FOOTBALL

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