George School reverses course and will play football in 2023 season

Tagged under: Coaches Corner, News, Non-PIAA, pfn

Pat Weider | February 7, 2023

             The George School is a private Quaker boarding school in Newtown, Pennsylvania. For 99 years they had played football as a school, but at the end of the 2022 season, they decided to call it quits and no longer play. Obviously, the response from players, coaches, and other people part of the program was devastation. On January 2, I wrote an article explaining the player’s point of view on the program shutting down. Then on January 26, the George School posted on social media from Sam Houser, the head of the school, about the football program having a season in 2023. Here is part of what he wrote: “We will continue with 11-man football next year, with a modified schedule of fewer games”. He continued “and safely match our program’s depth and strength”. So the George school will continue as a football program going forward. 

                   When reached for comment Joseph Lifsted a Junior football player at the George school, had this to say: “I was very pleased with the school’s decision now that I’ll be able to have a senior season”. Frank Marchese another football had this to say “When I first heard the news I was excited for the team and the school to have its program back. However, after reading the entire Email I realized it wasn’t going to be a normal season”. Marchese also had this to say about his post secondary options “I know for the kids who aren’t playing football to go to college they are thrilled and happy to get back to playing the sport that they love. But for me and Joe Lifsted and Braydon Bonfig students who are interested in playing football we aren’t as happy because of the shortened season”. So Frank Marchese goal is to play College Football, so he does not feel like a shorten season will help him achieve that goal. Furthermore he has made the decision to leave the George School because of that decision. This is what he had to say “Although the program is coming back and the school is going to have a football team again I won’t be staying. My goal is to play D1 college football and having a shortened season with easier completion is not going to help me”. 

                  Up next for the George school is to hire a head coach and to try to salvage an off season football program. Initially canceling then restarting a football program is never easy for anyone associated with a high school football program, but lets hope that the George school is able to have a successful 100th season of football. The players, the alumni, and anyone else who supported the program deserves that. 

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