O-R Athlete of the Week: Jaeden Zuzek, California
Name: Jaeden Zuzak
School: California
Class: Senior
Sport: Football
Zuzak’s week: The 5-9, 207-pound running back rushed for 439 yards on only 19 carries and scored seven touchdowns as California crushed Jefferson-Morgan, 65-22, in a Class A Tri-County South Conference game Friday night.
Zuzak, who runs a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, scored on runs of 63, 72, 43, 94, one and four yards in the first half and tacked on a 42-yarder in the third quarter. Only two of the plays were run with a touchdown in mind for Zuzak.
“I don’t know how many yards I rush for but I keep the touchdowns in my head,” Zuzak said. “I never had a game like that before. I’ve scored five touchdowns in a game before but never seven.”
The win moved California to 4-0 in the conference and 4-0 overall and sets up a showdown for first place in the Tri-County South next Saturday night at Carmichaels (5-0, 5-0). The Mikes received a forfeit Friday when Monessen could not field enough healthy players.
Zuzak’s effort gives him 20 touchdowns and has him in first place in scoring in the WPIAL (all classifications) with 120 points. His 439 rushing yards moves him to 1,114 on the season, also tops in the WPIAL.
But Zuzak has bigger things in mind than rushing and touchdown statistics. He wants to win a championship and find the right college to pursue a criminal justice major.
“I knew coming in we had a really good chance of making the playoffs,” said Zuzak. “I think we can even make it to Heinz Field.”
Taking advantage of the virus: While the coronavirus kept most athletes indoors, Zuzak took the time to learn a new sport.
Fishing.
And he’s had some positive results.
“I love it,” said Zuzak. “It’s my new favorite hobby. My cousin got me interested. I’ve caught some pretty big fish, mostly catfish. We kept them one time but every other time we threw them back.”
On one occasion, Zuzak managed to land an unusual catch.
“One time we went to the beach and I caught a shark,” he said.
A shark?
“It was only a foot-long baby shark and I threw it back. It was pretty cool, though.”
Compiled by Joe Tuscano