Justin Yescavage is a leader in more ways than one.

Jim Thorpe head coach Mark Rosenberger praises the senior’s character, work ethic and effort.

Those qualities, along with elite talent, have helped him become one of the program’s all-time greats.

Yescavage cemented his legacy in Olympian lore this past Friday when he caught five passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns against Catasauqua to break the school’s all-time receiving record.

It was a performance that showcased the skills Yescavage has displayed for Rosenberger throughout his career. And one that helped him earn Times News Football Player of the Week honors.

“He’s an outstanding young man,” beamed Rosenberger. “He’s been a great leader for us on and off the field for four years here at Jim Thorpe. I’m just so happy for him. It’s a career reward with of all the hard work he’s put in on the field, off the field, and preparing himself to be the best receiver he can be.

“And he’s proven, statistically, and without a doubt, he’s our best receiver we’ve had here. He’ll leave here with the most catches, the most yardage for a receiver. So kudos to him, just because all the hard work he put in in the offseason to develop into the best receiver he could be.”

Yescavage has been spectacular for the Olympians throughout his career. So it was fitting his record-breaking grab was more of the same.

“I ran a short route that I broke for 11 yards when I needed 12, so they knocked me out of bounds a yard short,” Yescavage said of his first catch Friday. “We dialed up a deep ball, I was in double coverage, and Cole (Lazorick) just threw a ball to a spot where I could go up and get it. There was pass interference on the defense but it was a touchdown on a deep ball at that, and it was just awesome. A great way to do it.”

Yescavage ranks second in the area with 477 receiving yards. His 39 grabs are most among area players.

The performance last week was especially impressive, with Jim Thorpe scoring all 39 points in the first half.

Yescavage’s record-breaking grab made it 19-0 in the first quarter, and highlighted a performance that saw quarterback Cole Lazorick throw for 205 yards and four scores, and Josh Louk roll up 171 yards of offense with one TD.

It was a complete effort on both sides of the ball, as the defense pitched a shutout, and helped the team snap a five-game losing streak.

Despite their recent struggles, Yescavage has been a stabilizing force for the Olympians.

“He’s been that type of leader for us all year long,” said Rosenberger. “He’s a captain for a reason. When things weren’t going well early in the season, he was still a kid that was out there competing every single play with the most effort he could provide, and that’s what he’s about. He’s about competing, he’s about working to be the best he could be, and he obviously is the best here at Jim Thorpe with the receiving records he has.

“But I can’t say enough about the type of person he is on and off the football field. These records are a culmination of multiple years of hard work, and work I think that started in junior high school all the way through. He has some of the best ball skills we’ve coached here as a receiver. Those two touchdown catches on Friday against Catasauqua display that, where he has the ability to track a ball and go up in traffic and make a spectacular catch. And that’s pretty much what he does for us each and every week.”

Yescavage – who had previously became the school’s all-time leader in career catches this season – hauled in his second touchdown Friday with a 25-yard grab.

“The biggest thing is just staying calm going into the game,” said Yescavage. “My worst games are ones where I’m focused on something big like getting a record; if I’m focused on that I have my worst game. But if I come into a game calm, cool, collected and focus on the fundamentals and just play football at the base level, that’s when I seem to have my best game. So it’s not an athletic performance, but it’s a huge mental part where if I can control myself mentally I seem to have my best games.”

Yescavage has shown that poise throughout his career, which have helped him to a number of remarkable performances - and records.

While Yescavage has moved to the top of the leaderboard in multiple individual categories at Jim Thorpe, he credits the help he’s had along the way for his success.

“It’s awesome. But like I told the guys, it’s awesome that they say, ‘Justin Yescavage broke this and that record,’ but I couldn’t do it without this team, from the bottom of the roster to the top,” Yescavage said. “Not only that, but the guys before me, and the coaches here, and all the coaches before me as well. So I thank them a lot for that.”