Mike Pfleger stayed tight-lipped all last season.

After every hit, every sack and even after getting leveled from his blindside, Allderdice's starting quarterback immediately got back on his feet and rejoined the huddle without questioning his teammates.

"He took some major lumps last season and didn't say a word," Dragons coach Jerry Haslett said. "He never berated or said anything negative to his teammates. He was a true leader by taking his lumps and kept going."

Pfleger, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior, also has put last season's 1-8 overall performance by the Dragons in the past.

"It was pretty much a rebuilding year," said Pfleger, a three-year starter. "We had a new coach and a new system.

"I understand how every person had a job and we had to fill those jobs on the team. I just had to stay motivated and keep trying."

An All-City right-handed pitcher on the Allderdice baseball team, Pfleger threw for 764 yards during his sophomore year and piled up more than 700 yards again last season.

"He's definitely a leader," said Haslett, who enters his second season as the Dragons head coach. "He leads by example and is an unbelievable competitor. His drive is unbelievable.

"Baseball-wise, he's phenomenal. He throws [a baseball] in the high 80s [mph] and that's impressive for a high school kid. He brings it with a football, too. He's also fast [afoot] and is a lot faster than most people think."

Pfleger is confident about the Dragons' ability to compete in the league this season and has already seen an overall improvement in the team.

"I believe all the pieces are coming together," said Pfleger, who is from Greenfield and has four brothers and three sisters. "We have the intensity and skill that can contribute to a winning team."

With Pfleger taking snaps this summer, Allderdice spent its offseason competing in the Riverview passing league.

"I worked on my footwork and wanted to improve in every aspect at my position," Pfleger said. "I feel better where I am with that and believe I am a better quarterback now."

His development hasn't gone unnoticed by Haslett, either.

"He's really progressed," Haslett said. "I talked to [former Allderdice coach Don Schmidt], who is still in the building, and they didn't have a quarterback coach when Mike started. I worked with him last year and he has gotten a lot better.

"In the passing league, Mike was throwing against good teams such as Avonworth and Greensburg Central Catholic. He already has 20 passing games under his belt, and you can see the improvement from last season."

Allderdice graduated only two starters from last season, and Haslett expects Pfleger will have a strong supporting cast of skill players to assist him during his senior campaign.

"I can see him throwing for 1,000 yards," Haslett said. "Mike has a cannon and we feel we have some guys who can go get the ball. Guys like wide receivers Dominic Gardner (6-3, 175, Jr.), William Graham (5-11, 170, Jr.) and tight end Jay Barlow (6-3, 215, Jr.) should be able to go out, get the ball and get some yards."

The Dragons head to Beaver County tomorrow night to play WPIAL newcomer Central Valley, a merger of Center and Monaca, in non-league play. Allderdice opens its City League schedule against Oliver in Week Two.

"I expect to see more leadership from Mike, and that's going to be a main ingredient for us this year," Haslett said. "I can see Mike definitely leading the league in passing.

"If you ask the coaches around the league, they'll tell you he's probably the best pure quarterback in the league.

"That's not coming just from me as his coach, but what I have heard from those coaches around the league."

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