Call coach Tim Storino’s rebuild the three-year plan. He apparently has no time for anything longer.
Seton LaSalle’s football team failed to win a game two years ago, finishing 0-10 in Storino’s first season. Last year, the Warriors went 5-5, when two or three wins would have been quite acceptable.
And this season? Storino isn’t shy about his expectations.
“If we didn’t win the conference I’d consider it a disappointment,” said Storino, a Bethel Park graduate who played quarterback at Lock Haven before embarking on a long coaching career at both the high school and college levels. “I think we’re that talented and ready.”
Pieces are in place
The Rebels have a lot going for them. The schedule is friendly, well friendlier — they move down from Class 3A to 2A after having gone 3-0 against 2A teams last season. In Khalil Taylor (5-11, 182), they have a rare talent, a sophomore who lines up at receiver, running back, even quarterback, and already has scholarship offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia and others.
“Khalil’s just a God-given talent,” Storino said. “A kid that young — he’s big, he’s physical. He loves the game. He’s got great hands, the ability to go up and get the ball. He tackles well.
“That’s what NFL players look like in eighth and ninth grade. Whether he gets there or not, we’ve got a long way to go, but he has that build of a future NFL player.”
Taylor’s emergence mirrors that of Seton LaSalle’s, a case of circumstance meets opportunity. A year ago, Storino didn’t know that Taylor, who spent his middle school years at a charter school in Penn Hills, would be a Rebel. Taylor showed up at summer camp already having a scholarship offer from UNLV, a high-level Division I prospect ready to lift a winless team.
He may have been an unknown at Seton LaSalle in Mt. Lebanon, but his profile was already star-studded in Pittsburgh, where Taylor lives in the Hill District.
“He’s always been an athlete, on both sides of the ball flying around,” said Taylor’s cousin Natel Blessitt, a wide receiver at California University (Pa.). “He’s always been determined to be the best player on field. He’s Mr. Amazing. That’s what the city knows him by.”
Mr. Amazing scored 13 touchdowns as a freshman, compiling 1,038 all-purpose yards. His highlight of the season, perhaps, and one that fully illustrates his elite athleticism, was a kickoff return for a touchdown against South Park. He caught the ball at the 16-yard line before retreating all the way back to the 8. He then broke about a dozen tackles, slipping through and ducking defenders en route to the end zone in what is best described as cartoon-like fashion.
Plethora of talent
Kick returns aside, it will be Mike Pastirik’s job to get him and the Rebels’ other playmakers on offense the ball. The senior quarterback (5-9, 161) threw for 13 touchdowns and 1,060 yards after starting eight games a season ago.
“The offense is all about IQ,” Pastirik said. “There’s at least five things we can do on any given play. I just read the defense and take what they give you. It’s really hard to stop when there’s multiple things you can do on any one play.”
Taylor is Pastirik’s most dynamic weapon, but he’s complemented by a talented array of skill players.
Sophomore wideout Nelson Coleman (5-9, 155), a friend of Taylor’s who arrived at camp last year alongside Taylor, has an offer from West Virginia. The Rebels boast a pair of big-bodied slot receivers in North Hills junior transfer Aaron Loritts (6-3, 215), who has an offer from Miami (Ohio), and junior Will Martin (6-3, 215).
All-conference selection Ethan Patsey (6-0, 235) and Brayden Carter (5-9, 230), who has started 20 games the past two years, anchor the offensive line. Both are seniors. Another senior, Logan King, will start at tailback.
Two years ago, the Warriors had a roster of 35, 19 of whom had never played football. This season, it’s 53, and 35 have experience at the high school level.
“We feel good about the offensive line. We feel good about the quarterback, running game, receivers,” Storino said.
On defense, King returns at safety, where he led the Rebels in tackles a year ago. Martin, who was the second-leading tackler at outside linebacker, is back. Patsey and Loritts will play on the defensive line, and Taylor and Coleman are both lockdown defenders in the secondary.
“Defensively, I think we’re going to be outstanding as long as we can stay healthy,” Storino said. “There’s no holes. Our front 11 are very good. The conversation with every 2A, 3A school is going to be if this kid twists an ankle or this kid needs a break, who’s the next guy in?”
Taking the next step
It’s a legitimate question: Have the expectations ever been so high for a .500 team that missed the playoffs last season and went 0-10 two years ago?
Senior Carson Barone (5-10, 190) is entering his fourth year in the program with his third head coach. Nothing fazes him anymore, even the scars of so many losses.
“It’s been a roller coaster to say the least,” said the fullback, who is returning from a torn labrum. “It’s been a new experience every year. It’s my third year under coach Tim, and he’s turned the program completely around.
“I’m so excited for my senior year. He’s brought a winning culture. He’s been a lot of places with success. And he’s seen a lot of things. And he knows what works. He’s modeling our program after a college program. I want a ring.”
Taylor and Coleman carry none of those scars. Taylor has one .500 season in the books, and three years of official visits and all the trappings that come with already being one of the best prospects in the WPIAL to look forward to. He’s soft-spoken but also has the confidence of someone who is accustomed to being one of the best players on the field.
“You’ll see us at Acrisure,” Taylor said, “and then farther than that.”
Rebels fans, mark your calendars. The WPIAL Class 2A championship game is Nov. 23 at Acrisure Stadium.
Rob is an associate sports editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike.