The first time Terrelle Pryor got the ball in his hands this season, he had a long touchdown run. The final time he got the ball, he had a long touchdown run.

In between, he was practically untouchable.

Pryor, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound senior quarterback at Jeannette, had one of the greatest seasons -- and careers -- of any player in the history of the WPIAL. He is the Post-Gazette Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The award takes into consideration all players in the WPIAL and City League.

"A lot of people throw around the word great," said Jeannette coach Ray Reitz. "They say this kid is great, and that kid is great. But really, this kid truly is the great one."

This is great:

• Pryor had 3,788 yards of offense, believed to be a single-season WPIAL record.

• He rushed 143 times for 1,899 yards (13.3 average), and completed 87 of 130 for 1,889 yards.

• He accounted for 58 touchdowns (35 himself and 23 passing). He scored 33 rushing, one on a reception and one on an interception return.

• He ran for a touchdown about once every four attempts, and about one out of every four completions went for a touchdown.

Ranked by some scouting services as the No. 1 player in the country, Pryor led Jeannette to a 16-0 record, its second WPIAL Class AA title in a row and first PIAA title.

Pryor was the main reason Jeannette set a state record for points with 860, a staggering 53.8 points a game.

"At the high school level, I don't know how you can keep him off the list of all-time greats from here," Reitz said.

Pryor was asked if he belongs in the same company as western Pennsylvania greats such as Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett and others.

"Maybe, but I never saw those guys play, so I can't judge," Pryor said.

In the WPIAL semifinals against Aliquippa, he had 331 yards rushing. In the PIAA semifinals against Wilmington, he returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown.

Then in the PIAA championship, Pryor was asked to kick off for the first time in his career. No problem. He put one into the end zone.

But you wouldn't believe what play is his most memorable.

"The block I threw on Jordan Hall's punt return [for a touchdown in the PIAA final]," Pryor said.

Pryor finished his career with 4,238 yards rushing on 435 attempts. He completed 232 of 399 for 4,340 yards and 44 touchdowns. He accounted for 125 career touchdowns.

Pryor was recruited by schools across the country and has narrowed his list to Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, Penn State and Oregon.

"The thing that impressed me most about him the last few weeks was he got the attitude of a Michael Jordan or Larry Bird," Reitz said. "He became like an assassin. He made you pay for anything you did."