P-R’s line plays huge role
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Phil’s posse? No, that probably wouldn’t be the most appropriate term for these five beefy, brutish Rams. Bodyguards? Well, that could fit because this five are big and in charge of protecting Phil Jurkovec, Pine-Richland’s star quarterback.
But just go ahead and call Andrew Kristofic, Mike Katic, Mike Dorundo, Parker Boyd and Grant Lemirande wing men for Jurkovec.
“Phil actually has taken us out a couple times to Buffalo Wild Wings for wings,” said Kristofic. “We are all in high school and have to pay for gas and things, so we don’t crush him. But it’s his way of giving ussome props.”
So far this season, PineRichland’s offense has gotten major props. Jurkovec has gotten much of the credit — and rightly so, being hailed as one of the best quarterbacks in Western Pennsylvania in years. Other skill position players such as running backs Jordan Crawford and Kenny White, and receivers Jason DeFrancisis and Ray Falcone have also gotten their share of pub. That’s the way football goes. Skill guys getthe props.
But Pine-Richland’s five guys in the trenches have molded into one special offensive line. Pine-Richland heads into the WPIAL Class 6A championship game Saturday at Heinz Field against Central Catholic averaging a surreal 516 yards a game. The Rams score 49 points per contest. Those offensive statistics make heads spin and the five guys up front help make the wheels go round and round. They might be underpublicized, but certainly not underappreciated. They are certainly Ram tough and have been huge this season, and not just because they average 6 feet 2½, 258 pounds from tackle to tackle.
“I think the line has meant a lot,” said Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz. “Obviously, we have a lot of skill.But I’ve seen teams with good skill and they’re not able to move the ball and they’re not able to do many things. It all starts up front, and I don’t care what level of football you’re at.”
From left to right for the Rams, it is 6-2, 255-pound senior Boyd at left tackle; 6foot, 245-pound senior Lemirande at left guard; 6-1, 255pound junior Dorundo at center; 6-3, 280-pound Katic at right guard; and 6-6, 255pound junior Kristofic at right tackle.
“While we might not get a lot of attention outside of our team, we definitely do get a lot of praise from the coaches and Phil and the other skill guys,” said Kristofic. “Even in interviews [with the media] after games, they give us a little shoutout. And we appreciate that. … We might be overshadowed, but we understand. It comes with the position.”
How the five came together this season is an interesting story in itself. Katic, Kristofic and Dorundo all started last season as sophomores. Kristofic said he, Katic and Dorundo are very close. Boyd became a starter only this season — and Lemirande wasn’t even on the team last year. He played two years ago as a sophomore, but decided to give up the sport last year. He came back this season only a few weeks before the official start of practice in August. He returned when Dave Hodgin, a projected starter, quit the team.
“It was kind of like the ninth hour when Grant came to us and said he wanted to be a part of this,” said Kasperowicz.
And if you listen to Kasperowicz and some players, one of the other main reasons this offensive line has been so good is offensive line coach Tim Sasson.
“I’d be remiss if I did not mention coach Sasson because he’s incredible what he does year in and year out with our line,” Kasperowicz said. “He’ll be a head coach someday.”