Holl

CRANBERRY TWP — Donny Holl has come a long way since a muggy night in McKeesport last September.

Most importantly, he's ready to get back on the football field.

The recent Seneca Valley graduate will continue his academic and athletic careers at Mercyhurst College in Erie and will receive a partial scholarship.

“I want to earn a degree, that's very important,” said Holl (6-feet-2, 220 pounds). “But I also want to enjoy four more years of football.”

Back on Sept. 23, Holl was in a much different mindset.

During the first half of a 20-6 loss at McKeesport, Holl tore the ACL in his left knee and was lost for the season.

“I heard a pop,” he said. “I knew from the pain that it was bad, but I didn't know how bad.

“Standing on the sidelines the rest of the season, it was awful,” Holl added. “I had smaller injuries before when I missed a quarter or maybe a game, but never the rest of the season.”

In the 14 games he played in a Seneca Valley uniform, Holl threw for 1,434 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 13 more scores.

Before his injury, 10 schools expressed interest in Holl as a quarterback.

“Most of them were Division I-AA schools,” he said. “They said they wanted to see me make a significant impact my senior season. With the injury, that didn't happen.”

As Holl began his rehab, several Division II schools came calling, including Mercyhurst.

“The biggest reason I chose Mercyhurst was I was offered more money by them,” he said. “But I also like the coaching staff and I grew up around football up there. My dad (SV coach Don Holl) was a coach at Gannon (1999-2004).

“I lived in Erie for 10 years,” he added. “On the plus side, I still have family there.”

The Lakers went 10-3 overall last season under veteran head coach Marty Schaetzle. The team qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs before losing to Shepherd in the quarterfinals. Along the way, Mercyhurst scored 354 points (27.2 per game).

“They'll go under center, shotgun, four-wide,” said Donny Holl. “They run a multiple offense and go with what best suits their personnel.”

Having coached at the collegiate level, Don Holl can help prepare his son for the different looks of a college defense.

“There will be some complexities, some pre-snap stuff you don't see as often in high school,” Coach Holl said. “Everybody will be bigger and stronger.”

Travis Rearick will be a redshirt senior next fall and figures to be the Lakers' starting quarterback after throwing for 2,063 yards and 23 touchdowns last year.

“I'm pretty certain I'll be redshirted,” said Holl. “(Former Shaler quarterback) Tyler Bills is also on the roster. Hopefully, things will work out.”

“It doesn't get much worse for a coach or a dad, seeing him on the field like that,” Coach Holl said of Donny's injury. “But it doesn't get much better than watching him go to a school he's excited about.”