The MHSAA cleared the senior running back on Monday after he played four games for St. Francis earlier this season.
OTTAWA LAKE, Mich. — It’s not often a high school football program has the chance to add an All-State running back to its team midway through a season. Yet, that’s exactly what is taking place at Whiteford Agricultural Schools.
According to Geoff Kimmerly, the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s director of communications, there are multiple ways student-athletes can be granted immediate eligibility in the state of Michigan. Three of those require an “educational transfer form” to be signed by principals from both the old and new schools.
In the case of Whiteford senior Rocco Pillarelli, he falls under exception No. 12 to the MHSAA Transfer Rule, which allows an 18-year-old who moves independently of their parents from the old school district to the new to be eligible at the new school if the student resides only within that new school district.
Whiteford head coach Todd Thieken confirmed to WTOL 11 that Pillarelli indeed moved by himself into an apartment near the Ottawa Lake campus. He joined the Bobcats program two weeks ago after the OHSAA deemed him ineligible at St. Francis de Sales High School, after failing to qualify for an exception when he decided to transfer out of Ottawa Hills High School this summer. That meant Pillarelli could only play for the first half of the season for the Knights, five weeks.
“The possibility of him leaving was always looming,” St. Francis head coach Josh Lindke said. “We did our best to make sure that it wasn’t a distraction for our players and coaches. Unfortunately, the week of the St. John’s Jesuit game, it certainly turned into one because we expected to have him that week and we unfortunately had to adjust.”
Pillarelli ended up appearing in four games for St. Francis this season, totaling 214 rushing yards on 42 carries and a touchdown. Lindke understood the family still wanted him to play the second half of the season and appreciates the time he had with the senior.
“The thing we miss about him is his attention to detail, how hard he practiced every day and how much his teammates enjoyed him,” Lindke said. “Rocco is a great kid. We wish him nothing but the best and hope he does really well at Whiteford.”
His younger brother Ryker, a junior RB/LB, remains at St. Francis.
As for Pillarelli, who earned back-to-back All-Ohio honors as running back for the Green Bears, he’s eager to transition and finish his career in a fitting program.
“I just want to be excited and happy where I am,” Pillarelli said. “All my focus is on this Friday and being able to play. It’s a big relief and just looking forward to seeing what it’s like to be on the field with these guys.”
It’s easy to point to the fact that he’s now playing for his third school in a calendar year. For Pillarelli, though, Whiteford has always been his first choice, and sometimes a student-athlete’s path is not always clear-cut.
Friday night does provide clarity in the fact that he’ll be sporting the No. 21 jersey for Whiteford and is already making quite the impression.
“The way our team accepted him, the way he accepted our team,” Thieken said. “He’s spent a lot of extra time learning our stuff, whether it’s at night watching extra film or staying after practice.”
Pillarelli told WTOL 11 that he grew up watching Bobcat football games, given his uncle and cousin played for Whiteford.
“Always told my mom and dad, ‘I want to go here,'” Pillarelli said. “To be in the school hallways here and to be on the field where my cousin got to play and my uncle got to play, just something to look forward to.”
Two weeks into the new scenery, transition can be the most difficult part. But that doesn’t appear to be the case in Ottawa Lake.
“First day I came in, they made it so easy on me. Everyone was super nice and super helpful,” Pillarelli said. “I thought I was going to be a space cadet and not know anything for a month, but two weeks in, I feel like I know it pretty well.”
With familiarity of the program in his back pocket, it Pillarelli’s journey appears will finish in a fitting way. He also plans to play defense for Whiteford, something he hasn’t done much of throughout his career.
“I’m excited because that just means I get to learn a whole new aspect of football that I haven’t had a chance to play yet,” Pillarelli said. “So, I think it only makes me a better person and player.”
The Bobcats are 4-1 on the season and have looked dominant in those wins. So, when Pillarelli got added to the roster, he had to earn his role. What has impressed coach Thieken the most about his newest addition isn’t just his football skillset, but his psychology.
“What makes it special is getting to know him,” Thieken said. “What a humble and hard-working kid he is.”
Pillarelli will make his debut in a Bobcats uniform on Friday night, when Whiteford hosts Edon (5-1) in a battle for first place in the Toledo Area Athletic Conference. WTOL 11’s Big Board Friday will have the highlights and postgame reaction from the winner.
This article was published by Tyler Seggerman on 2025-10-02 20:30:00
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