Band of Brothers: Wall Linemen Bound by Loss

When Wall senior offensive lineman Matt Pisarcik tragically lost his father in a motorcycle accident this summer, fellow lineman Matt Ford was able to offer a perspective that none of his other good friends could provide.

On an offensive line unit where chemistry between members is almost as important as the physical execution, the two Crimson Knights seniors are bound by the profound loss of the men who helped shape their love of football.

The accident snatched away a husband and father of three,.

Ford never even had the chance to have his father watch him play one down of football. His biological father, former Mater Dei and Kean University star Andy Ford, died from colon cancer when Matt was only two months old. His mother married his stepfather, Steve Zakutney, when Matt was heading into sixth grade, but Zakutney was gone by Ford’s freshman year.

Zakutney died on July 1, 2008, of a heart attack while mowing the lawn at 43 years old.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Crimson Knights (1-0) take on the Jackson Liberty (1-0) in Wall's home opener tonight at 1630 18th Ave. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“It’s weird that it happened to me and Pisarcik,’’ Ford said. “We didn't really need any help, especially that kind of help, to bring us together because since freshman year all of the linemen have been great friends. I think me being able to tell him how it went with me helped him out. We just want him to know that we’re here for him as a team and as friends.’’

When Wall takes the field for its first home game of the season against Class C Central rival Jackson Liberty on Friday night, Pisarcik knows the void will be palpable.

“Everyone knew him because he was at all of our games and went to games in a lot of other sports in Wall,’’ Pisarcik said. “I will look up and he won’t be there where he always was.’’

. Nearly 4,000 people attended his wake at the Orender Family Home in Manasquan, honoring a man whose nickname was of the ironic sort considering he was larger than life at 6-foot-5 and more than 300 pounds. He also had a famous last name in these parts, as Tiny’s cousin is former New York Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik.

“He was a fixture at our games,’’ said Wall head coach Chris Barnes. “You could find him in the stands easily. He was a man that was not only big in stature but had a big heart. He was a tremendous supporter of the program and a really pleasant person to be around.’’

“The Pisarcik family is one of those families that everyone in Wall is close to, so when it happened, it really brought the whole community and the football team together,’’ Ford said.

Football can either be a painful reminder of the one you lost or a place to go to remember in these situations. It’s clear what purpose it serves for Pisarcik.

“When I play football it’s like a memory of him,’’ he said. “Some people might not want to do it because it would remind you, but I like doing it. Running out before the game, he’s one of the top things in my head, but once I get to just playing, it’s all about football.’’

Pisarcik will be surrounded by close friends on Wall’s vaunted offensive line, which paved the way for 160 yards, including a career-high 127 by senior tailback Jim Guiliano, in a season-opening, 21-14 nondivisional win over a Lacey team that was on a Shore Conference-best 13-game winning streak.

In addition to Pisarcik and Ford, who are the guards, the line includes center Matt McDonough, tackles Matt Vialonga and Mike Tomasuolo and tight end Derek Gardner, all of whom are seniors and returning starters.

“I don’t think any other offensive line has what we have, talent-wise and chemistry-wise,’’ Pisarcik said.

“They have a great friendship that has developed from middle school on,’’ said Barnes, who is now in his 12th season at the helm. “They are probably one of the better units we’ve ever had.’’

College coaches have taken notice, as Pisarcik, Ford and McDonough have received Division I-AA interest from schools in the Patriot League, Ivy League, Northeast Conference and Colonial Athletic Association, according to Barnes. They also are excellent students, led by Pisarcik, who has a 3.8 grade-point average.

They also can lean on one another during the hard times, as Pisarcik learned this summer.

“I remember Matt (Ford) telling me how he felt when he lost his stepfather, and his mom came up to me and said that if I ever need anything, they will be there for me,’’ Pisarcik said. “How everyone came together for us and how everyone is still there – it’s nice to know that because of what my father did when he was here, people want to help me because of how much he helped them.’’

“I just told him how that first week after it happens, everyone is there, but it gets harder once everyone leaves,’’ Ford said. “That’s when you really need your friends there. I only knew my stepdad for a few years, while he had his father his whole life, so I think it might be a little bit harder and a little bit different for him.’’

The motivation of avenging a 27-21 loss to Jackson Liberty, which beat Wall for the first time last year, may prove to be a helpful distraction on Friday night. That and the fact that the offensive line has to worry about blocking 295-pound Jackson Liberty senior Remy Martin, a noseguard who will wreck Wall’s offensive gameplan if he is not contained.

“Remy Martin is a good noseguard, but we hope to run the ball down their throats because last year we didn’t,’’ Ford said. “No one wants to have practices during the Lakewood week (after the loss to Jackson Liberty) that we had last year. I think everyone knows the consequences of losing to Jackson Liberty, a team we should beat.’’

“Up front, we were challenged in that (Jackson Liberty) game last year, and I don’t know if we met the challenge,’’ Barnes said. “We reminded them of that. Martin is a big test, and could be a problem if we don’t account for him.’’

Tiny Pisarcik, Andy Ford and Steve Zakutney will not be there in person on Friday night, but they will be part of the fire burning inside two seniors bound by tragedy and determined to succeed and make the men who shaped them proud. The wound of the loss of Tiny Pisarcik is still fresh, but the football field is where his son can come say hello for three hours.

While the Wall community will grieve his loss and celebrate his life, there is one group that may benefit from Tiny’s absence.

“It might be a little better for the refs,’’ Matt said before laughing. “That’s usually when you heard him the most.’’

“That’s something I think everyone is going to miss,’’ Ford said while laughing. “Except for the refs.’’