Featuring photography by Chris Campisano
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Roman Russek
For Roman Russek, Palmyra’s Week 2 trip to Red Land offered an opportunity to do more than put up impressive numbers. After a season-opening loss to Garden Spot, the senior quarterback and the Cougars found themselves trailing 14-0 and needing a response.
Russek helped provide it.
The senior accounted for 5 touchdowns as Palmyra rallied for a 40-27 victory, completing 21-of-26 passes for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding 112 yards and 3 scores on 15 carries. Russek finished with 303 yards of total offense while helping the Cougars erase the early deficit and earn their first victory of the season. That performance earned him LebCo Athlete of the Week honors.
As good as the individual performance was, Russek was quick to point elsewhere when reflecting on it.
“It felt great, but it wouldn’t have happened without the guys around me,” Russek said.
His performance caught the attention of LebCoSports.com voters, who selected Russek as a LebCo Athlete of the Week.
Palmyra head coach Chris Pavone saw the night as another example of the growth his senior quarterback has made.
“We’re extremely proud of Roman and the performance he put together in Week 2,” Pavone said. “He stepped up when our team needed him most, took command, and made play after play, especially in some big-time, clutch moments.”
Russek followed that performance with another big night against Mifflin County, helping Palmyra earn a 42-28 victory. He completed 12-of-19 passes for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding 43 yards and 3 scores on 18 carries.
Through 3 games, Russek has thrown for 537 yards and 6 touchdowns while adding 182 yards and 6 scores on the ground. That gives him 719 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns, while he has yet to turn the ball over.
More importantly, Palmyra has won 2 straight and opened Mid Penn Keystone Division play at 2-0. The Cougars are off to their first 2-0 start in division play since 2018, have won consecutive games for the first time since 2021, and have scored 40+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2018. The Mifflin County victory was also their first division win at Buck Swank Stadium since 2021.
The success carries additional meaning for Russek after experiencing plenty of difficult nights earlier in his high school career. He pointed to getting past the disappointing losses of previous seasons and finally being able to put points on the board as one of the challenges he has worked to overcome.
Pavone believes the difference can be traced to the work Russek has put in.
“He’s put in a tremendous amount of work to continue improving and becoming a leader for this team, and Friday night was a great example of that growth and commitment,” Pavone said following the Red Land victory.
Leadership is a responsibility Russek takes seriously. Since Day 1, he has tried to lead by example while motivating his teammates to work hard and make sacrifices for the team. He also credits Coach Tug, his receivers, and his offensive line for helping make his success possible.
Russek entered his senior season with some ambitious goals. He wants to surpass 1,500 passing yards, account for more than 35 touchdowns, avoid turnovers, and help Palmyra reach the playoffs. His start has put several of those goals well within reach.
Football remains part of his routine even when he is away from practice, as Russek spends some of his free time watching film. He also enjoys spending time with family and creating social media content. What he enjoys most about sports, he said, is “the responsibility and being able to see my teammates.”
Looking beyond high school, Russek would like to attend a 4-year college and study either business or sports marketing. With the way he’s been playing so far this season, a college may look to be marketing him soon.
For now, his focus remains on a senior season that has already taken a much different direction from some of the disappointing stretches he experienced earlier in his career. With Palmyra riding consecutive wins and its offense producing at a high level, Russek and the Cougars have given themselves an opportunity to keep building.
Congratulations to Roman Russek on earning LebCo Athlete of the Week honors, and best of luck to him and the Cougars throughout the remainder of the season.
Photos by Chris Campisano
LebCo Female Athlete of the Week: Paige Stoltz
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