BY MIKE MASTOVICH
JOHNSTOWN — Josh Seidel enjoyed another milestone day on Wednesday.
The Bishop McCort senior learned of his selection as one of 50 National Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year recipients, and his photo will appear in today’s edition of The USA Today.
Later, Seidel was part of three McCort college signings at the high school. Seidel signed with NCAA Division II power IUP, the same team his late father, Dave, starred on as a running back in the early 1980s.
“I’m excited, and I’m hoping to continue my football career and pass along the legacy of my father there,” said Seidel, who rushed for 2,018 yards and was named Tribune-Democrat Offensive Player of the Year. “It’s kind of neat because you know your name already means something there. That’s special.”
Seidel also had 35 touchdowns and 210 points for a 14-1 Crushers team that was the state runner-up in Class A. His McCort single-game record 327 rushing yards and six touchdowns, which tied his father’s single-game record, earned Seidel national recognition in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” feature. He was an all-state selection last month. Now, he’ll be in the nation’s newspaper.
“It’s kind of cool seeing your face in there and receiving national recognition. It’s always a plus, but I’ve got to thank everyone else on my team,” he said. “They allowed me to do this. All the coaches and teammates, you’ve got to give them recognition, too.”
Two of those teammates signed college letters on Wednesday.
Versatile receiver/kicker Dane Domonkos will play at St. Francis, a Division I program, and three-year, two-way lineman Shane Rugg will join Lehigh University in the Patriot League of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as NCAA Division I-AA).
“I think Coach ‘V’ is going to turn things around,” Domonkos said of recently named St. Francis head coach Chris Villarrial, a former NFL lineman. “They’ve had a couple rough seasons. They’re bringing in a lot of new recruits. I think it’s a good year to try to turn this program around.”
Domonkos had 18 touchdowns, seven field goals and made 68 of 69 extra-points for 197 points. The all-state pick played quarterback in the wildcat formation and was effective as a runner.
“Hopefully, I can do a little bit of both (receiving and kicking) but whatever they want me to do I’m going to do,” Domonkos said.
Rugg anchored an offensive line that enabled McCort to rush for 4,212 yards, and on defense he had 79 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He was a two-time all-state selection. Rugg started all 42 games on a team that captured four LHAC crowns and four district titles.
“Everything kind of fit right. Great academics, a great school of engineering. I seemed to fit into the environment,” Rugg said of Lehigh, where he is projected as an offensive lineman. “The people at Lehigh and coaches seem to be people I want to spend four years with. At McCort, it’s been a great experience. The teammates here really make you excel. I had great teammates and great coaches. That’s what topped it all.”
