By All Accounts Kids (and Coaches) Excited to be Playing Football @TjWingard @DASDBeavers @Bison__Football @coachjanocko

Tagged under: District 9, Gameday Hub, News

Phil Myers | September 6, 2020

.

The response from long-time coach, Tim Janocko, was the same as first year coach, T.J. Wingard, ‘it was fantastic and the kids enjoyed it’.  Their answer was to the question, ‘how did it feel to be playing football again after all this craziness with Covid?’

The Beavers of DuBois led by Wingard travelled to Clearfield to scrimmage the Bison directed by Janocko.  “I’m going to speak for the kids,” said Wingard, “it was 100% fantastic to be able to pad up and play against someone else.”  He continued with this, “we took it as we’re very fortunate to do it and it was awesome. The kids were really psyched up.”  Janocko stated, “the kids had fun.  I think both teams enjoyed getting out on the field and competing a little bit.  We were thankful we were out there.”

DuBois held their own till the last phase of the scrimmage when Clearfield found some rhythm and scored three times.  “I liked how they looked last night,” declared Wingard, who was an assistant at Lewisburg in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.  He taught with Southern Columbia coach Jim Roth’s wife, Kenda, at Lewisburg.  He said that the Green Dragons beat Southern once in his six years there and that was a year Southern won a state championship.

Clearfield may be one of the top AAA teams in Pennsylvania this year with the likes of senior Jake Lezzer being completely healthy at wide receiver, junior QB Oliver Billotte, and lineman Zane Inguagiato leading the way.  They showed some other weapons in the scrimmage too.  “We were rusty at the beginning, but then started to get into a rhythm and I think Jake (Lezzer) is better than before he was injured,” Janocko stated.

Both coaches were hopeful about the PIAA having playoffs.  “I do believe the PIAA is committed to having them,” commented Janocko, “Dr. Lombardi has been fantastic through this whole thing and he’s been an advocate for the kids.”

It is apparent from all the other scrimmages that occurred this weekend that everyone is really excited to be playing football.  The issue with allowing parents and some fans is drawing attention and appears to be close to having some closure soon.  It’s full steam ahead for high school football in Pennsylvania!

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews