Published Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1997
BACK TO HERALD...
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: John Napotnik, Sharpsville
Blue Devils' Napotnik has come a long way
Sharpsville quarterback John Napotnik celebrates during a recent Blue Devils' victory. Napotnik has become Mercer County's career passing leader.
(Clem Marion/Herald) |
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
Sharpsville senior quarterback John S. Napotnik has come a long way since first taking a snap under center as a freshman in 1994.
Amid a 1-9 season, Napotnik, a son of John W. and Kathy Napotnik, Sharpsville, was thrown into the fire at quarterback by then-coach Don George, who apparently had an eye toward the future.
Fast forward to 1997. The future is now for Napotnik and the Blue Devils, who have come of age together under current coach Paul Piccirilli and are now teetering on the brink of what could become the most successful season in school annals.
One of the keys is Napotnik, who as a result has been named The Herald Sports Extra's Male Athlete of the Month.
``We wouldn't be at the same level if he wasn't there,'' Piccirilli said. ``We would still be a good football team because we have so many outstanding athletes, but he puts us at another level.''
A level that has increasingly improved with Napotnik at the controls. He has been the leader of a team that has posted a 21-10 mark since '94, including a 17-4 record the last two years _ the first back-to-back winning seasons at the school since the '77 and '78 squads registered consecutive 8-2 marks. In fact, only three squads in school history _ '45-46 (18-1-1), '34-35 (17-1-1) and '45-46 (17-2-1) _ have posted as many wins in back-to-back seasons as this year's team.
``Those are two very emotional extremes,'' Napotnik said. ``When I was a freshman and sophomore it was hard just going to practice everyday. Now you look forward to it. My freshman year was really tough _ it's very hard for anybody to play as a freshman _ but it did help me out. It showed me how hard I needed to work to be successful in high school football.''
And successful he has become. Last month Napotnik became Mercer County's career passing leader and in Friday night's 31-8 District 10 Class A semifinal victory over Linesville became the first area quarterback to surpass the 4,000-yard passing plateau.
``I put in a lot of time in the off-season lifting weights,'' Napotnik said, citing keys to his success. ``I like to study defenses and look at a lot of film. But on top of that I have a bunch of other great athletes that help me out.''
Already having registered the 10th-highest single-season total in county annals (1,258 yards in 1995), Napotnik is on his way up even farther on the ladder with this season's numbers, which stand at 98-of-141 for 1,485 yards (currently 7th-best in county annals), 14 TDs and 5 INTs. His career stats, all of which are believed to be county records, are: 326-of-619 for 4,178 yards, with 35 TDs and 39 INTs.
``Last year when we came in as a staff I thought he was a little gun shy,'' Piccirilli said. ``Those first two years he was actually throwing to a spot where the receiver should have been. Yeah, he did throw a lot, but I didn't think he was a very good quarterback as far as reading defenses. We got him to read last year and this year he has developed into one of the better quarterbacks in the league, if not this part of the state.''
According to Piccirilli, Napotnik's football education _ another big reason behind his success _ began long before he ever thought about putting on pads and a helmet.
``He grew up with his dad being a coach,'' Piccirilli said, referring to John W., a former head coach and current assistant with the Devils. ``I remember coaching with John 14 or 15 years ago and his son was just barely walking. John would have meetings at the house, so when (John S.) was growing up all he heard was football. That's where he gets a lot of his being a coach on the field. He's very intelligent and he listens very well.''
And that has enabled him to lead the Blue Devils to consecutive Mercer County Athletic Conference Class A championships and berths in the District 10 Class A finals.
And how has Napotnik been able to overcome his 5-foot-7, 140-pound frame, certainly not the protoypical size for a quarterback, even in high school?
``The only thing I can say is heart,'' Napotnik said. ``But it's not just me but everybody on our team. We just have a lot of heart.''
Another intangible?
``He's so competitive and when he does make a mistake he gets down on himself,'' Piccirilli said. ``He learns from his mistakes and I think this year he's never made the same mistake twice. And that has made him a better quarterback.''
Which, in turn, has made the Blue Devils (9-1), who will be squaring off with Cambridge Springs Friday in the D-10 A championship game, a better team.
``We have a bright future and want to make things happen,'' Napotnik said. ``We're looking forward to making the state playoffs and really making a name for ourselves.''
Sorry John, you and this undersized band of Blue Devils already have.
