By Joe Simon

New Castle News

It was a moment Nick Polka — and most Ellwood City Lincoln High football fans — won’t soon forget.

And it’s a point in time Freeport couldn’t seem to stop thinking about, either.

Polka, a senior wide receiver for the Wolverines, and most of Ellwood City still are reverberating from a miraculous, 72-yard touchdown catch that sent a shockwave through a Yellowjackets team that never recovered from the play.

“It was a great moment to have that catch,” Polka said. “We needed something to get us back in the game, and it just felt great that I helped with it. And coming back was amazing. Once we took that momentum from them, it was all over.”

The play was a career-defining catch for a kid who’s made quite a few pivotal plays this year. And it wasn’t the only grab by Polka, who made seven receptions for 120 yards and the aforementioned touchdown to spark Ellwood’s 33-26 victory over the Yellowjackets. 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.

If not for a short talk by his coach, Don Phillips, the play might not ever have happened. Phillips chose not to scold Polka after he dropped a sure touchdown pass earlier in the game. Phillips knew he would need Polka in the right mindset later in the game.

“After the one he dropped in the first half, I didn’t say anything to him — no ranting or raving, hooting or hollering, nothing,” Phillips said. “I talked to him at halftime, and I said, ‘Nick, forget about it. You’re going to have a significant catch for us in second half.’

“And boy did he ever.”

Polka’s grab ignited a 15-point, fourth-quarter comeback and helped 7-3 Ellwood claim its first playoff victory since 1987.

Phillips was certain Polka would come around after the drop. After all, Polka has become one of the elite wide receivers in the area this season, making 18 catches for 483 yards and five touchdowns. He’s averaging 26.8 yards per catch, the highest mark in the county for anyone with at least five catches. He possesses ideal size at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. He’s quick, runs sharp routes and can make plays in traffic.

“He can be a possession receiver, good on those short intermediate routes, when you need that, but he has enough speed and quickness that he can run by people, too,” Phillips said. “He’s very fast, very quick. He has very good hands, but he’s unorthodox.”

Unorthodox?

Well, according to Phillips, Polka doesn’t catch the ball, “he engulfs it.” Instead of catching it out in front of his body, often times he wraps his arms around it like a running back taking a handoff. Phillips doesn’t care. As long as he comes down with it.

Polka has done that a lot this year. His most recent grab, when he reached over two defenders to snatch a pass by sophomore running back Jared Meyers on a double-reverse pass Friday, made him a few more friends, too.

“When I was working yesterday, some people came in and were like, ‘Great catch.’ Just some random people I didn’t even know,” said Polka, adding that the fans were what made the victory so special. “All of them cheering for us is a great feeling. It makes you want to play harder. It made (my catch) so much better.”

They’ll like him even more if he can help the Wolverines beat 9-1 Greensburg Central Catholic at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Valley High School in the WPIAL Class AA playoff quarterfinals.

(Email: j_simon@ncnewsonline.com)

THE NICK POLKA FILE

POSITION: Wide receiver/defensive back

TEAM: Ellwood City Lincoln

GRADE: 12

KNOWN FOR: Polka is one of the premier receivers in Lawrence County. He’s made 18 receptions for 483 yards and five touchdowns and averages 26.8 yards per catch. His 72-yard TD against Freeport sparked a rally that people in Ellwood City will be talking about for years.

PARENT: Dan Russo.

FAVORITE PRO PLAYER AND WHY: Terrell Owens. “He’s always been a competitive player. He hates losing. He goes his hardest every play.”

FAVORITE PRO TEAM AND WHY: Philadelphia Eagles. “They’ve just always been my team. I love every aspect of their team.

FUTURE PLANS: Polka said he wants to play football in college, but he isn’t sure where he’s attending school yet.