Veteran leadership with the ability to make plays on the ground just as easily as through the air — not every high school football team has such a luxury at quarterback.

North Catholic and Seneca Valley do and it's a key factor in both teams thinking big in 2019.

The Trojans' Zack Rocco and SV's Gabe Lawson, both seniors, have two years of starting experience under their belt and have caused headaches for opposing defenses as dual threats.

“Having Zack back brings a lot of ease to the offense,” said North Catholic coach Patrick O'Shea. “He's one of the best quarterbacks in the WPIAL and he doesn't get rattled when times are tough.”

Rocco passed for 1,964 yards and 26 touchdowns last year, adding nearly 500 yards rushing and 11 more scores.

The Cranberry Township resident said he does notice his stats from game to game, but added, “I'm not driven by stats. My focus is doing whatever it takes to win football games.”

He's done a great job of that, leading North Catholic to a 20-5 record and back-to-back trips to the WPIAL semifinals.

Rocco worked with a personal trainer in the offseason and hopes to improve this year — a scary thought for opponents considering what he's already accomplished.

“There's always things you can fine tune, like reading coverages and becoming a better leader,” he said.

The latter trait is something that doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but one that O'Shea believes helps to make Rocco a great quarterback.

“The younger players can turn to Zack if they have questions,” he said. “He's always helping kids learn the plays and the routes they need to run.”

“I enjoy being a teacher out there,” said Rocco, “showing how the offense is supposed to be run.”

Lawson put up nearly 1,700 yards of offense as a junior, including 1,335 through the air, throwing 12 touchdown passes and leading the team with eight scores on the ground.

“Every quarterback has that clock in their head,” he said. “You go through your progression, you can't see the pressure, but you feel it and know it's time to run. I did much better with that last year.”

Lawson possesses not only physical ability, but a mental toughness that was integral in the Raiders' run to the WPIAL championship game at Heinz Field last season.

In a WPIAL quarterfinal playoff game against Central Catholic, SV was struggling on both sides of the ball and trailed the Vikings 14-0 in the first half. Lawson was pulled, but returned in the third quarter with his team down 14-3.

He capped a 70-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass and the Raiders won the game, 15-14.

“Something needed to change for us,” Lawson said of the start to the game. “If it took me coming out, OK ... I came back in and we flipped the switch.”

Lawson has reached a comfort level in SV's multiple offense.

“We're not an offense that's going to chuck it all over the field,” said quarterback coach Steve Campos. “We don't give Gabe anything he can't do. He fits our system very well.”

Both Lawson and Rocco will also play defense. Lawson will switch back and forth between safety and outside linebacker.

“He's going to be part of our first team in some packages,” said SV head coach Ron Butschle. “He's too good of an athlete to not have on the field.”

Lawson is champing at the bit to impact games on defense.

“Most quarterbacks don't do both (offense and defense), but I'm excited about it. I've always liked to hit people.”

Rocco (6-3, 240) will play both outside linebacker and defensive end. He has experience on defense, but said his time there “has been limited” the last few years.

“I like playing defense,” he said. “If that's what colleges want me to do, I'm up for it.”