By Jim Fryar
jfryar@joplinglobe.com
Tyler Parrigon has a new role for the McAuley Catholic football team.
On the field, it won’t be so obvious. Opponents still will see Parrigon lined up at tight end and defensive end.
But on the practice field, new head coach Brenden Gubera sees Parrigon in a different role: team leader.
“He’s never been in that role before, but he’s the go-to guy,” said Gubera, who assisted with the Warriors the past two years. “We’re asking him to be a leader and a role model for the younger kids.”
Parrigon is one of just three seniors on the McAuley roster. He’s the lone four-year player in that small group.
“He does a great job of keeping kids motivated,” Gubera said. “He’s been the first one in line any time we do a drill. If someone doesn’t do it right, he lets them know about it.
“You have to have people on the team for the younger kids to look up to.”
Parrigon, at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, certainly fits that role, both in performance and physique.
The motivation for Parrigon is to match McAuley’s success of the past two seasons. The Warriors were 9-2 in 2005 and 8-3 last fall but are 0-1 to start the 2007 campaign after falling to St. Vincent-Perryville 27-7 on Friday.
“It’s hard to replace 14 guys (graduated seniors) who pretty much started the program,” Parrigon said. “But we’re getting some new faces out there. Everyone is working pretty hard. We should be all right.
“I think we just want to prove to everyone that they weren’t the only class that could play. We’re still out there, and we work just as hard as they did.”
Gubera expects Parrigon to become a bigger part of the McAuley offense, after catching 30 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns in 2006.
“We’re going to look to get him the ball five to 10 times a game, which is quite a bit for a tight end,” Gubera said. “Obviously, the more the better. In certain sets, he’s spread out as a wide receiver. We’ll try to get him matched with a corner.
“He’s not just going to be your typical tight end who runs 8- to 10-yard routes. We’re going to stretch the field with him, too. He’s a good enough athlete, if we get the ball in the red zone and need to throw a jump ball, he’s a pretty big target.”
Parrigon has put on about 15 pounds in the past year, the result of a rigorous summer in the weight room.
“Hopefully, it’s all muscle,” he said.
That increased size, combined with the loss of several veteran linemen, led Gubera to briefly consider moving Parrigon. It was an idea quickly rejected.
“The thing that has impressed me is that his blocking has come a long way, too,” Gubera said. “With the type of scheme we’re running, that’s going to be crucial and he’s doing a great job.”
On defense, Parrigon will remain at end.
“We expect him to anchor one side of our line,” Gubera said. “We’re asking a lot of Tyler, especially with what we’re expecting on offense.”
Parrigon has one goal in mind for the Warriors: “We would love to win another district championship,” he said. “Hopefully, we can take it a step beyond that.”
At some point during his senior season, Parrigon might have to make a choice between sports. He’s been a basketball standout for the Warriors the past two seasons, leading the team in scoring and rebounding.
“Right now (given an opportunity to play either sport in college), it would be basketball, just because I’ve played it forever,” Parrigon said.
But a big tight end with soft hands — and leadership skills — would be very attractive to college football recruiters.
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Parrigon steps up as team leader
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