LEZZER LUMBER FOOTBALL CLASSIC

One last pass

Red Raiders trio get final shot at HS level

By Vinny Pezzimenti

PHILIPSBURG — The painful memories are still fresh in their minds even now, eight months later and last football season long since faded.

CDT photo/Christopher Weddle

Bellefonte’s Kody Plank led all Centre County passers with 1,331 yards in 2008. Plank and two of his favorite targets, teammates David Radziak and Chris Irwin, will try and go out with a North Squad victory on Saturday in the 25th annual Lezzer Lumber Classic at Bald Eagle Area’s Alumni Stadium.

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It was Halloween night. All Bellefonte needed was a victory over struggling rival Bald Eagle Area to collect a 5-5 regular season record and thus continue its season in the District 6 Class AAA playoffs.

The Red Raiders were granted the trick instead of the treat. Quarterback Kode Plank had his leg broken and the Eagles put together a late scoring drive to produce a 13-9 victory.

Bellefonte was done. But three of the Red Raiders are back for more. Plank, wide receiver David Radziak and tight end/defensive end Chris Irwin will take part in Saturday night’s Lezzer Lumber Classic.

Coincidence or not, the all-star game that features 77 players from 31 schools will be played at Bald Eagle Area’s Alumni Stadium, the same venue where Bellefonte’s season came to a crashing halt.

“I want one more chance,” Plank said during a break from the North team’s two practices on Wednesday. “The season got ended early for all three of us, especially for me in that last game.

“I just want to redeem myself from that game against Bald Eagle. I’m hoping I have a better game than when I did then.”

Circumstances could very well provide Plank and his former Bellefonte teammates, who thrived in a pass happy offense this past fall, a platform for redemption.

The North team, coached by Central Mountain’s Steve Turchetta, might be left to utilize a spread offense because of practice injuries. And although Turchetta is more of a run-first coach, restrictions on blitzing and stunting could open up the passing game in a big way.

“I think we are going to be throwing the ball around,” Radziak said.

Plank and company should have no difficulties with that philosophy. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound quarterback led Centre County passers with 1,331 yards through the air en route to second-team All-MAC honors this past season

His top target was Radziak, who recorded a county-leading 35 receptions for 538 yards and five touchdowns as a senior.

And don’t forget Irwin. The 6-3, 200-pounder is a stout defensive end, but he is also the North squad’s only tight end and will serve as a fourth receiver.

“I hope to catch a couple passes,” he said.

The three have carpooled to practices this week and could be the driving force for the North offense.

“We’re excited about it. It’s giving us one last chance as a trio to hook up like we did during the season,” Radziak said. “We kind of fell short of our preseason goals during the regular season, so we’re really trying to represent Bellefonte and ourselves at the game Saturday.”

Plank said he was fully recovered from the broken leg by late January and participated in track and field in the spring. He plans on majoring in pre-engineering at Mansfield and playing quarterback for the school’s sprint football team.

“It’s fast. It’s faster than normal football,” Plank said of the sprint game, which prohibits players weighing over 172 pounds from participating.

Radziak, meantime, has his sights set on walking on at East Stroudsburg, where he will major in business management. He said over 100 players have been invited to preseason camp in August. Only 80 will make the roster at the Division II PSAC school.

“I am confident in my abilities,” Radziak said. “I know I can make plays. I’m just ready to go out there and give it my best. If I fail and give it my best, I’ll be happy with that. If I come up short and I know there’s other things I could’ve done, I can’t live with that. I’m that type of person.”

The 6-foot Radziak is working with a State College trainer this summer. He has already gained 10 pounds of muscle since football season and weighs 175 pounds.

“The big thing I’m working on now is speed,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing they’re looking for going into East Stroudsburg.”

For Irwin, a MAC firstteam selection as a senior, the Lezzer Lumber will serve as his final football game. He will major in business at Penn State.

“I was coming to this game since I was six,” he said. “This means the world to me. I’m pumped.”