No quit: Pestano regained his passion and became a star

Three years ago, Devon Pestano wasn't even sure he wanted to play football. The 6-foot, 175-pound junior from Springbrook High, who would eventually become the leader of the Blue Devils' offense and one of the top players in the Class of 2011, had lost his passion for the game.

Pestano had been running around in pads since he was seven years old, so burnout was a concern. Then, in his final eight-grade little league game, his team lost miserably and Pestano did not play well. On top of that, he became enthralled with a new sport: basketball.

"After my last middle school game I said, 'I'm done with football. I'm just going play basketball,'" Pestano said. "I was frustrated with football. And I didn't think I was tough enough to play in high school to tell you the truth."

Devon Pestano not tough enough? This is the same guy who three years later will have highlight-reel hits plastered on YouTube. This is the same guy whose football coach, Rob Wendel, will say defenses "just aren't ready for his power."

Not tough enough? This is the same guy who will rumble for over 1,200 yards and 20 touchdowns. This is the same guy who will record over 30 tackles, pick off five passes and force three fumbles as a safety.

"As a running back, he's got fantastic vision, he's explosive, he breaks long runs and he breaks a lot of tackles," Wendel will say. "And as a safety, he makes some monster hits. Guys are leery going over the middle against him."

Not tough enough? This is the same guy who will deliver a blow that almost sends a kid to Shock Trauma. In a game against Whitman, the Vikings will attempt a short pass play to their wide out, who will be running a quick slant. Just as the ball arrives Pestano will lower his shoulder and deliver a hit that renders the receiver lifeless.

"It took him 15 minutes to get up," Pestano will say after the game. "They had to bring out a stretcher. I got kind of scared that I could do that to someone."

Not tough enough? This is the same guy who his coach will call a "super competitor" after Pestano demands the ball in crucial situations. In that same Whitman game, Wendel will call a pass play on third-and-seven with Springbrook trailing by a point with a minute to go in the game. But he'll relent when Pestano guarantees he'll pick up the first down. Pestano will ultimately deliver on his promise. Then he'lll score the game-winning touchdown.

"He wants the ball in crunch time," Wendel will later say. "When the chips are down he wants it. He wants to score on every single play almost to a fault. He wants to win … at everything."

Wendel will then concede that Pestano is a future Division I safety.

But that's the future. Three years prior, Pestano wasn't thinking about college football. He was focused on showing off his basketball skills.

When Pestano first started basketball in the fourth grade, he admitted he was small, clumsy and not very talented. But as he grew older his body matured and he became more athletic. Then, during middle school, he went to New York for an extended stay with his grandmother. While in the hoops hotbed, he met a coach who helped develop his game.

"The coach up there taught me a few things I didn't know," Pestano said. "After that my game improved and I started loving basketball more than football."

So the foundation was set. Pestano half-heartedly finished the football season and devoted all his time to basketball. He arrived at Springbrook hoping to earn a spot on varsity and realize his dream of playing Division I college hoops.

Pestano wasn't even going to try out for football. But then he met Bob Wendel at Springbrook's August registration.

Wendel took one look at Pestano's tall, muscular frame and asked him me if he ever played football before. Pestano responded in the affirmative, although he mentioned basketball was his first sport. Didn't matter. Wendel, visions of 50-yard runs dancing in his head, invited Pestano to practice.

"I thought about whether or not to show up," Pestano said. "I talked to my mom and she told me she liked me playing football. So I decided to go and give it a shot."

Good call, Mom.

All it took was one long practice run for Pestano to regain his gridiron passion. As a freshman, he spent one season torching the jayvee before moving up to varsity his sophomore year. Pestano started at safety and became one of the most ferocious hitters in Montgomery County. Last year he added running back to his repertoire and had one of the finest seasons for a county runner.

Of course, he still played basketball in the winter. In fact, his basketball ascent mirrored his rise to football stardom. Pestano started on jayvee, moved to varsity and is now the starting point guard. This year, he's helped Springbrook to a 5-1 record by averaging eight points and five assists a night.

"I've done all right on the court; I have good athleticism, I can jump, I'm pretty quick and I play good defense," Pestano said. "But I guess everything has changed a little bit now. Basketball was my first sport, but now it's kind of even with football."

So what does the future hold for Devon Pestano? If he adds a little quickness and a scoring touch, he could land a basketball scholarship. If he improves his 40 time (4.65) and bulks up in the weight room, he could land a football scholarship. Senior year is fast approaching. Which sport will he pursue?

"As of right now I'm undecided on what I want to play in college," Pestano said. "I have an idea, but I haven't told anyone that yet."

In the meantime, he'll continue dropping dimes on the hardwood and running people over on the gridiron.

"Hey, it's my job to keep fighting and knocking people over," Pestano said. "I'm pretty good at it. Now that I think about it, I guess I am pretty tough."

No kidding.