Sunday, December 24, 2006 B11
HIGH SCHOOLS
TERRIFIC 25
FOOTBALL
2006 TRIBUNE-REVIEW PLAYER OF THE YEAR · TERRELLE PRYOR, JEANNETTE (JR.)
A SEASON OF SUCCESS
Jeannette’s star quarterback credits his teammates for a list of accomplishments.
errelle Pryor sat in the office of Jeannette athletic It was that attitude, combined with incredible talent, Vick (Falcons) and Peyton Manning (Colts) handle them-
T director Bob Murphy last week talking about the
football season, his astounding ability with a football
and, most notably, his father.
that led to Pryor being named the Tribune-Review Player
of the Year. He rushed for 1,709 yards and 27 touch-
downs, passed for 1,720 and 15, returned an interception
selves, and what wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (Ohio State)
does after he makes a catch.
“I need to work on my vision and reading defenses bet-
It was a lively discussion in which the 6-foot-6, 220- for a score and caught a pass for a touchdown. ter,” Pryor said. “I also need to run harder. Everyone can
pound junior quarterback opened up about how he is per- “I’m just a kid having fun on the football field,” he said. make themselves better.”
ceived. Pryor is one of those rare athletes capable of excelling Pryor said he learned a valuable lesson about sports
Not once did he talk about being the star, but he in football and basketball. Some observers believe they from his father, Craig Pryor. Pryor’s father, who lives in
emphasized team, Jeannette’s 14-2 record, its WPIAL haven’t seen an athlete of his type in 20 years. West Newton, is in a wheelchair because of a degenera-
Class AA title and runner-up finish in the PIAA champi- Pryor has run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds — in tive muscle disease in his legs.
onship game. untied tennis shoes. Craig Pryor said he taught his son that he can’t do it
“No team can succeed without everyone working “When he runs, he does it effortlessly,” said Wilson alone.
together,” Pryor said. “I was just one part of the team’s Area coach Bret Comp, whose team defeated Jeannette, “I told him it takes a team to be successful,” he said.
success.” 29-28, in the state title game. “He’s an amazing athlete. “We talk almost every day.”
I’d hate to be teams in District 7 (WPIAL) playing against And what he talks about most of the time isn’t about
him next year.” athletics.
Many major college football and basketball coaches “I tell him sports can only take you so far,” Craig Pryor
have offered or are planning to offer Pryor scholarships. said. “The main thing for me is his education. Once you’re
He already has offers in both sports from Pitt, Penn done with athletics, you have to fall back on your education.”
State, Ohio State, West Virginia, Clemson and Florida. Pryor Terrelle said: “He taught me not to quit. He’s the one
has expressed interest in playing both sports in college. who got me started in sports. He tries to make all the
“He’s the best player I’ve coached,” Jeannette coach games when he doesn’t have to. We’re very close.”
Ray Reitz said. “His potential is unlimited. Terrelle hasn’t Craig Pryor said his son wants to play both sports in
gone to any football camps, and if he does, he’ll get even college. But he’s told him it will be tough.
more offers.” “When Terrelle puts his mind to something, he’ll do
Reitz said he wants Pryor to make his own decision it,” he said. “When I hear people talk about him, it gives
and he hopes people around him allow him to do that. me a good feeling.”
“It’s his future, no one else’s,” Reitz said. Pryor said the season went better than expected. He
Pryor also loves basketball, which occupied most of his said even after the team lost to Yough early in the sea-
time in the summer. He plays in numerous AAU tourna- son, players continued to work hard.
ments for the Pittsburgh JOTS, but he has told Reitz that “All we wanted was a chance to play Greensburg
he will attend some football camps Central Catholic for the conference title,” he said. “I knew
next summer. we had a chance at defeating them and then winning the
Pryor said he still has a lot WPIAL title. We were determined.”
to learn about playing quar- Pryor said he was hoping to throw for more than 1,000
terback. When he watches yards and run for more than 1,000, something he did with
football on television, he ease.
observes how quarter- “I couldn’t have been successful without my team-
backs Troy Smith (Ohio mates,” Pryor said: “While we had a successful season,
State), Vince Young we didn’t achieve what we wanted: a state title.”
(Titans), Michael That’s on Pryor’s list of goals for next year.
— By Paul Schofield, Tribune-Review
BARRY L. REEGER/TRIBUNE-REVIEW
MAX SUTER, A.J. STRUM, CRAIG SEDUNOV, RANDY RANKIN, GREG MEISNER, JUSTIN FALCON,
GREENSBURG C.C. (SR.) RB/LB FRANKLIN REGIONAL (SR.) OL/DL YOUGH (SR.) WR/DB LAUREL HIGHLANDS (SR.) WR/FS HEMPFIELD (SR.) OL/DL JEFF.-MORGAN (JR.) RB/LB
Led WPIAL in scoring Anchored a defensive Led team with 18 catches Tied Hampton’s Joe Has outstanding quick- Finished season with 165
(36 TDs) ... 8th on all- line that was difficult to for 381 yards and three Cangilla for the WPIAL ness off ball and is carries for 1,079 rushing
time WPIAL rush list, run against ... made TDs ... carried 48 times receptions title with 62 exceptional at stopping yards and 16 TDs ... also
30th in state ... finished verbal commitment to for 478 yards and six ... picked up 842 yards run, as well as getting to had 13 catches for 167
career with 5,177 yards play at Ohio University. scores. and six touchdowns quarterback ... Kentucky yards out of backfield.
... Syracuse recruit. through the air. recruit.
NICK SUKAY, LEE HOWATNECK, SCOTT JONES, MIKE SHANAHAN, ANDY OSTACH, JAMES O’QUINN,
GREENSBURG C.C. (SR.) WR/S FRANKLIN REGIONAL (SR.) RB CONNELLSVILLE (SR.) RB/DB NORWIN (JR.) WR/DB BLAIRSVILLE (SR.) WR/DB KISKI AREA (JR.) WR/DB
Made 36 catches for Missed games because Finished 31st in WPIAL Finished season with 29 Caught 38 passes for Caught 23 passes for
631 yards and six TDs of injury but still finished in rushing this season receptions for 430 yards 645 yards and six TDs 491 yards and a touch-
... had two INTs in the 30th in the WPIAL with (1,058 yards and six and seven touchdowns this year ... had three down against some of
WPIAL title game ... 1,063 yards ... scored TDs) ... being recruited ... scored 10 times to interceptions as a defen- best defensive backs in
Penn State recruit. 14 rushing TDs to help by Pitt, Virginia, West help team to third-place sive back ... all-state WPIAL.
team to WPIAL semis. Virginia and Kent State. conference finish. selection in 2005.
DAVONTE SHANNON, CHET WELC, TONY CREE, JUSTIN EDWARDS, DONTE VALENTINO, JOSH VICK,
JEANNETTE (SR.) WR/DB MT. PLEASANT (SR.) LB WAYNESBURG (SR.) RB/DB PENN-TRAFFORD (JR.) WR/DB CALIFORNIA (JR.) QB/DB KISKI AREA (JR.) QB
Had pass defensed and Was a force on defense Finished seventh in the Became feature receiver 22nd in WPIAL (132 car- Led WPIAL in passing
forced a key fumble for conference champs WPIAL with 1,498 yards this season ... finished ries for 1,133 yards) ... was (1,147 yards) before
during loss to Wilson ... caught 15 passes for ... ran for 20 TDs and 30th in WPIAL with 22 of 46 for 510 yards ... tearing ACL against
Area in the Class AA 276 yards and five TDs finished 13th in WPIAL 31 receptions for 575 first-team all-Tri-County- Penn Hills ... finished
state title game ... as a tight end ... first- in scoring with 122 yards and nine touch- South selection on offense 23rd despite not playing
Division I prospect. team All-Conference. points. downs. and defense. in October.
DAYTON WOLFE, CODY WILSON, NICK SORICE, WES BANKS, JON COTCHEN, JASON MARQUIS,
JEANNETTE (SR.) OL/LD YOUGH (SR.) RB/LB LATROBE (SR.) WR/CB HEMPFIELD (SR.) OL/DL LIGONIER VALLEY (JR.) QB/LB JEANNETTE (JR.) OT/DT
Consistent defensive Carried 34 times for Finished eighth overall Outstanding lineman for Sparked offense with Among toughest on both
force all season ... had school-record 311 yards with 45 catches for 755 the Spartans this sea- 113 carries for 651 yards sides of ball ... played
team-high 12 tackles and four TDs in win over yards and seven TDs ... son. first-team All-Quad and eight TDs ... had PIAA Class AA title game
against Wilson Area in Washington ... finished caught a 73-yard touch- South selection ... eight sacks and a team- against Wilson Area with
the state championship season with 151 carries for down in last game to recruited by Connecticut leading 108 tackles on a torn right ACL that
game. 1,566 yards and 22 TDs. help team make playoffs. and Massachusetts. defense. requires surgery.