and plays with a competitive edge. One thing I admire about Geyer is his ability to maintain a low pad level despite his 6'3 frame. He excels at getting underneath defenders on his blocks, which helps him effectively clear rushing lanes. He has not yet reached his peak size and strength, but he is agile enough to block linebackers across different blocking schemes. I view him as a promising collegiate prospect because he combines athleticism with height that is taller than the typical offensive center. Defensively, he shows a strong motor and effectively plays off blockers in the run game. As he continues to progress in the weight room, I expect him to be even more effective on both sides of the ball. He is a consistently good pass protector with an adequate punch. Geyer and the rest of the Panthers have the potential to form one of the best collective offensive lines in the WPIAL this year.</p>      <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/reese_pirain/status/1812973371812159594?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>The Panthers are expecting players such as [player_tooltip player_id='647822' first='Reese' last='Pirain'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1156083' first='Randy' last='Yan'] to take on extended roles on varsity this season. Pirain saw limited action in 2023, but he made the most of his time along the interior line. He is tough to move in the running game and has worked hard in the offseason to secure a larger role for the Panthers. I anticipate that Pirain will not only provide depth as a defensive lineman but also contribute on the offensive line. [player_tooltip player_id='1156083' first='Randy' last='Yan'] showed considerable potential as a pass-catching target last season, and I hope to see his progression on varsity this year. His ball skills and route running will give him the chance to compete for catches in bigger games in 2024. Both Yan and Pirain also have the potential to be factors on special teams for USC. [player_tooltip player_id='1180722' first='Finn' last='Beggy'] is an underclassman worth noting; at 6'3, he plays basketball as well. Anytime you have a player with an athletic build and transferable skills from basketball, they're definitely worth keeping an eye on.</p>

The Upper St. Clair Panthers are determined to bounce back after narrowly missing the postseason in 2023 despite an impressive 8-2 record. Head coach Mike Junko returns Division I talent, complemented by a mix of promising underclassmen and seasoned veterans. Last season, USC suffered two tough conference losses to state runner-up Peters Township and Bethel Park. The Panthers will look to avenge those defeats in weeks 6 and 8. Upper St. Clair opens the season at home against Mt. Lebanon on August 23 at 7 pm.