The long-awaited day has arrived! In football rich northern Blair County, most folks count just two seasons during the year-high school football season, and waiting for football season. This morning, the beginning of the football season took place. After passing league and conditioning and what-not, the Tyrone Golden Eagles and Bellwood-Antis Blue Devils are ready to crank it up for the 2007 campaign. Starting today, the PIAA allows the coaches to really coach and the boys to get into pads and go.
Fall practice begins early for the nearly 90 young athletes who will tighten up those chinstraps and take part in the daily three-a-days during the first week of practice.
Tyrone is pictured on the left above, with Bellwood-Antis on the right.
Tyrone head coach John Franco (135-28 at Tyrone, 175-75-3 overall) and assistant coaches Steve Guthoff, John Gressler, John Meredith, Chuck Banas, Darin Elvey, Tony Yaniello, Brian McMonigal, Ryan Hildebrand, Jason Wilson and Tom Palfey, welcome 45 players after racing through an undefeated regular season (9-0) before getting outscored in a very offensive District 6-AA championship final by Bishop McCort in 2006 to finish 12-1.
The Eagles will practice from 8-10:30 a.m., from 11 a.m. to 12 Noon and then from 3:30 p.m. to 6:15 during the first week of practice, leading up to their first scrimmage game against Bishop Carroll at Ebensburg on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. During the second week, practice will be from 3:30 p.m. to about 7:15 with a Friday night Aug. 24, scrimmage under the lights against Chestnut Ridge, at Gray-Vets Memorial Field starting at 7 p.m. During the morning the second week, players will do weightlifting and view films and meet with the various position coaches.
Bellwood-Antis head coach John Hayes (208-76-2) and assistants Bill Crowell, Nick Lovrich, Scott Boyer and Chris Walker welcome 42 players. Practices will begin at 8:45 a.m. to 11:15, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and from 4:45-7:15 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday then switch to two practices on Thursday and Friday from 8:45 to 11:15 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. in the afternoons. The Blue Devils varsity, junior varsity and junior high will scrimmage at Everett on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. During the second week of fall practice, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be the same as the first week. Thursday will be 3-5:30 p.m. and the Blue Devils will scrimmage Clearfield at home on Friday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m.
The Blue Devils must reload after playing in three consecutive District finals with District 6-A titles in 2004 and 2006.
