Popular demand
Much like the rest of the world, District 4’s high school football all-star game couldn’t avoid being derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the virus wiping out the exhibition and South Williamsport Lion’s Club no longer sponsoring the event, coaches still wanted to make it happen after a two-year hiatus, especially since it means giving some of the area’s best football players one last high school game.
“Right after the season, we [the District 4 Coaches Association] met and agreed we wanted it back,” Canton coach Tyler Sechrist, who will coach this year’s North team said. “Collectively, everybody wanted to give the seniors the all-star game back.”
Despite some of the odds working against them early, it came together rather quickly.
Its return will be played June 24 at Danville at 7 p.m.
Dennis on board
Only one local coach, Scott Dennis, formerly of Central Columbia will be on the sidelines for either squad. He’ll be helping the South team after forming a bond with coach Phil Davis.
“I think nothing but highly of coach Dennis. In 2019, our last [all-star] game, I was fortunate to meet him,” Milton coach Davis said. “... We’ve built a great friendship and bond and was given the opportunity to coach and he was one of my first calls.”
Rotating venues
As a unit, the coaches had their work cut out for them. They had to find new sponsorship money after the Lion’s Club ended its support.
They found two willing to lend a hand — one for each team. Geisinger is sponsoring the South team while UPMC will sponsor the North team.
“That’s kind of cool to have one sponsorship on each side,” Sechrist said.
Then there’s the change of scenery. The game had long been played at South Williamsport High School but has shifted to Danville this year.
Sechrist says it is a mere coincidence that the game was moved to the same location as Geisinger’s headquarters this year after getting its sponsorship. But the game isn’t going to be a mainstay like it was in South Williamsport.
Instead, Sechrist said the plan is to rotate, going in a South-North pattern every year. The coaches hope to get fans and players out to more stadiums that they maybe wouldn’t see in the regular season.
‘Happy it’s back’
Regardless, everyone is pleased the game is back on the calendar.
“The actual game itself is a culmination of work coaches in District 4 have put in to make the game a reality for the kids,” Davis said. “We wanted them to give them a chance to compete against some friends and some kids they competed against for four years before they all go off and do their own things in life.
“Nobody has had nothing but nice things to say about the game, and we’re just so happy it’s back.”
Combine back, too
The District 4 combine is also returning this year and is also on the move, taking place at Liberty Arena in Williamsport instead of Loyalsock High School.
“This ensures weather won’t be a factor with college coaches there,” Sechrist said. “It also allows us to have the most accurate information when posting results online.”
That will be held May 31.
Not just a few
All told, both Sechrist and Davis said a majority of the coaches pulled their weight to make it all possible. They may be strolling the sidelines this summer, but were quick to give credit to their peers who worked just as tirelessly.
“Vast majority of coaches had some role in getting this back with sponsors, creating different committees, scholarships and even the jerseys,” Davis said. “There has been a lot of work put into this — work that people wouldn’t necessarily see if they just showed up to the game that is so crucial to making this even possible.”
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