2021 CTA Week 9 Football Player of the Week: Brock Janeda (Montour)

Montour football player Brock Janeda stands with his helmet in his right hand after beating Chartiers Valley on Friday.

STUD ALERT: The Montour Spartans football team started the season with a record of 0-3. After the rough start, the Spartans kept fighting and finished 4-3 in the team's final seven games. In Week 9, Montour traveled to Chartiers Valley in a game in which they knew the winning team would move onto the playoffs and the losing team would go home and have their season end. Brock was a big part in helping the Spartans clinch a playoff sport and beating the Colts 34-27 in the final regular season matchup. In the game, he recorded 8 tackles, rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns, and even he had the game-winning interception.

Questions & Answers

After your stellar performance in Week 9 against Chartiers Valley, a lot of people were praising and congratulating you on social media. How did that make you feel?

Brock Janeda: It makes you feel amazing that you know that many people follow along with the team and your performance. The community is really tight knit and it’s nice to see people you haven’t talked to in a while reaching out.

It's officially playoff week, and you learned this weekend that your team will travel to Armstrong. How has your team's preparation been so far?

BJ: Everybody is locked in. We’re expecting a dog fight against a tough Armstrong team. We are going into the game with the underdog mentality that we’ve had all year.

You were able to beat one of the best cornerbacks in the WPIAL last week in Lamont Payne Jr. from Chartiers Valley, and this week your team will face off against one of the best quarterbacks in the WPIAL in Cadin Olsen from Armstrong. What does your team have to do to make sure he doesn't have his way on Friday?

BJ: We need to make sure he is not able to get comfortable and settle in. Cadin is a smart quarterback who will pick you apart if he gets dialed in. We need to keep him on his toes all night.

It's important for a team to be focused and hyped before a playoff game. How are you trying to get your teammates excited for this upcoming matchup?

BJ: I have told them stories of our baseball team who went to the WPIAL championship and state semifinals this past year. I told them how fun it is to chase a ring and be a part of a championship caliber team. There is nothing like that feeling of a whole team coming together towards one goal, and I think that’s something our team has bought into.

Now, what's it like playing for Head Coach Lou Cerro?

BJ: Coach Lou is an amazing coach. I do not have a bad word to say about him. He cares about his players above all else, and always keeps practice light. He’s a charismatic guy who you can always have a good conversation with.

As you said, you also play baseball at Montour and you are one of the star players. What's it like being a multi-sport athlete?

BJ: Playing baseball and football at Montour is an amazing experience. The community rallies around their sports teams, and everyone in the community is like a family. Playing two sports is a great balance to keep you going year round. It’s also a plus when you have great coaches and teammates that make it worth it.

Ok, Halloween was this past weekend. How did you spend the holiday, and did you dress up as anything?

BJ: I chilled with a few guys from the team. Even though it was basic, I did dress up as a cowboy. I sort of waited to the last minute to get a costume.

If you could see any musician in concert, who would you go see?

BJ: Michael Jackson for sure. He had amazing music and seemed like an amazing performer. That definitely would be a great concert.

Back to football, what would a WPIAL football championship mean to you and Montour School District?

BJ: It would mean the world for the community and myself. The team has put in so much work to be able to contend for a championship. It would be Montour’s first WPIAL football championship since 2011. I think the entire team is trying to make the community proud of us, and that’s what we could with a championship.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

BJ: That I am a really good cook. I have been cooking with my entire family since I was little. It’s in the blood.

Brentaro Yamane: bkyamane@gmail.com and Twitter/Instagram @BYHilton13