County football stars to suit up for Lezzer Lumber Classic

Guy Cipriano

The 25th annual Lezzer Lumber Football Classic will include some familiar names to Centre County football fans.

Twelve players from the county’s five high schools, including four key members from State College’s Mid- Penn Commonwealth Division and District 6-8-9-10 Class AAAA championship team, were named to the North squad’s roster.

The game, which is cosponsored by the Centre Daily Times, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, June 27 at Bald Eagle Area’s Alumni Stadium. This year’s classic includes 77 players from 31 schools in nine counties.

Centre County selections include State College linebackers Luc Yocum and Chance Gaines, wide receiver/ defensive back Reid Vanderlinden and center Shay Ceglar, Bellefonte quarterback Kode Plank, wide receiver David Radziak and tight end Chris Irwin, Philipsburg-Osceola linemen Andy Hanes and Storm Bumbarger, Penns Valley quarterback/defensive back Kyle Hockenberry and lineman Lucas Dillon, and Bald Eagle Area running back/linebacker A.J. Robinson.

Gaines and Yocum were starting linebackers for a State College team that went 12-1 and advanced to the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals. The duo combined for 173 tackles, including 13 for losses. Gaines (Kutztown), Yocum (Blair Academy), Vanderlinden (Johns Hopkins) and Ceglar (Shippensburg) are continuing their football careers this fall.

The game will provide Plank, Radziak and Irwin a final opportunity to play offense together. The trio helped Bellefonte record a county-high 1,361 passing yards in 2008. Plank tossed five touchdown passes to Radziak and three to Irwin.

Hanes and Bumbarger played offensive guard as seniors in P-O’s Wing-T offense. The duo helped the Mounties record 1,782 rushing yards.

Hockenberry and Dillon were starters for Penns Valley, with Hockenberry rushing for 247 yards and passing for 220.

Robinson held key offensive and defensive roles for a BEA team that went 4-7 and made its first postseason appearance since 1997. Robinson led the Eagles with 795 rushing yards on 168 carries.

Central Mountain’s Steve Turchetta, who led the Wildcats to the District 6 Class AAAA playoffs, is coaching the North team. Turchetta’s staff includes Philipsburg- Osceola head coach Jeff Vroman. Indian Valley’s Tom Shearer will coach the South team.

Central Mountain placed a game-high six players on the North team — linemen Glenn Barnes and Matt Bower, running back/linebacker Matt Overdorf, kicker/ punter Nathan Conway, running back/defensive end Ryan Worden, and wide receiver/defensive back Cory Bartholomew.

Clearfield, which went 10-3 and lost to Erie Strong Vincent in the PIAA Class AAA playoffs, has five players on the North team, including first-team Pennsylvania Football News All- State offensive linemen Nick Redden.

Hollidaysburg, which went 10-2 and captured the District 6 Class AAA title, leads the South team with five selections.

The South team also includes multiple players from District 6 Class AA playoff participants Central, Huntingdon, Penn Cambria and Tyrone.

The game features three players — Clearfield quarterback Jarrin Campman, Altoona lineman Nick Soto and Redden — who are also participating in the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association East-West Game on June 19 at Mansion Park. State College’s Jake Reeder and Emmitt Terrell are playing in the East-West Game but not the Lezzer Lumber Classic.

Practices the Lezzer Lumber game begin June 22 at Philipsburg- Osceola and Huntingdon. Presale tickets may be purchased at State College and Curwensville Lezzer Lumber stores or from the head coaches of the 31 member schools for $5. All tickets are $6 at the gate. The Central Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association will use the proceeds to award $5,000 in scholarship money.