The senior quarterback
already holds school
passing records.

By CHUCK HOUSTEAU

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

McDONALD — McDonald High senior quarterback Matt Krumpak has grown up around Blue Devil football his entire life.

In McDonald, the Krumpak name has been a part of Blue Devil football lore since the 1930s, when Matt’s grandfather, Joe Krumpak, led the 1936 team to an undefeated season.

Matt’s father, Joe Krumpak Jr., was a standout quarterback in 1977 who went on to play at Otterbein College and now coaches the Warren JFK freshman football team.

There’s also been uncles — Bill (1968) and Frank (1971) — and cousins — Brad (1994) and Josh (1996).

Brad Krumpak played quarterback on the Division VI state-runner-up McDonald team that lost to St. Henry’s in 1994.

So obviously, family dinners in the Krumpak family usually feature a heaping helping of football.

“I’ve grown up around McDonald football my entire life,” said the senior signal-caller for the Blue Devils who will lead his team into a big rivalry game Friday night against Mineral Ridge. “We always have discussions about who did what and who was more successful.”

Good player

Krumpak has not only grown up with McDonald football he learned to play the game very well.

Krumpak, who is in his third year as a starter, is already the school’s career leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

To date he has completed 192 passes in 338 attempts for 3,141 yards, 31 touchdown passes and just 13 interceptions.

He led the Blue Devils into the postseason last year after passing for 1811 yards and 18 touchdowns only to lose to Cuyahoga Heights in the regional playoffs.

Krumpak will be playing in his 24th varsity game when the Blue Devils take on Mineral Ridge.

The senior takes it all in stride.

“There’s always been the expectations for me to be a good quarterback,” Krumpak said. “I wouldn’t call it pressure because I enjoy it so much, but it made me push myself to become a good player.”

Krumpak has been playing since he was 7 years old and has been tutored by his dad all these years.

“My dad has helped me so much,” said Krumpak who briefly transfered to Warren JFK to play for his father as a freshman. “He helps me with my footwork and my reads. He’s a big part of my success.”

Skills evident early

Krumpak’s football coach Dan Williams saw those skills and work ethic early in the quarterback’s sophomore preseason.

“Matt had great athletic ability and leadership qualities,” Williams said. “Matt’s grown so much as a player since then.

“He never loses his composure and he’s like having a coach on the field. More importantly he’s gotten better every year.”

But individual accomplishments aren’t what drive the senior leader of the Blue Devils. He wants his team to succeed.

Krumpak’s play is one reason why there are high expectations for the Blue Devils again this season.

Nothing less than a Inter-Tri County league championship and a berth in the Division VI playoffs will be acceptable to Krumpak and his teammates.

This latest Krumpak athlete not only wants to keep the family name on the minds of Blue Devil fans for another generation, he wants to have a few more stories of his own to talk about at future family dinners.