University Prep reloads, sets sights on return trip to City League championship game

By: Andrew John
Friday, August 23, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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With an experienced team, University Prep found itself in the City League championship game last season, but the Panthers couldn’t break the stranglehold Westinghouse has on the league title in recent years.

If the Panthers want to return to the championship game, they will have to do it with a younger supporting cast.

The Panthers (7-4, 3-1) lost to Westinghouse, 42-14, in the City League finals. University Prep lost to Westinghouse, 34-18, during the regular season.

Last season, the Panthers defense stood tall as they shut out opposing teams in four matchups. University Prep blanked Carrick, Perry, Brashear and Allderdice.

University Prep will be led by senior receiver/linebacker Xair Stevenson, a first-team all-City League selection on defense last season. Stevenson, who is a Buffalo commit, led the team in tackles, sacks and interceptions and was effective especially after being moved to middle linebacker in the middle of last season.

“His teammates look to him to make big plays,” coach Lou Berry said. “He’s the one with a lot of snaps over his career at USO. He rises to the top when the lights come on. His body of work speaks for himself. We look for him to take his game to another level so that it can continue to inspire his teammates.

“When he’s at the receiver position, he does a great job of making contested catches. This year, we are looking for him to separate from the defenders a lot more with the tremendous amount of work he put in during the offseason. Defensively, he’s a guy I decided to put in at middle linebacker with his ability to go sideline to sideline.”

Freshman Daimere Adair will replace Max Qureshi at quarterback this season. Qureshi was a first-team all-City League selection.

The Panthers will look to also replace the production lost by the graduation of Daniel Cain and Marquis Glass-Jones, who were both first-team City League picks.

“It means a lot that whatever I’m going to do is what they are going to do. They are going to feed off my energy. We have to be confident and never get too complacent and play all four quarters,” Stevenson said.

The strength of the Panthers will most likely be on the offensive and defensive lines. Senior Byron Clark, a Seton Hill recruit, will start at left tackle. Sophomore Dion Williams Jr. will start at right guard, while Maurice McClain will be a center and Eric Chandler will be a left guard.

“We are going to lean on our experience of our offensive and defensive lines. If we control the line of scrimmage, we feel really good about what we can do on the perimeter on both sides of the ball,” Berry said.

The defense will return three starters including Nahayo Clavel, who will return on the defensive line.

In the defensive backfield, the Panthers will have a new look that will include junior Shon Taylor and senior Donovan Moorefield.

“With our front seven, it looks like we are a lot faster than last year,” Berry said. “We have a number of individuals that didn’t start last year take the next step. We have some guys with the skillset to play in the secondary. It’s a matter of us being patient with the understanding the players will get better each week as they gain more snaps at the varsity level.”

Even with the new faces, the mindset and gameplan doesn’t change for the Panthers on defense.

“Defensively, the goal is always the same,” Berry said. “We want to make enough plays to win the game. We want to take away the run and defend the pass. That won’t change even though we will look totally different on the back end. That’s the fun thing about coaching: molding young men to play above their capabilities.”

University Prep

Coach: Lou Berry

2023 record: 7-4, 3-1 in the City League

All-time record: 73-56-0

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Hampton, 7

8.30 at Hickory, 7

9.13 at Steubenville (Ohio), 7

9.20 at Perry*

9.27 Brashear*, 7

10.5 Allderdice*, noon

10.11 at Westinghouse*, 7

* Conference game

FAST FACTS

• The University Prep team consists of students from University Prep, Pittsburgh Science and Technology and Obama Academy.

• The Panthers have won City League titles in 2011, 2013 and 2016.

• The University Prep program started in 2011.

• The Panthers will travel to Hampton, Hickory and Steubenville in nonconference play this season.

Tags: University Prep