Ex-Gremlin playing arena ball
CHICORA — Only a few months ago, Stephon Conto's football career was shown the door.
The door out, that is.
The Indiana (Pa.) University team told the 2008 Karns City graduate his services were no longer required.
“I had been an invited walk-on at IUP and made the team,” said Conto, a wide receiver. “I saw some action on special teams, but felt like I was making progress there.
“At the end of last year (2009), they told me they were bringing in a bunch of new receivers and that I was basically starting over in their eyes.
“That was a way of telling me to hit the road, I guess,” he added.
But Conto wasn't ready to give up football, even though his 5-foot-8, 175-pound frame might have suggested following that advice.
“Too small, too little for this game — I've been told that all my life,” Conto said. “And I've kept playing all my life.”
He played for the Butler County Bears semipro team last summer. He looked into a transfer to Slippery Rock University and possibly playing there.
But he's since found his calling — arena football — and he plans to pursue it.
While with the Bears, Conto found a contact in the PISA Indoor Football League, which is hosted by Premier Indoor Sports Center in Cheswick, and is playing for the Harmar Hurricanes.
Through three games, he has scored a team-leading eight touchdowns.
“Arena football is perfect for me,” Conto said. “It's all about the receivers and cornerbacks, and I play both.
“There's plenty of scoring and I get my hands on the football at least 10 times a game. I love it.”
Even during his three seasons as a varsity player at Karns City, Conto put up modest numbers. He had 64 carries for 345 yards, and 23 catches for 429 yards and seven touchdowns.
Now Conto might be climbing the arena football ladder. The Erie Storm of the American Indoor Football Association and the Johnstown Generals of the United Indoor Football League have invited him to tryouts.
“Erie's coach, Shawn Liotta, is the brother of Harmar's coach, Jeremy Liotta,” said Kirk Bergbigler, coach of the Butler County Bears. “Shawn really likes Stephon's talents in this game.
“He wants Jeremy to keep developing him because he thinks he has a shot.”
If he does, Conto is willing to take it.
“No question I want to keep playing football,” Conto said. “Arena ball is what I'm pursuing now. There are plenty of teams out there.”
The PISA Indoor Football League consists of four teams. Play began in November and ends in February.
