By Joe Sager

New Castle News

Ernie Burkes knew he had to relax and just do his job.

The Neshannock High senior’s focused approach paid off Friday in the Lancers’ 35-6 drubbing of Monessen in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals. Burkes passed for two touchdowns and ran for two others to help fuel the win.

The performance earned him Lawrence County Athlete of the Week honors, an award sponsored by Washington Centre Physical Therapy and selected by the New Castle News sports staff.

Burkes found the end zone with his legs twice in the first quarter to help set the tone.

“Coming out and attacking them early was very big because they are a good football team. They are a lot more skilled and physical than what the score showed,” he said. “We came into practice and coach (Frank Bongivengo Sr.) worked with me because I have been struggling a little bit at the QB position. He worked me out and I got better. Our running back, Eli (Owens), got better and he saw holes a little better. Our linemen were out there every day before practice working on their techniques and their blocks. We really stepped it up last game.”

Burkes, who poses a threat with his arm and legs at quarterback, explained that he was making things too complex.

“That’s where I kind of lost focus. I lost focus at the quarterback position because I worry about so many other little things that shouldn’t concern me,” he said. “Coach Bongivengo came up and really beat into my head that I have to do my job for this team to win. If I do my job, then everyone else does their job and it works out best for this team. I don’t try to do too much.”

The simplified approach worked well. In addition to his TD runs of 19 and 23 yards, he found Steven Jeffries for a 50-yard scoring strike and Jimmy Medure for a 21-yard TD pass. Burkes finished with 100 yards on the ground and 87 through the air. Those efforts put him in an exclusive club — he has 1,031 rushing and 1,028 passing yards on the year.

“I never like defending dual-threat quarterbacks who can run and pass. I am sure everybody feels the same way. When they can do it with their arm and their feet, it gives you problems, defensively,” Neshannock coach Fred Mozzocio said. “Ernie, he is like a Brett Favre-type of player. He is so competitive and so athletic he thinks he can just do things by himself sometimes and just ad-lib. We try to limit that and sit him down and tell him to let the offense work for him and big plays will come. That’s what he’s been doing a good job of the last three weeks or so, just letting plays come to him instead of forcing things.”

Burkes credits the Lancers’ veteran offensive line of Ralph Dovidio, Zach Barnes, Steve Senko, Adam Wawrzynski, Nate Nativio and tight end Jeffries for providing quality blocking.

“It’s the most comfortable feeling in the world when you know you can sit in that pocket and you have time to throw; it makes the game a lot easier for a quarterback,” he said. “Having those guys back is a big deal for me. I love those guys. They block for me every game and I try to do my thing and we just help each other out.”

The Lancers (9-2) are eager for a rematch with North Catholic (11-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mars in a WPIAL semifinal. The Trojans beat Neshannock 21-14 at home Oct. 18. The winner goes to Heinz Field for the championship game at 11 a.m. Nov. 23.

“This is probably the most hyped we’ve ever been. We just want to play our game and let the best team win,” Burkes said. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had playing a sport. Each week we keep moving on and on. The practices are miserable, but you have to put in the work to get to your goal.”

Like Burkes, the rest of the squad remains focused.

“I feel that’s all leadership right there. We have a big leader in Gianni Oliva. He set the tone from the beginning that he’s going to play hard and not give up. Our other senior leaders, no one wants it to be our last game, so we come in focused every day,” Burkes said. “I think we have eight or nine seniors, so when you come in with that many people zoned in, people are going to follow you. I think the leadership has been good.”

Neshannock doesn’t want the ride to end yet.

“It’s very, very business-like right now. These guys have their eye on the prize. They are very gracious, but very excited about the opportunity that lies ahead,” Mozzocio said. “We’re looking forward to getting another piece of North Catholic.”

 (Email: ncsports

@ncnewsonline.com)

 

THE ERNIE BURKES FILE

 POSITION: Quarterback/safety

 TEAM: Neshannock

 GRADE: 12

 PARENTS: Bob and Marianne Burkes

 KNOWN FOR: He rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two more in Neshannock’s 35-6 win over Monessen in a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal.

 FAVORITE PRO PLAYER AND WHY: Tom Brady (Patriots) and Robert Griffin III (Redskins). “I like the way Robert Griffin runs the spread and the way he throws. Tom Brady, I think he’ll always be my main man because of the way he delivers the ball and stays confident in the pocket. I respect that.”

 FAVORITE PRO TEAM AND WHY: Washington Redskins. “I just like their style of offense. I don’t really pay attention to the defensive side of the ball when I watch pro games. I just really like their offense and the way they play games.”

 FUTURE PLANS:  “I hope to go through a six-year physician’s assistant program somewhere, whatever place wants me or the place where I feel I’d be the most comfortable. Hopefully, I can go do something with that sometime in the future.”