Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon ignore talk of ‘down year’ after coaching change, graduations

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, September 1, 2023 | 1:52 PM

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New head coaches. Rosters hurt by graduation. Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon came into this football season with similar situations.

“I think there’s a lot of people who thought we maybe would be a little bit down this year from where we were last year because of graduation,” said first-year Bethel Park coach Phil Peckich, who previously was the team’s offensive coordinator. “That still could be very true. We’ve got a long season ahead, but as a staff, as a team, we understand where we’re at right now.”

One game into the season, both the Black Hawks and Blue Devils find themselves in good spots after a couple of eye-opening wins in Week Zero. Bethel Park defeated North Hills, 33-10. Mt. Lebanon topped Gateway, 28-7, under new coach Mike Collodi.

Maybe forget about that down year?

Their Week Zero success sets up an interesting Week 1 matchup between the South Hills neighbors as Mt. Lebanon (1-0) visits Bethel Park (1-0) at 7 p.m. Friday. It’s a nonconference game, but every win matters for a team trying to establish itself.

“They’re in the same boat,” Peckich said. “They lost a lot of seniors to graduation, but they still have quality players they put out there against Gateway last Friday. That showed on tape. They’re probably feeling they have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder, too.”

Both coaches said the key Friday is to be the more physical team. They each credited that philosophy for their Week Zero wins, and also praised the poise of the players making their first starts.

Bethel Park junior Mitch Paschl caught five passes for 125 yards and a touchdown when North Hills decided to double receiver Ryan Petras. For Mt. Lebanon, sophomore Patrick Smith returned a fumble 90 yards for a touchdown and also was the Blue Devils’ leading rusher.

“Just keep making us underdogs, because we like that,” Collodi said with a laugh.

Mt. Lebanon hired Collodi away from Elizabeth Forward to replace Bob Palko, who won WPIAL and PIAA titles with the Blue Devils.

A Week Zero win is important for a new coaching staff, Collodi said, because it reinforces their message and rewards the players for their offseason work.

“Coach Palko did things one way, and I come in a do things a different way,” Collodi said. “But the kids bought in immediately. They trusted me and they trusted my staff. That’s one thing you always worry about as a new coach anywhere, let along taking over after ‘The Guy.’”

Mt. Lebanon and Bethel Park each scored a defensive touchdown last week, which was noteworthy since both teams overhauled their defenses since last season.

Collodi is heavily involved in Mt. Lebanon’s defense, along with new defensive coordinator Marc Gambino. The defense also has the benefit of at least two future Division I college players. The Blue Devils are led by defensive lineman Connor Young, a Navy commit, and linebacker Beckham Dee, an Air Force commit.

“I like our physical play,” Collodi said. “We held Gateway scoreless for three and a half quarters. … That’s a testament to the kids playing defense and my staff putting a good game plan together.”

Bethel Park brought in former South Park coach Marty Rieck as defensive coordinator. Jovian Smith gave the Black Hawks a defensive highlight last week by returning a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown.

In this matchup a year ago, Bethel Park won in overtime, 27-24, on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer, who’s back.

“This is a neighborhood rivalry game and they’ve grown up playing against these guys their whole lives,” Peckich said. “They understand what last year’s game was like. We’re going to have to bring it.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Bethel Park, Mt. lebanon