Wednesday, August 27, 2003

By David Assad, Tri-State Sports & News Service

Another football season starts for Uniontown Friday night, and there is once again a McLee in the starting backfield.

Senior Billy McLee is the top returning rusher in the Keystone Conference, netting 834 yards on 152 carries as a junior. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound McLee also scored seven touchdowns last year.

McLee's football bloodlines run deep.

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As a sophomore, McLee started in the backfield with his cousin, Kevin McLee, when the Raiders went undefeated in the regular season. Kevin McLee is now a second-team linebacker at West Virginia University.

Kevin's father, Kevin McLee, was also a Uniontown standout who played at Georgia when the Bulldogs met Pitt in the 1977 Sugar Bowl.

Billy McLee's father, Bill, and his uncle, Reggie McLee, played at West Virginia in the late 1970s. Billy's dad and his uncle also played for conference championship teams at Uniontown for Jim Render, the long-time Upper St. Clair head coach.

With his size, strength and speed, Billy McLee is regarded as a player with major-college potential.

Many are wondering if he'll follow his cousin, uncle and father to Morgantown.

McLee attended the WVU football camp this summer and watched the Mountaineers' annual spring scrimmage in April. However, McLee would not say whether he has his heart set on playing at WVU, less than 30 miles from Uniontown via Route 119.

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my [football] future yet," was the only comment McLee had to offer about the college recruiting process.

"He hasn't told me where he wants to attend college," Uniontown Coach John Fortugna said.

Despite his weight, McLee is light on his feet. He was timed in the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds at this year's Metro Index camp.

A two-way starter last year, McLee has been moved from nose tackle to defensive end to take advantage of his quickness.

"He's perfect for playing out there," Fortugna said.

Uniontown is one of the preseason Keystone Conference favorites. After a 9-1 season in 2001, the Raiders dropped to 6-4 last year, finishing in third place in the conference.

"Our goal is to go undefeated and play for the WPIAL championship [at Heinz Field]," McLee said.

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