CRANBERRY TWP — When Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic reached the WPIAL football playoffs last season, Zack Rocco and Joe Meinert were spectators.

This season, they are two of the primary reasons the Trojans have made a return trip.

“They've both had outstanding seasons,” CWNC coach Patrick O'Shea said. “They've gotten stronger, more physical and they're confident in their own abilities.”

And those abilities are plentiful.

Meinert, a senior running back from Harmony, has rushed for 1,158 yards and 16 touchdowns. That includes 213 yards last week in the Trojans' 35-7 Class 2A playoff win over Brentwood.

Rocco, a sophomore quarterback and Cranberry Township resident, threw for 2,015 yards and 26 touchdowns in the regular season.

CWNC is 9-2 and riding a seven-game winning streak into their 7:30 p.m. Friday quarterfinal game vs. Serra Catholic at Hampton.

Meinert missed most of last season after tearing his labrum in the third game of the campaign. Rocco broke his leg in the second game of last year.

“I wasn't going to start at running back last year anyway because we had Mario Latronica (now at Clarion University) back there,” Meinert said. “But I was starting at safety last year.

“It looked like I was going to be splitting time in the backfield with Jack Cassidy this season. He wound up hurting a knee and was done for the season. If he was healthy, he's probably have 1,000 yards right now, too.”

Cassidy was also in the running for the starting quarterback job this season, along with Rocco and senior Ryan Maziarz. The latter started a handful of games behind center for the Trojans last year.

Cassidy did start at quarterback for CWNC against Neshannock early this season — a 12-7 Trojan win — before tearing his MCL. Neshannock had defeated CWNC, 71-28, in the playoffs last fall.

“Jack has great speed and is a good runner,” O'Shea said. “I thought running a Wildcat type of attack with him would be effective in that game and it was.

“But I knew all about Zack. I coached him when he was younger and knew what kind of skill-set he had.”

The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Rocco played for Seneca Valley Junior High and in the SV youth football organization.

Once he took over at quarterback, the Trojans shifted Maziarz to receiver, where he became CWNC's top pass-catching threat.

“Those moves were best for our football team,” O'Shea said. “Zack is such a strong kid. He spends so much time in the weight room. He extends plays. He's a scrambler, very elusive and he keeps his eyes down-field looking for open receivers.”

The left-handed Rocco rolls out more than he throws from the pocket.

“That's just always been the way I play the position,” he said. “Rolling out is pretty natural to me now.

“We have routes set up for when I do that. Some receivers stay short, some go deep. Guys usually break open. They run routes based on whether I'm rolling to the right or the left.”

And Rocco finds them.

“He's unreal,” Meinert said. “Zack helps our offense create big plays. He's going to be playing quarterback for a long time.”

Rocco is hopeful of playing Division I college football down the road. O'Shea's brother, Sean O'Shea, quarterbacked Westminster College to two national championship games during his collegiate days.

“Sean has been working with Zack and they've developed a great relationship,” O'Shea said. “Barry Murray, our offensive coordinator, uses Zack's skills to our advantage as well.”

The 5-foot-7, 180-pound Meinert credits head coach O'Shea for the kind of season he's put together out of the backfield.

“As soon as (O'Shea) got the job, he emphasized he wanted us to play more physical and together as a team,” Meinert said. “We got beat pretty good in the playoffs (last year) and a few players left. We've definitely come together as a team.

“As soon as I was cleared to get back in the weight room after my surgery, I was there. I feel stronger. I know I'm a more effective runner.”

O'Shea concurs.

“Joe is rock solid,” the coach said. “His body is so strong and he's a low runner. He is very difficult to tackle.”

While Rocco has put together a season well beyond expectations for a sophomore, he knows he can get better.

“In so many ways,” he said. “I need to work on reading defenses and staying in the pocket more often.”

Regardless, O'Shea is pleased with the run-pass productivity this combo brings to the table every Friday night.

“Those two guys have become tremendous leaders and both are excellent students,” the coach said. “They've been an absolute joy to coach.”