During Cole Spencer’s sophomore season, his first as Pine-Richland’s starting quarterback, the ‘R’ in RPO (run-pass option) might as well have been bolded, underlined and italicized.
Those same letters were written on a board during a team meeting prior to this season, but offensive coordinator Ryan Lehmeier crossed them out and wrote PRO.
“He said, ‘If you can pass the ball, pass the ball,’” Spencer recalled.
Spencer is doing just that. A player who last season was a game manager and made most of his big plays with his feet, has transitioned to a game changer — and he’s doing it with his arm.
In 15 games last season, Spencer, now a junior, had 15 touchdown passes. In four games this season, he is already up to 12, which leads Class 6A and is tied for second in the WPIAL. He threw a career-high five touchdown passes against Hempfield. Spencer is also averaging 213 passing yards per game (852 overall) and connecting on 67 percent of his passes. A season ago, he averaged 97 yards a game and had a completion percentage of 57 percent.
The one constant is Pine-Richland winning games. A season ago, Spencer helped the Rams go 11-3 and win a second consecutive WPIAL Class 6A title. This season, the Rams are 4-0 and ranked No. 1 in the WPIAL and No. 2 in the PIAA.
“Last year, we didn’t ask as much of him because we were so good up front,” Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz said, making reference to an offensive line that had three all-conference seniors. “We only threw when needed. Now, we’re more inexperienced up front. Those guys are coming along, but we’re definitely putting more on Cole’s shoulders and he’s really developed into a pure passer. He can hurt you with his feet and his arm. He’s really doing well with the mental part, as well.”
Spencer is running the ball less this season, but is still a dual threat. He showed that by rushing for 112 yards in a Week 0 win against Penn Hills. In the past three games, he has just 12 carries for 28 yards. A season ago, he led all Class 6A quarterbacks in rushing with 880 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.
“I’ve taken on a different role this season,” Spencer said. “Last year I was the new guy on the team, the new guy on the offense, taking over for Phil [Jurkovec]. [Kasperowicz] said don’t lose us games, where this year it’s much more on my shoulders to win games.”
Spencer is developing into a high school football star — and still has another year left — but he likely won’t play the sport in college.
“If I was 6-3, it might be a different story,” said Spencer, “but since I’m 5-10, I’m trying to do as much wrestling as I can.”
Spencer, who is 165 pounds, is one of the WPIAL’s top wrestlers. A WPIAL runner-up his freshman season, Spencer has been wrestling with his club team on the weekends. Among the colleges showing interest are Pitt, Stanford, North Carolina State and Maryland.
Central Catholic
When John Opalko struck the ball on a field-goal attempt last Friday, he initially wasn’t too confident it was going to be successful. A.J. Beatty’s snap was good. As was Dom Pieto’s hold. But the kick?
“Actually, I mishit it, which is pretty funny,” said Opalko, a senior. “As soon as I hit it, I knew I mishit it, but then I looked up and saw it was travelling pretty well and might make it.”
What Opalko made was a 54-yard field goal, second longest in WPIAL history. It was 1 yard short of the record of 55 set by East Allegheny’s Josh Miller in 2002. Opalko’s kick helped Central Catholic improve to 3-1 after a 31-14 win at Hempfield.
Opalko’s previous career long had been 42 yards, which he connected on earlier this season against Seneca Valley. He said he has been successful from 60 yards multiple times in camps and practices.
So close to the record, would Opalko like to get a chance to break it?
“If I get an opportunity to go for 56 and claim the record straight up, that would be great. But if not, I’m happy with 54,” he said.
Opalko, who lives in Springdale, is 12 for 12 on extra-point attempts and 3 for 3 on field-goal attempts this season. He was an all-conference selection last season when he converted five field goals. Opalko is also a standout soccer player at Central Catholic, where he is a four-year starter. He said Lafayette and Albany are showing interest in football, and Allegheny is recruiting him in soccer.
Brad Everett: beverett@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BREAL412.
STANDINGS: WPIAL | City League
Team Pages | Sortable Statistics
First Published: September 19, 2019, 11:00 a.m.
