Schoolastic Notebook ...
Posted: October 6th, 2006, 4:21 pm
Scholastic Notebook
10/6/2006 - MSA Sports
For those who think a running back can be successful based on his talent alone, take a look at what has happened to Hampton’s Steve Paskorz.
Paskorz is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior who burst on the scene two years ago as a sophomore when he rushed for more than 2,000 yards. He was bothered by an ankle injury last year and had “only” 1,291.
Coming into this season, Paskorz had 3,478 yards and getting 4,000 seemed like a mere formality. But after five weeks of the season, Paskorz still isn’t at 4,000 and still needs 259 yards to get there.
So far this season, Paskorz has only 263 yards rushing. He gained 100 yards only once.
Paskorz didn’t all of a sudden lose his ability to run the football. What he did lose, though, was most of his offensive line. Most of the guys who blocked for Paskorz the past two seasons have graduated and their replacements haven’t exactly opened holes with regularity. Hampton has tried different players on the line at various times.
Hampton still should make the playoffs, although the Talbots aren’t a total lock. Four games remain in the regular season and it’s hard to imagine Paskorz NOT getting to 4,000. Then again, he’s only gained 263 in five games.
Paskorz is a Notre Dame recruit and Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis told Paskorz he would be tried at linebacker first. However, there was a possibility Notre Dame might also take a look at Paskorz at running back. It says here Paskorz will never be a RB for Notre Dame.
Another For 4,000
It’s probably a good bet Greensburg Central Catholic running back Max Suter will beat Paskorz to 4,000. Suter, a senior and a Syracuse recruit, needs 174 yards for 4,000. Suter is the fifth-leading rusher in the WPIAL with 817 yards.
Suter’s teammate, receiver-defensive back Nick Sukay, reached a milestone last week when he got his 21st career interception. That is a school record. Sukay is a Penn State recruit.
Another QB Out
On this web site last week, we talked about how a number of top quarterbacks have been injured this year. Add another one to the list.
Kiski Area’s Josh Vick suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first half of last week’s game against Penn Hills. The anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament were both torn in Vick’s left knee.
Vick had been strong in his first season as a starter, leading the WPIAL in passing after four weeks. Even though he missed most of last week’s game, he’s still No. 2 in the league in passing yardage with 1,147 yards, completing 52 of 101 passes.
Son of a Coach Shines
Rich Bowen has been highly successful in turning around Serra Catholic’s football program. Maybe he should give some thanks to the school’s basketball coaches.
Serra is 5-0 this season after going 5-4 last year. The Eagles look to be headed for the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 1992.
Last season, Bowen’s quarterback was Jordan Cleary, son of Serra girls’ basketball coach Bill Cleary. Cleary had never played football before Bowen’s arrival.
Now this season, Marc Rozanski has steadily led Serra to a perfect record. Rozanski is the son of Serra boys’ coach Bob Rozanski. Marc had never played football until last year.
Marc Rozanski has turned into one of the top two-way threats in the WPIAL, averaging more than 100 yards a game rushing AND passing. He has rushed for 528 yards on 58 carries and completed 35 of 633 passes for 633 yards.
Suzie Guidance
Legendary WPIAL girls’ basketball player Suzie McConnell resigned as coach of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx this summer, moved back to the Pittsburgh area with her family and is now giving individual and group instruction to players at the Greentree Sportsplex.
McConnell, a star at Seton-LaSalle who won numerous WPIAL and PIAA titles as Oakland Catholic’s girls’ coach, and her husband, Pete Serio, decided to move back “home” after her decision to leave the Lynx. The couple live in Upper St. Clair with their son and three daughters.
Pete Serio, who also was successful as the girls’ basketball coach at Mt. Lebanon, has become the director of basketball at the Greentree Sportsplex near Pittsburgh. The facility used to be the Greentree Racquet Club. It has one basketball court and should have two more by the spring.
For information on sessions with McConnell or any other basketball questions, call the Greentree Sportsplex at 412-922-1818.
Where Are They Now?
Former North Hills running back Andrew Johnson has carried the football five times for 34 yards for the University of Miami Hurricanes. That’s a pretty good yards-per-carry average, but 24 of those yards came on one play.
Johnson is now a junior and has played very little in his career. You can’t help but wonder if he would have been more successful had he played at Pitt. Johnson originally made a verbal commitment to Pitt the summer before his senior year, but changed his mind and signed with Miami.
10/6/2006 - MSA Sports
For those who think a running back can be successful based on his talent alone, take a look at what has happened to Hampton’s Steve Paskorz.
Paskorz is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior who burst on the scene two years ago as a sophomore when he rushed for more than 2,000 yards. He was bothered by an ankle injury last year and had “only” 1,291.
Coming into this season, Paskorz had 3,478 yards and getting 4,000 seemed like a mere formality. But after five weeks of the season, Paskorz still isn’t at 4,000 and still needs 259 yards to get there.
So far this season, Paskorz has only 263 yards rushing. He gained 100 yards only once.
Paskorz didn’t all of a sudden lose his ability to run the football. What he did lose, though, was most of his offensive line. Most of the guys who blocked for Paskorz the past two seasons have graduated and their replacements haven’t exactly opened holes with regularity. Hampton has tried different players on the line at various times.
Hampton still should make the playoffs, although the Talbots aren’t a total lock. Four games remain in the regular season and it’s hard to imagine Paskorz NOT getting to 4,000. Then again, he’s only gained 263 in five games.
Paskorz is a Notre Dame recruit and Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis told Paskorz he would be tried at linebacker first. However, there was a possibility Notre Dame might also take a look at Paskorz at running back. It says here Paskorz will never be a RB for Notre Dame.
Another For 4,000
It’s probably a good bet Greensburg Central Catholic running back Max Suter will beat Paskorz to 4,000. Suter, a senior and a Syracuse recruit, needs 174 yards for 4,000. Suter is the fifth-leading rusher in the WPIAL with 817 yards.
Suter’s teammate, receiver-defensive back Nick Sukay, reached a milestone last week when he got his 21st career interception. That is a school record. Sukay is a Penn State recruit.
Another QB Out
On this web site last week, we talked about how a number of top quarterbacks have been injured this year. Add another one to the list.
Kiski Area’s Josh Vick suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first half of last week’s game against Penn Hills. The anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament were both torn in Vick’s left knee.
Vick had been strong in his first season as a starter, leading the WPIAL in passing after four weeks. Even though he missed most of last week’s game, he’s still No. 2 in the league in passing yardage with 1,147 yards, completing 52 of 101 passes.
Son of a Coach Shines
Rich Bowen has been highly successful in turning around Serra Catholic’s football program. Maybe he should give some thanks to the school’s basketball coaches.
Serra is 5-0 this season after going 5-4 last year. The Eagles look to be headed for the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 1992.
Last season, Bowen’s quarterback was Jordan Cleary, son of Serra girls’ basketball coach Bill Cleary. Cleary had never played football before Bowen’s arrival.
Now this season, Marc Rozanski has steadily led Serra to a perfect record. Rozanski is the son of Serra boys’ coach Bob Rozanski. Marc had never played football until last year.
Marc Rozanski has turned into one of the top two-way threats in the WPIAL, averaging more than 100 yards a game rushing AND passing. He has rushed for 528 yards on 58 carries and completed 35 of 633 passes for 633 yards.
Suzie Guidance
Legendary WPIAL girls’ basketball player Suzie McConnell resigned as coach of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx this summer, moved back to the Pittsburgh area with her family and is now giving individual and group instruction to players at the Greentree Sportsplex.
McConnell, a star at Seton-LaSalle who won numerous WPIAL and PIAA titles as Oakland Catholic’s girls’ coach, and her husband, Pete Serio, decided to move back “home” after her decision to leave the Lynx. The couple live in Upper St. Clair with their son and three daughters.
Pete Serio, who also was successful as the girls’ basketball coach at Mt. Lebanon, has become the director of basketball at the Greentree Sportsplex near Pittsburgh. The facility used to be the Greentree Racquet Club. It has one basketball court and should have two more by the spring.
For information on sessions with McConnell or any other basketball questions, call the Greentree Sportsplex at 412-922-1818.
Where Are They Now?
Former North Hills running back Andrew Johnson has carried the football five times for 34 yards for the University of Miami Hurricanes. That’s a pretty good yards-per-carry average, but 24 of those yards came on one play.
Johnson is now a junior and has played very little in his career. You can’t help but wonder if he would have been more successful had he played at Pitt. Johnson originally made a verbal commitment to Pitt the summer before his senior year, but changed his mind and signed with Miami.