Pine-Richland star quarterback Phil Jurkovec was sick all week, missed a few days of school, a couple practices and lost 10 pounds. <br /> <br />“I just feel drained,” said Jurkovec. “I haven’t been able to eat.” <br /> <br />Jurkovec is awaiting test results from a doctor. He said he has been told he could have Lyme Disease or mononucleosis. <br /> <br />“I just haven’t been able to eat anything,” he said. “I’ve been taking antibiotics and everything. I just want to know what it is.” <br /> <br />He certainly wasn’t at his best in a PIAA Class 6A semifinal Saturday. <br /> <br />But even a less-than-100 percent Jurkovec is still pretty good – and so is Pine-Richland. <br /> <br />Pine-Richland beats Manheim Township 28-7 in PIAA class 6A semifinals. <br /> <br />Jurkovec finished with 323 yards offense and Pine-Richland defeated Manheim Township, 28-7, to earn a trip to the state championship game Saturday in Hershey. The win lifted Pine-Richland’s record to 15-0 and the Rams will play St. Joseph’s Prep in a long-awaited title game. St. Joseph’s Prep has been the No. 1-ranked 6A team in the state since the preseason and Pine-Richland No. 2. <br /> <br />Against Manheim Township, Jurkovec completed 20 of 33 passes for 243 yards and also rushed for 85 on 13 carries. That would be a terrific game for most QBs and 28 points would be good for most in a PIAA semifinal. But Jurkovec and Pine-Richland have set the bar high this season. Before this game, Pine-Richland hadn’t been held below 42 points and was averaging 49 a game. <br /> <br />Afterward, Jurkovec said he felt better than he had all week, but certainly wasn’t full strength. <br /> <br />But he said he will still play in the PIAA title game. Pine-Richland receiver Jason DeFrancisis has mono, but still played and had six catches. <br /> <br />Jurkovec did not ride on the team bus to Saturday’s game. He came with his parents. <br /> <br />Manheim Township trailed by only 13-0 at halftime, and made things interesting when it drove 80 yards in 12 plays for a score in the third quarter to make it 13-7. Grayson Sallade capped the march with a 15-yard touchdown run. <br /> <br />The score must have caught Pine-Richland’s attention because the Rams stepped on the gas. They moved 89 yards in only six plays, with Jordan Crawford running for a 25-yard touchdown. Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Manheim fumbled the ball away for the fourth time in the game. On the next play, Jurkovec ran 31 yards for a touchdown and suddenly the Rams had a 28-7 lead. <br /> <br />Manheim Township had little offense in the first half and had to feel fortunate to be trailing by only 13-0 at the break. Manheim had only four first downs and 98 yards in the first two quarters, and 68 came on one pass play. <br /> <br />But Manheim had a good chance to score when Drake Puffenbarger blocked a punt and Manheim recovered at the Pine-Richland 14 with 4:24 left in the half. But three plays gained only 7 yards. Rather than take a short field goal, Manheim Township tried for a first down, but Pine-Richland’s Crawford tipped away a pass in the end zone intended for Hilton Ridley. <br /> <br />Jurkovec was 12 of 20 for 147 yards in the first half and threw two touchdown passes. The first was a 6-yarder to Raymond Falcone with 9:36 left in the first quarter. The score was set up when quarterback Luke Emge fumbled the ball away on the third play of the game, and Pine-Richland’s Cameron Ballay recovered at the Manheim 17. <br /> <br />Pine-Richland scored again on its third possession, needing only four plays to move 62 yards for a score. The touchdown came when Jurkovec, with a defender clinging to his legs, flicked a 30-yard pass to Crawford. Pine-Richland held a 13-0 lead at that point, but didn’t scored again the rest of the half. http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2017/12/02/Pine-Richland-beats-Manheim-Township-28-7-in-6A-semifinals-high-school-football/stories/201712020139 <br /> <br />Video above: PENNSYLVANIA'S TOP RECRUITS: PHIL JURKOVEC published 2. okt. 2017 <br /> <br />Dec 4, 2017 Latest news/update: Phil Jurkovec should be good to go in Saturday's 6A championship <br /> <br />There were concerns he could have mononucleosis or Lyme disease. <br /> <br />The doctor’s office called and had great news for the Pine-Richland High School football team: Phil Jurkovec doesn’t have mononucleosis or Lyme disease or any other ailments. http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2017/12/04/phil-jurkovec-illness-notre-dame-recruit-pine-richland-piaa-6a-championship-st-joseph-s-prep/stories/201712040121 <br /> <br />Pine-Richland, quarterback Phil Jurkovec was a Penn State Football recruiting target who chose University of Notre Dame. Watch him in action and hear what he has to say about committing to the Notre Dame football program.
