Pirates see value in diversified attack

There's a good reason for fans of Perryville football to be optimistic.

The Pirates finished the 2012 season 3-7 -- hardly a cause for celebration. But head coach Mike Wotjtczuk was able to unearth a few hidden gems throughout the year that should help the Pirates improve in 2013.

"We took our lumps last season," Wojtczuk said. "We were inexperienced."

He's hoping the added experience will pay dividends this fall.

"The bulk of these kids, it will pay dividends for them," he said. "It all goes back to the hard-nosed work ethic that they have."

Along with that is an increased emphasis on a diversified attack that will effectively utilize all of the weapons Wojtczuk has at his disposal. It starts with junior quarterback Tyler Holligan, who started all 10 games as a sophomore and is ready to step into a leadership role on offense.

"He's making good decisions," Wojtczuk said. "He's making some good looks in the passing game. He leads by example, and in my opinion that's what you need at quarterback."

Holligan is excited to be a part of the Pirates' more diversified attack.

"We're going to be throwing the ball a lot more this year," he said. "Last year, we ran the ball a lot more because we didn't have a lot of experience. This year, we've got a lot more game experience, and there's just a lot more keys to the game that I know and, as a team, we know. We're more together. We play more as a family."

Football players "The Four Horsemen" posed on horses - Don Miller, Harry Stuhldreher, Jim Crowley, and Elmer Layden, 1924.Photo by George Strickler.[copy negative] Used with permission, Notre Dame Archives.

Senior Cody Crawford returns as the leading ground-gainer for the Pirates. Crawford missed half of last season with a high ankle sprain, though he still managed to rush for more than 400 yards.

"He's feeling his oats a little bit," Wojtczuk said. "He knows this is his last year."

Crawford is excited to see what awaits the Pirates down the road. He hopes all the work he and his teammates put in this offseason pays off in the end.

"We have a lot more speed and we're just all more mature this year," he said. "We all know what we're doing. We're working better as a team this year. Everybody works good together. We've got a lot of speed and a lot of strength because we put a lot of time into it in the offseason."

Senior Jonny Pruiett provides a change of pace in the Pirates' offensive backfield. He filled in nicely last season when Crawford was injured and will be counted on to provide depth and leadership.

Pruiett said the team's camaraderie will go a long ways toward how the Pirates fare in 2013.

"We're all really close," he said. "We all get along. We're just a really tight family."

Sophomore Holden Stortz will play in important role on offense, providing a big target at tight end. He caught several passes during last week's jamboree and lends diversity to the Perryville attack.

"I'm just gonna try and do my best," Stortz said of his role. "I'm not gonna worry about what other people think. We're just gonna go in there and play our game.

"I think we've got threats running or passing. I think it'll put the defense out a little bit. They'll have to look at what they're gonna do, and have to think about it a little bit."

And while Wojtczuk wants to be diverse, he still wants to run the ball effectively.

"We're not gonna be a team to come out and sling the ball downfield 50-60 times a game," he said. "We're gonna go with the quick, intermediate passes."

He hopes that kind of passing attack will help set up the Pirates' running game.

"We still want to pound the football," he stressed. "I'm a firm believer that, to be successful, you've got to run the football."

Which is fine with the stable of weapons he has offensively. He has the horses, so to speak, to make Perryville's offensive attack successful, no matter who lines up on the opposing side.

"We'll just line up in the 'I' [formation] and we'll still throw it or run it at you." Holligan said. "We're not really scared about anything. The competition, we're not worried about. We've been playing them for years now, and we're just ready for the season."

One that, hopefully, builds off last year's 3-7 mark.

"I think, barring injury, we'll be OK," Wojtczuk said. "I like our chances."