WPIAL football semifinals: How Preston Simko has helped soaring North Catholic in run-up to Avonworth rematch
WEXFORD — Preston Simko might’ve hopped into his car Wednesday night and gotten into the holiday spirit. Anything to alleviate the monotony of the 45-minute drive home, though Thanksgiving hasn’t passed yet.
The former Butler receiver has trekked from Cranberry Township to Fenelton plenty since transferring to North Catholic for his senior year during the summer.
“They get long and boring sometimes,” Simko said of his commute as his Trojans’ prepped at Pine Community Park. “I just listen to music most of the time. ... At this point, I just listen to everything. Christmas music is about to get started.”
Still, he and his Trojans teammates are still entering new territory. Coach Chris Rizzo’s crew faces top-seed Avonworth (11-0) in the WPIAL Class 3A football playoff semifinals at North Allegheny High School on Friday night. It’s the deepest No. 5 North Catholic (9-3) has played into the postseason during Rizzo’s tenure.
It’s a rematch of a game North lost 42-10 in Week 9.
“It’s nothing I’ve ever experienced,” said Simko, who registered a receiving touchdown in both of the Trojans’ postseason wins thus far. “I’ve never played in the WPIAL playoffs for football ever. It’s nice to be out in this cold weather.”
The kind that makes you want to bury your hands deep in your pockets and pull your hood up. There weren’t a pair of shorts or exposed arms in sight at Wednesday’s practice.
Simko didn’t know much about what he was walking into at North Catholic when he chose to migrate in June, but Trojans quarterback Joe Felitsky and offensive coordinator Mike McMahon helped the most in getting him immersed in what he called a “detail-oriented” playbook.
“I didn’t know too much about him,” Rizzo said. “When it comes to transfers and stuff like that, you kinda wait until you get a chance to see them in person.”
As part of North Catholic’s high-octane spread attack, Simko has adeptly taken on the role of a field-stretching boundary wideout Jack White, now playing at Washington & Jefferson, filled last season. Rizzo said Simko has a gear most other receivers don’t.
As that deep threat who can also go up and pluck passes in traffic, he’s taken attention off Ryker Kennedy, Will Waskiewicz and Tommy Arth, all impactful pass-catchers in their own right.
“What I didn’t know about him is how fast he is, and, man, it’s showing,” Kennedy said. “If he can play ball and we can win games, we’ll take him. We’re just happy we have him.”
Simko wound up pacing the entire WPIAL with 16 touchdown receptions this season. He finished the regular season with 31 grabs for 769 yards, the latter of which led the Trojans.
As a junior with the Golden Tornado, Simko hauled in 39 passes for 480 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were team highs. He’d risen through Butler’s ranks, starting in its youth program. It made it a difficult decision to trade his uniform.
“I talked to them all,” Simko said of his former Golden Tornado teammates. “They’re all still really supportive. ... We still keep in touch with each other about how their football season (was going) and stuff.”
Simko had to leave his younger brother, Deacon, behind, as well. The younger Simko took advantage, posting 457 yards and three touchdowns on 32 catches as quarterback Nicco Baggetta’s favorite target for a Butler team (7-3) that had its best season in more than 30 years.
“We would see each other’s plays,” Preston Simko said. “In our family text (group), we’d text about it. I’d see his videos of what he did. I couldn’t see any of his games in person, but I got to see the film of it, at least.”
Simko also caught the attention of college scouts, having communicated with Georgetown, Youngstown State, Davidson, Akron, Brown, Duquesne and Morehead State.
“I knew it was gonna be a high-scoring offense. I didn’t think it would be this high-scoring,” Simko said. “We can’t complain. ... I knew in this offense what I was capable of doing.”
