Benedictine Football

Benedictine 2012 Football Awards

Senior quarterback/defensive back Daniel Piascik of South Euclid won the prestigious Fr. Florian Award for the 2012 Benedictine football season. Another senior, linebacker Matt McCarthy of Twinsburg won the Joe Rufus Spirit Award.  Both Piascik and McCarthy were among the team’s captains in 2012.

(Matt McCarthy, left, and Daniel Piascik, right, receive their awards at Convocation)

The Fr. Florian Award, presented since 1969, goes to the senior player who demonstrably achieves the fullness of his potential, exhibits leadership on and off the field, puts the good of the team ahead of his own glory, and furthermore, the achievements of the award winner largely went unrecognized. The award winner must have a good record academically and with regard to his self-discipline. He is a person that Fr. Florian would have loved to work with… a hard worker and a winner.

Fr. Florian Hudac ’34, O.S.B. was a three-sport athlete at Benedictine, passing up a major league baseball contract to join the Benedictine religious order after college graduation. He died in August 1969.

Benedictine football coach Ben Malbasa spoke about Piascik, “Daniel demonstrated selfless leadership when he changed positions from quarterback to cornerback during the season, and he excelled at his new position recording four interceptions to lead the team in that category. Not only did Daniel excel at corner, but he also showed strong support for his replacement at quarterback, helping him at practice and in games,” added Malbasa.

“In the two years that I have coached him, Daniel has shown great determination and commitment. He embodies the ideals of a Benedictine Student-Athlete,” added Malbasa.

In his career, Piascik completed 166 of 365 passes for 2,347 yards and 14 TD. Piascik also has the fifth-best single-game passing yardage in school history when he threw for 307 yards in a 31-30 win over Boardman in 2011.

This past season, as a cornerback, he had 17 solo tackles and 34 assists as well as leading the team with four interceptions. He also had two fumble recoveries and broke up five passes.

As the Bengals punter, Piascik averaged 32.6 yards per punt with a season-best of 61 yards against Akron Hoban.

Daniel was a rare four-year letterman. As a freshman midway through the 2009 season, he started several games at quarterback when injuries moved him up the depth chart. He led the Bengals to a 14-3 win over Walsh Jesuit that year, which kept the Warriors out of the playoffs.

Daniel is interested in the Honors Program at The Ohio State University, as well as Case Western Reserve University.

The Joe Rufus Spirit Award began in 1987 and goes to the senior player who helps his teammates to the best of his ability on the field and leads by his example off the field. It is named after long-time teacher, coach and athletic director Joe Rufus, who was at Benedictine High School from 1945 to 1987. Rufus died in 1996.

“Matt McCarthy's preparation for the season, his commitment to his teammates, and his consistent effort to help the team reflect the legacy of Coach Rufus,” said Malbasa.

A two-year letterman, McCarthy had 12 solos and 62 assists in 2012. Matt is interested in John Carroll University, St. Vincent College, and Thiel College.

Also recognized at a special school convocation honoring the Fall sports teams were the following winners of North Coast League and AP All-District Honors:

North Coast League First Team:                            AP First Team All-District:

                Peter Cvijanovic and Jerome Baker                         Peter Cvijanovic and Jerome Baker

North Coast League Second Team:                        AP Second Team All-District:

                Marshall Howell                                                      Marshall Howell and Antonio Robinson

North Coast League Honorable Mention:             AP Honorable Mention All-District

                Jovon Dawson                                                        Jovon Dawson, Dan Piascik, and  

                                                                                              Jaylen Funches

By Wally Mieskoski ’71

Benedictine Football Historian and Statistician

- Cleveland Benedictine High School-