NAME: Joe Parsnik
SCHOOL: Coughlin
LAST SEASON: 2011
POSITIONS: RB/LB/KR
Players who can affect a game in any position on the field are valuable and Joe Parsnik was one of those players. He was used by Coughlin in many different situations with success. Parsnik was primarily a running back on offense. He rushed for 3,410 career yards and 42 touchdowns which included 1,592 yards his senior season. He also had 138 career receiving yards and 236 passing yards. Parsnik played linebacker and had over 150 tackles and 4 interceptions for his career. He also was an effective kick returner for the Crusaders.
Parsnik was an NPF Wyoming Valley Conference Big School first-team running back in 2010 and 2011. He was a second-team linebacker in 2010 and honorable mention linebacker in 2011. Parsnik was an 2011 NPF All-District 2 running back. He was also named first-team all-state athlete by the Pennsylvania Football News. Parsnik played in the PSFCA East/West Game and continued his football career at Division II Bloomsburg University where he rushed for 1,888 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Former Coughlin coach Ciro Cinti on Parsnik: “Pars was the consummate team before self player. I gave him the nickname of the 48 minute man because during his playing days at Coughlin he never came off the field, offense, defense and also played on all of the special teams, he didn’t want to come off the field. My favorite memory of him playing was on a rainy, mud filled sloppy night at Pittston Area. He took the handoff and was hit in the backfield spun like a top and was knocked down toward the ground but posted his arm to stop him from touching the ground. He the did a “monkey on a stick” move spun all the way around broke two more tackles and raced 70 yards for a touchdown. Boy, did we make a great call He had them right where he wanted them. He was selected and played in the East/West All Star game. He made you a better coach”
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