(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: BREAKING THROUGH: Brad Pietras, center, breaks through the line in a practice last week for the upcoming Sunshine Football Classic all-star game. Pietras, a former star linebacker and offensive lineman for the Hun School, will be playing for the West team in the game which will take place this Thursday at the College of New Jersey football stadium.

Pietras' Tenacity Energized Hun Football; Will Bring Fiery Approach to Sunshine Game

Bill Alden

Weighing in at 205 pounds, Brad Pietras was a little undersized to be mixing it up in the trenches of prep school football battles.

But that didn't stop the offensive lineman/linebacker from becoming a star for the Hun School football team.

With the scrappy Pietras hardly ever coming off the field last fall, he played a major role in helping the Raiders go 7-2 on the way to a Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) title.

Pietras relishes the challenge of taking on all comers, even those tipping the scales near 300 pounds. "No matter who I go against, I look at it the same," said Pietras, who also starred on special teams for the Raiders. "I try to give my all and sacrifice everything for the team."

This Thursday, Pietras will be giving his all for the West team in the 11th annual Sunshine Football Classic all-star game.

For Pietras, the honor of being chosen extends beyond football. "I'm very proud, especially because of the reason the game is played to help kids who are sick," said Pietras. "Everyone should take time out to help others."

The Hun players helped each other last fall in producing their championship season. "We grew as a family as the season went on," said Pietras. "A lot of teams I've been on weren't as close as this. We were bringing in post-grads from all over the country and they really meshed. I got close to them; I got to really know the PGs more than in past seasons."

While the PGs clearly gave Hun a lift, it was the team's core of seniors who were bent on a championship. "We wanted to go out with a bang," said Pietras.

"It was fun from the get-go I thought we had enough talent to do well. As we won games and got closer to a championship, we were talking a lot that we can do this."

One of the factors that put Hun over the top was its cohesive offensive line. "We had three returning linemen and we had been working together for two years," said Pietras. "The PGs came in and fit in right away."

Getting to play with the PGs who have gone on to such football powers as Florida State and California has helped Pietras feel he can fit in at the college level.

"I played with a lot of guys who are going to big Division I programs," said Pietras, who will be continuing his football career this fall at LaSalle University. "Being around them helped me be better prepared mentally and physically to play at the next level."

Pietras is getting much the same experience as he has gone through the paces this last week with his Sunshine Bowl teammates. "It's really exciting to be on the field with these kids, most of them are going on to play in college," said Pietras.

One of the highlights for Pietras this week has been getting the chance to practice with Hun teammate Randy Mershon, who is also going to La Salle. The two teammates have gotten the chance to see their talents up close as they have been matched up head-to-head in drills by the Sunshine coaches.

"It's ironic, I played next to him for the last two years," said Pietras. "It's fun; we're going to the same school so we're brothers."

The family atmosphere is one of the things that attracted Pietras to La Salle. "I am looking for a great education," asserted Pietras. "The whole school, the academic counselors and the coaches, were very supportive. It's a big family; everyone is so helpful."

With La Salle's preseason practices starting on August 11, Pietras will soon get the chance to help the Explorers.

"I'm excited to play," said Pietras, who is up to 215 pounds and is slated to play linebacker for La Salle. "I went to the La Salle spring game and I was pumped up. I wanted to go on the field and play."

Once Pietras gets on the field for LaSalle, he will undoubtedly provide the Explorers with plenty of tenacity.

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