From Western Pennsylvania played at Notre Dame
Posted: Sat May 13, 2023 3:12 pm
1. Joe Montana; from Monessen; with the San Francisco 49ers; the quarterback on four winning Super Bowls in the 80s; tremendous ability to come from behind; no one will ever forgot two of his touchdown passes ; one to Dwight Clark vs. Dallas in the 1980 NFC Title Game; the other to Jerry Rice in the 1988 Super Bowl vs. Cincinnati Bengals; some say he was the greatest ever; those folks from Greater Boston would feel otherwise.
2. Jim Kelley; from Johnston; not to be confused with the Buffalo quarterback; the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted for him before the 1964 season ; caught one 50 yard pass to set up a touchdown; did not last the season.
These next two were from Connellsville. They were versatile ball players reflecting the lack of specialization in an earlier age.
3. Johnny Lujack; All American; played for the Chicago Bears from 1948 to 1951; for those four years completed 404 passes for a 50% completion rate; 41 were touchdown passes; and 6,295 total yards; his best year was 1948 when he led the NFL in three categories-pass completions 162, for 2658 yards, and 23 touchdowns; rushed for 742 yards, a 5.6 yard average, and 21 touchdowns; intercepted 12 passes for 190 return yards.
4. Leon Hart; played eight seasons with the Detroit Lions from 1950 to 1957; caught 174 passes for 2,500 yards; ran for 612 yards, a 4.3 yard average, and five touchdowns; made two pass interceptions.
5. Myron Pottios; from Washington, Pa; good linebacker who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers; but he was even better with the Rams and Redskins, since they were playoff teams.
6.-Terry Hanratty; hails from Butler; great battery at Notre Dame passing to Jim Seymour; came into the pros with rickety knees; basically a back up quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1969 to 1976; inserted late into three games in 1973 and threw a touchdown pass on the first play; after Terry Bradshaw got injured, played in the last series in Super Bowl X.
2. Jim Kelley; from Johnston; not to be confused with the Buffalo quarterback; the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted for him before the 1964 season ; caught one 50 yard pass to set up a touchdown; did not last the season.
These next two were from Connellsville. They were versatile ball players reflecting the lack of specialization in an earlier age.
3. Johnny Lujack; All American; played for the Chicago Bears from 1948 to 1951; for those four years completed 404 passes for a 50% completion rate; 41 were touchdown passes; and 6,295 total yards; his best year was 1948 when he led the NFL in three categories-pass completions 162, for 2658 yards, and 23 touchdowns; rushed for 742 yards, a 5.6 yard average, and 21 touchdowns; intercepted 12 passes for 190 return yards.
4. Leon Hart; played eight seasons with the Detroit Lions from 1950 to 1957; caught 174 passes for 2,500 yards; ran for 612 yards, a 4.3 yard average, and five touchdowns; made two pass interceptions.
5. Myron Pottios; from Washington, Pa; good linebacker who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers; but he was even better with the Rams and Redskins, since they were playoff teams.
6.-Terry Hanratty; hails from Butler; great battery at Notre Dame passing to Jim Seymour; came into the pros with rickety knees; basically a back up quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1969 to 1976; inserted late into three games in 1973 and threw a touchdown pass on the first play; after Terry Bradshaw got injured, played in the last series in Super Bowl X.