A will to win

North squad seeking to end three-year skid

Guy Cipriano

It’s the same dilemma every June, when a group of players and coaches from District 6 and 9 high schools converge for the annual Lezzer Lumber Football Classic.

CDT photo/Christopher Weddle

Philipsburg-Osceola head football coach Jeff Vroman calls a play during a North Squad practice this past week. Vroman will assist Central Mountain coach Steve Turchetta tonight in the 25th annual Lezzer Lumber Classic at Bald Eagle Area’s Alumni Stadium.

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Minds and bodies are far from being in peak football shape. But competitive urges exist, meaning those involved with the event must determine whether they want to win or enjoy the experience.

“For me, it’s definitely about winning,” State College offensive lineman Shay Ceglar said. “But I’m going to have fun with it. It goes both ways.”

The divergent concepts collide tonight when the North meets the South at Bald Eagle Area’s Alumni Stadium. The game features 77 players from 31 schools ranging in size from Glendale to State College.

For some players, including 14 on the North squad, tonight represents a preview of college football. For others, tonight marks the end of their careers.

Most players made it clear earlier this week that emotions could be in fall form when they step on BEA’s comfortable turf.

“It’s supposed to be a fun game,” P-O offensive lineman Andy Hanes said, “but to get another win would be nice.”

North coach Steve Turchetta, who led Central Mountain to the District 6-8-9-10 Class AAAA playoffs, agreed.

“I’m a competitor,” he said. “These kids were star athletes on their teams and leaders. They are coming here to win.”

The North has fallen short of its goal in recent years. The South, which is being coached by Indian Valley’s Tom Shearer, holds a 14-10 all-time lead. The South has won seven of the past nine games, including the past two.

When either Central Mountain’s Nathan Conway or Altoona’s Scott Andrews kicks the ball at 7 p.m., past results become irrelevant.

The teams are comprised of graduating seniors whose only Lezzer Lumber history involves attending the game as spectators or hearing stories from former teammates.

Players started learning of their selections to the game late in their senior years and teams were formally announced earlier this month. Practices started Monday, with the North working at Philipsburg- Osceola and South training at Huntingdon. The format isn’t conducive to extended bonding. But relationships have been forged during the past week.

Turchetta noticed many players eating lunch alone or with high school teammates between Monday’s practices. He said the North team was eating together by Wednesday.

“It’s neat,” Turchetta said. “You see them at the beginning of the week and see a lot of them sitting by school and things like that. As the week goes on, they are starting to associate more.”

The chemistry could help the North record its first victory since a 24-14 triumph in the 2006 game at Tyrone. Turchetta’s squad features players from 16 District 6 and 9 schools, including 12 from Centre County — State College’s Chance Gaines, Reid Vanderlinden, Luc Yocum and Ceglar, Bellefonte’s Chris Irwin, Kode Plank and David Radziak, Penns Valley’s Lucas Dillon and Kyle Hockenberry, P-O’s Storm Bumbarger and Hanes, and Bald Eagle Area’s A.J. Robinson.

“It’s been very intense,” Bumbarger said. “They are more high-speed and bigger people than what I’m used to from the regular season.”

The county players are receiving help from talented athletes from surrounding areas. The team includes six players from Central Mountain, five from Clearfield and four from DuBois. All three teams participated in either the Class AAAA or AAA postseason.

Clearfield’s Nick Redden and Jarrin Campman should be operating close to regular-season speed tonight. Redden, an offensive lineman headed to Duquesne, played in the Big 33 Classic and Campman appeared in the Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association East- West Game last weekend.

The Lezzer Lumber game also gives players from State College, which went 12-1 and advanced to the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals, a rare opportunity to compete with athletes from other local schools. The Little Lions play in the Mid-Penn Conference, and Central Mountain is the only school involved in tonight’s game the Little Lions played.

“I just know the names of the schools and some of their top players,” said Ceglar, who’s headed to Division II Shippensburg. “It’s definitely enjoyable playing with them, getting to know them and making new friendships.”

The South roster features players from 15 schools, including Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Huntingdon and Tyrone. Three South players — Altoona’s Nick Soto and Cory Becker and Tyrone’s Matt Murray — appeared in the East-West Game at Altoona’s Mansion Park.

“The kids have stepped up,” said Turchetta, whose staff includes P-O head coach Jeff Vroman. “The kids are looking forward to the game and we’re looking forward to it.”

Notes:State College’s Al Wolski and Central’s A.J. Hoenstine will be honored as the North and South Coach of the Year during halftime. Both coaches led their teams to the PIAA quarterfinals. ...BEA’s Ron Hoover and Bellefonte’s Rob Irwin will be inducted into the Central Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame at halftime.