PIPER  PIRATES

   FOOTBALL

February 2004

"Playing Outside of the Spotlight"

from NFLHighSchool website   nflhs.com

By DONOVAN CORRIGAN

Far removed the glare of local -- and sometimes national -- television cameras, and most often buried at the back of the local sports section, a bevy of talented, hardworking and productive prep football players sign their national letters of intent.

But unlike their NCAA Division I counterparts, the young men who ink deals to play at the Division II or junior college levels don’t have their names plastered all over the countless numbers of nationwide Internet recruiting sites. They don't have their stories splashed across the front pages of newspapers.

But, that doesn't mean there are not great stories to tell.

Take Scott Lipovac of Piper High School in Kansas City, Kan., for instance.

At first glance, Lipovac, all 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds of him, doesn't look like one of the state's elite quarterbacks or a big-time playmaker with the ability to change the momentum of a game, or a season in an eye blink.

But looks can be deceiving. Just ask the defensive backs, who tried in vain to slow Lipovac, a senior at Piper, in the open field a year ago.

Lipovac was among the state passing leaders in Class 4A in total passing yards and touchdowns with 2,142 and 26, respectively. Lipovac completed 134 of 254 pass attempts and finished his senior season with a quarterback rating of 96.9.

For good measure, the fleet-footed QB rushed for 300 yards and six scores in leading Piper to a 9-2 record and a 4A district championship for the second year in a row en route to the Pirates second straight state playoff berth.

Lipovac played a key role in Piper's journey from a program mired in struggles to one of the elite 4A football schools in Kansas. After getting off to an 0-4 start as a junior, Lipovac, who engineered three comeback victories as a senior with big plays in the game's final minute, or a couple times, seconds, compiled a record of 15-3. Piper was 1-8 in 2001 without Lipovac under center.

"(Scott) Lipovac had a record-setting year, and prep career," Piper coach Dick Tatro said. "He broke most of our (school) records for yards, touchdowns, etc. He'll be missed."

Now, the little man with the big arm, and even bigger heart, is taking his leadership skills, quick feet and ability to win football games in the clutch to the college ranks. Well, sort of.

Lipovac, the playmaking gunslinger who led Piper to a 15-7 record the past seasons as a starter, including the program's lone two playoff football victories, signed a letter of intent to attend Fort Scott Community College (Kan.) in the fall.

Many people who have seen him perform at Piper, including opposing coaches, believe if Lipovac were bigger, he would be a major Division I prospect.

"He has quick feet, has a strong arm, he can throw on the move on a dime and he's a tough kid who can take a big shot and get up," Elston said. "If he was bigger, a lot of Division I schools would be after this kid."

Piper coach Dick Tatro echoed Elton's sentiments.

"The only thing he lacks is size. If a college coach will give him a chance like we did (at Piper), they will have themselves a great players," Tatro said. "I have asked them (DI coaches) if Doug Flutie (former Heisman Trophy winner at Boston College and currently in the NFL) was a senior, would they give him a scholarship?

"If he (Lipovac) was 6 feet 2, every (D-I) school in America would be after him. Scott is a player you can't put a tape measure to."

Who knows – maybe Lipovac will still get his chance.