Homecoming.
When it comes to football, we mostly associate Homecoming with college football and the parades, reunions and special events that go along with it.
Locally, however, several programs have brought that “college feel” to the high school level, turning a typical, mid-season Friday night or Saturday afternoon game into something special.
There’s a couple of examples of that this weekend as we hit Week 4 of the season.
Tonight at Schuylkill Haven, as the Hurricanes host Tamaqua in an Anthracite Football League contest at Rotary Field, an alumni band and alumni cheerleading squad will be part of the festivities. It’s the perfect lead-in to Saturday’s 27th annual Borough Day celebration in the community.
Saturday, Pine Grove holds its 15th annual Homecoming celebration. Since its inception the people in Pine Grove have done it right, showcasing the school’s student-athletes in a day-long schedule of sporting events. They’ve added family-oriented events to the day as well, turning it into a gigantic festival.
This year, the weekend begins with an outdoor picnic on the school grounds Friday afternoon, starting at noon. A participants dinner is held at 6 p.m. in the middle school cafeteria, followed by a Celebration Rally at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
Saturday, every Pine Grove fall athletic team except golf is in action. The cross country teams host their Cardinal Classic Invitational at 9 a.m. The girls’ junior high basketball teams host Tamaqua at 10 a.m., the girls’ volleyball team plays Jim Thorpe at noon, the unbeaten girls’ soccer squad faces Minersville in a potential Schuylkill League playoff pairing at 1 p.m., and the boys’ soccer squad entertains Pottsville at 2:45 p.m.
The Cardinals’ football team caps the day by hosting Susquenita at 7 p.m.
Other events include a pancake breakfast sponsored by the girls’ basketball team boosters from 8-11 a.m. in the middle school cafeteria, an “Athletic Department Yard Sale” of previously worn jerseys, shorts and warm-up suits from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the outdoor basketball courts, and an alumni volleyball game at 2:30 p.m. in the middle school gym.
Every school usually does something special for its Homecoming at some point in the season. Who can forget ChargerFest at Cardinal Brennan?
No matter what school you follow, be an active participant and show your school spirit.
Statistical Snippets
The area’s individual statistical leaders are on Page 6 of this week’s Football Friday, but here’s some other nuggets of information to consider:
• North Schuylkill has rushed for just 285 yards in three games, an average of 95 per game. Last year, the Spartans had 621 yards rushing at this point.
• Pine Grove has compiled just 114 total yards and been outscored 144-3 in its three games.
• Jim Thorpe leads the area in scoring with 122 points (40.7 ppg), while Tri-Valley and Lehighton both have 114 points (38 ppg). On the flip side, Shenandoah Valley has allowed 159 (53 ppg).
• The Olympians also lead the area in rushing with 945 yards (315 ypg), followed by Schuylkill Haven (908) and Tri-Valley (812).
• Tri-Valley’s Bryon Rusinko leads the Tri-Valley League with 3.5 sacks; the Dawgs have 18.5 total.
• Lehighton senior quarterback Tyler Cann broke the school records for career passing yards and completions. He has 197 completions for 2,770 yards so far.
District 11 Update
Three weeks into the season, and the races for District 11 playoff berths are already taking shape.
In Class AAA, seven teams have either 3-0 or 2-1 records. Saucon Valley, Lehighton, Blue Mountain and Jim Thorpe are unbeaten, while ACC, Bethlehem Catholic and Southern Lehigh are 2-1.
Palmerton and Notre Dame-Green Pond sit atop the Class AA rankings, with Northern Lehigh (2-1), North Schuylkill (1-2) and Northwestern Lehigh (2-1) neck and neck for third. The Spartans can’t afford another loss if they hope to make this field.
In Class A, unbeaten Tri-Valley and Marian are ranked 1-2, followed by Mahanoy Area and Williams Valley. Winless Minersville, which is fifth, actually has a higher rating than No. 6 Schuylkill Haven (2-1).
Player of the Week
Lucas Forbes, Blue Mt.
Forbes stepped up in the second half of last Friday’s Clash of 61 game with Pottsville, rushing for 117 of his game-high 173 yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns in the 24-13 win.
Honorable mention: Danny Lozada, Schuylkill Haven; Robert Heller, Jim Thorpe; Kyle Karycki, Mount Carmel; Tegan Durishin, Lehighton; Mason Ryan, Mahanoy Area.
(Boyer covers football for The Republican-Herald. Follow him on Twitter @pubsportsboss)