'89 USC Football Team Enters WPIAL Hall of Fame

The 1989 football team will be inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Hall of Fame this year.

The '89 Panthers were the first from the WPIAL to go 15-0 and win the state Quad-A title.

The Panthers dominated the competition and finished the 1989 season ranked No. 4 in the country by USA Today.

An example of Upper St. Clair’s dominance was in the WPIAL playoffs when it won three games by a score of 85-20.

Under legendary coach Jim Render, the team had a tremendous running game, led by backs Doug Whaley and Pete Habib, a star lineman in Phil Dunn and a future major-league baseball player in defensive back Kevin Orie.

In the state title game, the Panthers defense was superb in beating Wilson, 12-7. Wilson featured future NFL quarterback Kerry Collins.

The Hall of Fame banquet will take place on June 1. The Upper St. Clair High School's athletics website has information about purchasing tickets.

Other 2012 inductees are listed in the press release in the media box above.

Share your congratulations with Coach Render and the '89 Panthers! Tell them in the comments.