Sports

Looking Back: Another Stellar Season for USC Football

The Panthers came mighty close to winning the WPIAL championship in 2011 as Coach Jim Render continued to rack up victories.

The Steelers are in training camp, which means other football teams will start following suit shortly.

For the Upper St. Clair Panthers, practice starts Aug. 13, in anticipation of the Aug. 31 opener against Woodland Hills.

The 2011 season was a successful one for the Panthers, with one caveat: North Allegheny, which handed USC its only two defeats, including an overtime heartbreaker in the WPIAL championship game.

To help get you in the mood for 2012, let's take a look back at last year's games:

• Sept. 2: USC 49, Shaler 0

USC quarterback Dakota Conwell completed four of seven passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 23 yards on four carries. Then he took a seat before halftime, when the Panthers were up 35-0.

• Sept. 9: USC 42, Norwin 0

This marked the second consecutive year that the Panthers shut out the Knights in a nonconference game.
 
• Sept. 16: North Allegheny 28, USC 21

The Panthers opened the second quarter with a 14-0 lead at North Allegheny, but four USC turnovers helped the Tigers come from behind.
 
• Sept. 23: USC 41, West Allegheny 27

After falling behind 21-0, the Panthers' offense took over, led by quarterback Dakota Conwell's four rushing touchdowns.
 
• Sept. 30: USC 42, Baldwin 0


In the Great Southern Conference opener, receiver Mike Wilcox helped lead the way by catching two passes for 56 yards and returning a punt 66 yards for a touchdown.

• Oct. 7: USC 42, Peters Township 14

Dakota Conwell completed 10 of 12 passes for 162 yards, and Mike Wilcox caught eight passes for three touchdowns and 132 yards receiving.
 
• Oct. 14: USC 55, Canon-McMillan 0

Phil Saracco 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter capped USC's fourth shutout in seven games.
 
• Oct. 21: USC 55, Bethel Park 0

Coach Jim Render chalked up his 350th career victory.
 
• Oct. 28: USC 42, Mt. Lebanon 6

Dakota Conwell carried the ball 24 times for 276 yards, including an 84-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
 
• Nov. 4: USC 42, Connellsville 0

The Panthers opened the WPIAL playoffs by scoring all 42 points in the first half. Alex Garwig scored on a five-yard reverse just before halftime for the final tally.
 
• Nov. 11: USC 21, Erie McDowell 14

The Panthers survived a last-second scare to advance to the WPIAL semifinals.
 
• Nov. 18: USC 28, Central Catholic 14

Backup quarterback Pete Coughlin ran for 204 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, to put USC in the WPIAL championship game.
 
• Nov. 26: North Allegheny 28, USC 21

Ouch.


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