In every high school football season there are individual performances that just stand out above all others.
They’re the plays the old guys are talking about Saturday and Sunday mornings when they’re hanging out at the downtown restaurant, garage or mini market.
They’re the stats the fans talk about when eating breakfast at the local fire company or getting their hair cut at the barber shop.
They’re the performances that end up on TV highlight reels or on YouTube.
The 2014 high school football season was full of them … and there’s still room for more.
From North Schuylkill’s John Rupinski busting loose against Marian, to Tri-Valley’s Jaden Buchanan swiping four interceptions against Halifax, to Blue Mountain’s Christian Puzzi booting a 43-yard field goal to Nativity’s Jeff Yordy continuously hauling in TD passes, there were several big-time performances from area players this season.
The following is a list of “Season Bests” as we enter Week 12. Let’s hope a player from one of local teams still remaining adds his name to one of these categories moving forward.
Season bests
Most carries in a game: John Rupinski, North Schuylkill — 33 vs. Marian, Week 4
Most rushing yards in a game: John Rupinski, North Schuylkill — 305 vs. Marian, Week 4
Most pass completions: Nick Kuhn, Hamburg — 15 vs. Twin Valley, Week 6
Most pass attempts: Nick Kuhn, Hamburg — 34 vs. Twin Valley, Week 6
Most passing yards in a game: Nick Rodichok, Williams Valley — 269 vs. Millersburg, Week 2
Most receptions in a game: Jeff Yordy, Nativity — 9 vs. Minersville, Week 10
Most receiving yards in a game: Jeff Yordy, Nativity — 201 vs. Bucktail, Week 4
Most touchdowns scored in a game: John Rupinski, North Schuylkill — 5 vs. Marian, Week 4
Most interceptions in a game: Jaden Buchanan, Tri-Valley — 4 vs. Halifax, Week 7
Longest TD run: John Rupinski, North Schuylkill — 94 yards vs. Mahanoy Area, Week 5
Longest TD pass: Tyler Cann to Tyler Crum, Lehighton — 90 yards vs. Tamaqua, Week 9
Longest field goal: Christian Puzzi, Blue Mountain — 43 yards vs. Marian, Week 5
Longest interception return for TD: Tegan Durishin, Lehighton — 82 yards vs. Mahanoy Area, Week 1
Longest kickoff return for TD: Blake Panko, Mount Carmel — 97 yards vs. Selinsgrove, Week 2. Panko also had a 96-yarder vs. Danville in Week 5.
Longest punt return for TD: Mason Evitts, Mahanoy Area — 90 yards vs. Panther Valley, Week 3
Longest fumble return for TD: Rob Henne, Hamburg — 82 yards vs. Wyomissing, Week 8
Wrapping up another
Football Friday
This edition is the last Football Friday for the 2014 high school football season.
What began in 2006 as a way to get more football coverage into our paper has blossomed into a must-read every week for local fans.
There are several behind-the-scenes people who help make this publication a success, from correspondent Kevin Keating doing cutouts, Janet Joyce redesigning the Pigskin Picks graphic to the fine work done each week by The Republican-Herald photography staff.
Without them, putting this all together each week would be impossible.
Moving forward
If/when North Schuylkill and Marian advance to the PIAA playoffs, preview and feature coverage of each squad will continue in the daily newspaper for as long as they continue on the road to Hershey.
The Pigskin Picks will carry on, as in other years, through the PIAA state championships, with final individual and team statistics appearing at some point in December.
The annual Republican-Herald All-Area Football Team will appear in the Christmas Day, Dec. 25 edition of the newspaper.
SCFCA All-Star Game
to be held Nov. 26
In what has become a holiday tradition, the annual Schuylkill County Football Coaches’ Association All-Star Game will be held Wednesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. at Schuylkill Haven’s Rotary Field.
Panther Valley’s Matt Davis will be the head coach of the North, while Williams Valley’s Tim Savage will guide the South.
Former North Schuylkill great Terry Rakowsky (North) and former Nativity standout Eric Muldowney (South) will serve as honorary captains for the game.
This year’s inductees into the SCFCA Hall of Fame include former Panther Valley and Tamaqua coach Tom Bonner, the late Barry Hackenberg of North Schuylkill, former Pottsville coach Kevin Keating and the late Pat Droskinas of Cass Township.
Key offseason
One thing to keep an eye on during the offseason is possible expansion of the Anthracite Football League.
The AFL will add Pottsville in 2016, and will need to develop a new structure and schedule for when the Tide enter the league.
There have been widespread rumors on teams entering the league and/or possibly leaving the AFL. How that all plays out will be interesting to watch over the winter months and into the spring.
Player of the Week
Logan Levan
Pine Grove
Levan came through in the clutch for the Cardinals in Sunday’s resumption of their Eastern Conference Class AA semifinal at Hanover Area, completing five key passes and scoring the game-clinching touchdown on a 25-yard run.
Levan’s performance advanced the Cards to tonight’s EC title game.
(Boyer is sports editor and covers high school football for The Republican-Herald. Follow him on Twitter @pubsportsboss)