(EDITOR’S NOTE: Rod Heckman has been a member of the Times News Sports Department since September 1988. In the next few weeks, he will be sharing some of his most memorable moments for each of our 10 area schools. Today’s edition features Panther Valley).

By Rod Heckman

rheckman@tnonline.com

Plenty was made about Panther Valley quarterback Cazzie Kosciolek during his sophomore and junior seasons.

Back then (1990 and 1991), most teams didn’t throw the ball quite as much as they do now. Many clubs relied on their offensive lines and a speedy back to produce yards and points.

But Kosciolek, who stood 6-4 and weighed nearly 200 pounds, was a weapon in the pocket. As a sophomore, he threw for over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns. He would improve on that a year later, passing for 1,653 yards and 13 scores.

As the statistician for our paper, I was enamored with the numbers Kosciolek was producing. The only problem was, I had never seen him play.

I got my chance that fall of 1991, and in doing so I also received the opportunity to experience a pair of other firsts - my first time taking in a game at Marian, and my first taste of the Panther Valley-Marian rivalry.

That, along with a championship basketball team that boasted plenty of talent, are the moments I remember most about covering Panther Valley events.

October 12, 1991

Kosciolek, PV defeat Marian

It was a sunny but crisp October day - the perfect weather for high school football.

I had never been to the Men of Marian Stadium and had never attended a Panther Valley-Marian event in any sport.

I was excited to see the quarterback that everybody had been talking about, and was hopeful to see 20-25 passes thrown and a 200-yard game.

While that’s not what happened, I was still able to witness the skills that everybody raved about.

The game turned out to be a defensive struggle in front of a packed crowd. PV got on the board first in the second quarter when Kosciolek hit on four straight passes, the final one an 8-yard touchdown to Brad Miller.

With the score still 6-0 entering the second half, Kosciolek made his presence felt again. He led his team on a long drive that took over eight minutes. During the march, he converted on two third downs and two fourth downs - the final one a 1-yard TD run that doubled the lead.

“Cazzie made the big plays,” said Marian coach Stan (Dakosty). “In the third quarter, we didn’t see the ball.”

The Colts scored in the fourth quarter and had momentum on their side, but Kosciolek came up clutch down the stretch. The PV offense kept the ball for 10 plays to run out the clock. Twice on third downs, Kosciolek scrambled for 10 yards to keep possession with the Panthers.

“Big-league players make big-league plays,” said (Dakosty). “They needed it, and he made it. He’s one of the top quarterbacks around, and justifiably so.”

Kosciolek only completed 9-of-12 passes for 90 yards in the 12-7 win, but I wasn’t disappointed. I wanted to see a quarterback make big plays, and I had - just not the way I expected.

Big plays occurred throughout Kosciolek’s senior year, as he completed 173 passes for 2,618 yards (both are still the most in a single season in our area since I started working here). He was named All-State, and eventually starred at New Haven, where he led his team to the Division 2 national championship game.

March 5, 1999

Panther girls cop D-11 title

Four players who would each end their careers with over 1,000 points. A transfer student who was a three-point specialist. And a rebounding wizard who was tough as nails in the paint.

The Panther Valley girls basketball team in 1998-99 was definitely a team to remember.

And on a Friday night at Allen’s Sewards Gym, that team made history.

The Panthers jumped out to a quick start against Catasauqua in their District 11 Class 2A championship game as Amanda Watkins, who played at Marian the year before, knocked down a pair of threes. PV extended its lead to double digits in the second frame, with Esther Hoffer adding a pair of triples. While Catty would make some runs and threaten to get back into the game, anyone there that night was confident that Panther Valley would pull away to claim its first-ever district title - which it did.

Rob Kovac’s squad used a big fourth quarter, especially at the free throw line where it went 10-of-13, to finish with a 64-43 victory. Lacey Gonzalez ended the evening with a game-high 17 points, as the early perimeter shooting opened up lanes for her driving ability. Watkins added 14, while Hoffer pumped in 13. Nadia Gauronsky, a threat from both the outside and inside, chipped in with nine, with steady Kristin Blazosky tallying eight.

I remember the relief in the girls voices after the game. They had lost in the district finals the year before, and it was their mission to get back to the title game and come home a winner this time.

They didn’t stop there, either, as PV won three more state games to reach the Eastern Finals. The Panthers finished 26-6 and remain the best girls basketball team in school history.