Saturday night’s Lezzer Lumber Classic will mark the final time three Golden Eagles and two Blue devils will hit the football field in their high school careers.
Tyrone’s Tyler Mertiff. Brian McManigasl and Dan Grazier will strap on the pads one last time, as will Ryan Myers and Bret McCartney. Throughout this week, The Daily Herald will talk to the five players and get their thoughts on playing in one last game.
With the time counting down, Ryan Myers is set for his final high school and probably last football game ever.
“It is such an honor to be playing with the kids, who have so much talent this week in practice and Saturday night in the game,” said Myers, who will turn his skills to playing basketball at Lock Haven University. “This will be the last opportunity to play another football game with Bret. The guys all have such talent. The competitiveness in really amazing.”
Although many of the Classic stars played against each other in high school the rivalries have been forgotten for this week.
“We don’t think about rivalries, We are fine now, we’ve been hanging together and making friends all week. We have been having a good time exchanging decals with Tyler, Dan, Brian and Shane McConnell and Sean Pacifico from Bishop Guilfoyle and other kids from Huntingdon and Hollidaysburg, who we don’t see during the football season.”
Myers adds that the coaches really know what they are teaching. keeping it simple for the short amont of time to practice together and explaining all the information. Ryan has been dealing mostly with Tyrone coach John Franco, who is handling the offense.
“We are working through with the quarterbacks, as we all become adjusted to the receivers speed and the quarterbacks throws,’ edxplained Myers, who will play wide receiver. Although most players at both Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis play both ways, Myers is one of the very few Blue Devils to be used on offense in any of the skill positions in allstar games in recent years. “I am learning a lot by watching the Altoona combination of Brendon Perretta catching and running routes and Joey Kleiner throwing the ball. Kleiner, Tyler and Sean Pacifico have been throwing the ball. It looks like all three will share the job at quarterback with Tyler starting and the other two coming in later.”
Ryan has had a busy year playing receiver and defensive backfield for the Blue Devils football team that finsihed 26-1 over the last three regular seasons, but lost their first round playoff this year, and was the leading scorer and rebounder on the District champion Blue Devil basketball team and starting right fielder on the B-A state champion baseball team.
“It would be really nice to get Coach Franco a win and finish off our final football game with a win Saturday night. We have to get ready to go on, be ready to get prepared for the future.”
