mm A re mp oe pg Fy 12 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA DALLAS MEN CAN RUN - Freshman Frank Valvano left a trail of Wyoming Area defenders behind as he returned a kickoff during the POST PHOTO/GENE MULKERIN Mountaineers’ 28-9 win over the Warriors at Lackawanna County Stadium Saturday. Brady leads at both ends of the field By DAVE KONOPKI Sports Writer It was supposed to have been a quiet afternoon. Achance tospend time with his family playing a nice board game. But suddenly, things changed. After being defeated in a game of Parcheesi to his uncle, theyoung grade school student with the skinny body and big brown eyes couldn't stand it. So upset with his uncle’s win and playful kid- ding, the youngster could hardly breathe and he began to hyper- ventilate. Brian Brady has never liked to lose. That intense desire to win still burns within the heart of Brady and is one of the reasons the Dallas Mountaineer football team will play in the eastern final of the PIAA Class AA state playoffs this weekend in Hershey. The senior quarterback and defensive back has become the leader of the top-ranked Class AA team in the state of Pennsylvania. He's a leader on the field and off. A player who leads by command, and by example. In doing so, the son of Tom and Kathy Brady of Shavertown has become the most prolific passer in Dallas history, eclipsing the 3,000-yard mark for his career. Brady has thrown for more than 1,600 yards this season and more than 3,300 in his two seasons as starting quarterback. Brady's leadership has led Dallas to two consecutive Wyo- ming Valley Conference Division II titles, a District 2 Class AA title and Dallas's first-ever berth in the state playoffs. With the 6-1, 175-pound Brady calling the sig- nals, the Mountaineers have posted an incredible 23-3 mark over the last two years. The Dallas football team was not exactly arudderless ship drift- ing through the waters of the Wyoming Valley Conference, but head coach Ted Jackson needed a leader on the field if his talent- laden team was going to be suc- cessful. He found one in Brady. “We were searching for a leader and Brian has become an excel- lent leader,” said Jackson, of his co-captain. “We needed someone like him to step forward this sea- son. If your performance is aver- "I remember what it felt like after we lost. I didn’t like that feeling and I don’t want to experience it again.” Brian Brady Dallas quarterback and co-captain age, he's not happy with it. He'll get on your case and kick you in the butt if you need it. “Brian's a leader on both sides of the ball,” says Jackson. “He's one of the most intense kids I've ever been around. He'll do any- thing it takes to win. The kid just hates to lose.” Ironically, it may have been one of the few losses Brady has endured that was an inspiration for his success this season. After advancing to the Eastern Conference championship game last season, the Mounts fell to Valley View, 33-13. Brady hasn't forgotten. “I think about that game of- ten,” said the soft-spoken senior, “especially when we're in a tough game. | remember what it felt like after we lost. I didn't like that feeling and I don't want to experi- ence it again.” While he has become one of the most successful quarterbacks in the conference, Brady's football career didn't start out that way. POST PHOTO/GENE MULKERIN HE CAN RUN, TOO - Dallas quarterback Brian Brady has led the Mounts to the state semi-finals. After playing one year of mini- football at the age of nine, Brady quit the game saying he didn'tlike it. : But he returned to football in junior high and led the Mounts to a 9-1 record as a starting quarter- back his freshman year. After serving as a backup his sopho- more year, Brady was locked in a battle for the starting job last season. He won the job, but his first varsity start was less than memorable. “I was so nervous. [ missed so many open receivers,” said Brady of his team’s 7-0 win over Pittston Area in last year's season-opener. “But coach Jackson had confi- dence in me and had me throwing short passes until my confidence built up.” And Brady hasn't looked back since. “That season gave me confi- dence,” said Brady. “That has been very important to me. If you don't have confidence in what you're doing, you're not going to be as good.” He quickly points out that he never could have been successful on his own. “The people around me have made me better,” Brady explained. “I've played with some great play- ers. We've had some very good receivers and running backs and our offensive line has done a great job. They certainly have made my job a lot easier.” Although he has set numerous records at Dallas for passing pro- ficiency, Brady also takes pride in being part of the highly-regarded Mountaineer defense. “I want to be part of one of Dallas's best defenses ever,” said Brady who, along with his defen- sive teammates have yielded just 59 points in 13 games this sea- son., “I take pride in our defense. We all do. We don’t want anyone to score against us.” His defensive efforts have drawn strong praise from Jackson. “Brian has a gift,” said Jackson. “He fears nothing and has no respect for his body. He hits like a linebacker. If he was bigger, he could seriously hurt someone. He plays the game the way it's sup- posed to be played.” Brady, who hasn't decided whether to play in college next year or attend a prep school, has high praise for his coaches, espe- cially Jackson and quarterback coach Bill Silvi. “Coach Jackson has taught me a lot,” said the southpaw. “I have all the respect in the world for him. It’s nice to go on the field knowing he'll do anything he can to help you win. “Coach Silvi has meant a lot to me,” Brady continued. “During the week, he gets me ready and at halftime of the games, he lets me know what I'm doing wrong. He's always told me to be a leader and to take charge.” he at leadership into unchartered wa- ters — the state playoffs. “I guess this is like taking part in a dream,” said Brady. “We know that we have a chance to do what no Dallas team has ever done. There have been some great teams at Dallas but they never had the state playoffs when (Dal- las) won the Eastern Conference (1987 and 1988). We have the chance to do something special. It's a great feeling.” The 1993 Dallas Mountaineers (A Year to Remember) Editor's Note: John Dzury, a 1988 graduate of Dallas High School, is impressed with the Mountaineer football team’s season. He's so impressed 9 that he wrote the following poem, recapping the season through the first- round of district playoffs against Dunmore. In September they started a quest. To win the division they must play their best. The first four games were at home. Dallas fans cheered like they were in a dome. Pittston said the game will be a war. Look’s like their first win will come in 1994. G.A.R. came with their speed. 0 Mountaineers defense slowed them down indeed. Tunkhannock gave us our only defeat. Because our offense was not in beat. Coughlin came here 3-0. Overconfidence was their foe. Nanticoke was our first game away. Mountaineers took revenge on T.V. that day. The Meyers game was the battle for first. Meyers bad passing game, made their offense burst. ; ® We went to Crestwood, penalties filled the game. Aggression is Mountaineers’ middle name. When Bishop Hoban upset Hanover, they thought they were cool. The last time they scored in Dallas, | was still in school. The Hanover game was played in the rain. When it was over Hanover felt the pain. Tamaqua is no match for us. Just write them off the schedule, no big fuss. © The Lake-Lehman game was for the old shoe. Another year the trophy rests in our school. Mountaineers are now aiming toward the title game. Let us all pray and light candles in their name. John Dzury Shavertown POST PHOTO/GENE MULKERIN PASSING OUT THE GOLD - Dallas head coach Ted Jackson handed the winner's medal to John Howe. POST PHOTO/GENE MULKERIN CHEERS - Jennifer Bryant and Jennifer Liss led the Mountaineer cheering squad. Greyhounds hot on Dugan's heels Frank Debona and Jim Jaster combined for 43 points to lead undefeated Dugans Pub to a 69- 61 win over Philadelphia Subs in the Dallas Adult Basketball League. Debona had 22 including four three pointers while Jaster added 21. Mike Hosey chipped in 11 for the winners who move to 4-0. Chris Gleco had 18 and Rich Gebhart 15 for Philly Subs who fell to 2-2. Chuck Wilson fired in 24 points to lead Bassler Equipment to an easy 91-66 win over The Lion Inc. Tim Sutliff had 16 and Mark Far- rell 13 for the victors. Steve Dente had 22 for The Lion and Mike Luksic added 16. The Greyhounds got back on the winning track by whipping Allen Construction 66-31. Jeff Phillips led the way with 20 points and John McCarthy chipped in with 18. Joe Conforti led Allen with 12 in a losing effort. Play continues on Sunday, Dec. 5 with three games beginning at 12:30 at Dallas High School. Schedule for Dec. 5: 12:30 - Lion vs. The Greyhounds 1:30 - Allen vs. Dugan 2:30 - Bassler vs. Philadelphia Subs LEAGUE STANDINGS: Dugan's Pub 4 Greyhounds 3 Philadelphia Subs 2 Bassler Equipment 2 Allen Construction 1 Lion Inc. 0 * Denotes 3 pt. goal « Denotes 4 pt. goal HAWONOND—=2O Dugans Pub - 69 Philadelphia Subs - 61 EG FE Total EG FE Total Debona**** 8 2 22 Gebhart 6 3 15 Jaster” 8 4 21 C. Gleco 8 2 18 Hage 3 1 7 L. Gleco 3 0 6 Messinger 3 0 6 Swank” 5 2 13 Hosey 5 i 11 Lanza* 1 0. 3 Straigis 0 2 2 Kepp 1 2 4 21:10 869 Feddock 1 g 2 25:9 61 Bassler Equip. - 91 Lion Inc. - 66 FG F Total FG FE Total Millington 4 Ds. 12 Luksic* 7 1 16 Woychick 6 0 12 Cuff* 5 0 11 Sutliff 8 0 16 Dente 10. 2 22 Farrell*** 5 0 13 Lister* 7 0 15 Flaherty” 2 1 7 Welgosh 1 0 2 Wilson** 11:0 24 80 3 66 Race 4 0 8 40 - 3 91 Greyhounds - 66 Allen Const. - 31 EG E Total EG E Total McCarthy 7 4 18 Houk* 3 0 7 Jeff Phillips**e 8 0 20 Sinkulak 2 P 6 Joe Phillips 0 0 0 Golemski 1 0 2 Vonxhwdaki 0 0 0 Confortie 5 0 12 J. Coslett 2 0 4 McCue 1 0 2 Obeid* 3 0 7 Hrabowski 0 0 0 Pincofski*e 6 2 17 Reidinger 1 0 2 28 «8H 66 1372-2 3% Fall Champions, BMT U-12 Wildcats Row 1, from left, Rachel Farley, Courtney Bouthot, Rachael Bouthot, Melissa DeCesaris, Sara Rittenhouse, Jennifer Noon, Scooter Perlis, Maria Wright. Row 2, Coach Ed Schall, Erica Turner, Michelle Pryor, Sarah Nichol, Betsy Rosenthal, Rachael Kasper, Anna Lloyd, Ashley ) Feldman, Leah Grundowski and Coach Ron Loeffler. Missing: Coaches: Kristen Kosakowski, Sean Callahan, Pat Scoble, Kenny Chapple, Joey Ankerbrandt.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers