Pottsville defenders, from left, Brody Herndon (4), Logan Kessler (54), Alan Kushwarra (22) and Cole Cesari (76) get ready for a play during Friday's game against Shamokin (Photo by Jocelyn Barrett / Danie Mae Photography).

It was an odd place and time for him to bring it up.

But as his Hurricanes celebrated on the field behind him, Schuylkill Haven head coach Mike Farr took to his soap box to express his thoughts on an issue that is a hot topic among high school football coaches in Pennsylvania.

Should the PIAA go back to having two preseason scrimmages?

Farr thinks so.

“This is the epitome of not having two scrims,” he said following Haven’s 34-27 win over Blue Mountain. “Both teams, as much as you think you’re prepared, you make those little, tiny mistakes. Those little mistakes that you don’t get to clean up and then practice them again the next scrim.

“It’s a shame that we have people in authoritative positions that can’t see it.”

To be honest, the Hurricanes’ win over the Eagles was one of the cleaner Week 1 games I’ve seen in recent years as far as little mistakes go. But Farr quickly cited his team’s three dropped snaps and two delay-of-game penalties, one of which was followed by a blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown.

All total there were seven combined penalties for 45 yards, four of which were 5-yard infractions and another was a kickoff out-of-bounds.

There’s more to this issue, however, when you look at the bigger picture.

The PIAA shortened the football preseason about a decade ago, creating what it called “Week 0.” For the record I’ve never called it that. Your first game is Week 1.

Anyway, the PIAA schedule now calls for a week of “heat acclimatization” practices where teams practice twice a day during certain hours, but only in helmets and shoulder pads with no full contact. It’s designed to make sure players are in good enough shape to play in the heat. This year, that was from Aug. 4-8.

That gives teams two weeks before their first game. The first week is two-a-day, full-pad practices, followed by a scrimmage Saturday. The second week is game week, basically four practices then the season-opening game Friday or Saturday.

In the past, teams had two weeks of two-a-day, contact-filled training camp practices, with a scrimmage after each one. Then a game week with four practices and a game Friday/Saturday.

The PIAA is a little bit more lenient than in the past in terms of summer workouts, 7-on-7s, attending camps, etc., and coaches can spend more time with their teams in the offseason than years ago. But having that extra week of contact, that extra week of game simulation, makes a big difference physically, area coaches say.

As they say, you only get in football shape by playing football. One scrimmage isn’t enough.

“I feel not having two scrimmages first and foremost is a bit of a safety concern,” Pottsville’s Mike Brennan said. “Even though we have more time with our players during the summer, the pre-season feels rushed to me. With no contact permitted during the heat acclimatization week, there is limited time to get your players ready for the physical component of football.

“Heat acc week feels more like an extension of summer workouts to me. During the contact week I find myself in scheme preparation mode for not only your scrimmage opponent, but for your Week 1 game, especially if you are familiar with them and their system.”

Another level why adding a second preseason scrimmage would be beneficial is the reduction of games at the sub-varsity, freshman and JV levels. Several area schools are unable to field a JV team this season, forcing those that have JV teams to scramble and find opponents.

Jim Thorpe, for example, doesn’t have enough players to field a JV team this season. Brennan said Pottsville filled the Jim Thorpe slot with Catasauqua, but then the Rough Riders canceled when they were unable to field a JV team. So, for now, Pottsville won’t have a JV game this weekend/early next week.

The lack of sub-varsity games prevents coaches from evaluating players and limits younger players’ experience with contact in game situations, both of which would be enhanced by an extra scrimmage. The lack of sub-varsity games and true “freshmen teams” also cause younger players to quit football at some point due to playing time, but that’s another topic for another day.

“I believe when you’re an inexperienced team or when you are looking to find replacements, shuffle personnel and make decisions, the single scrimmage format affects you more,” Brennan said. “One scrimmage may not be a big enough sample size to evaluate or make adjustments to your lineup.

“I’ve often had a false sense of security about perhaps a young guy who may need a JV game or two and more practice reps to be ready for the responsibility we put on him. Certainly another scrimmage is an opportunity for those young men to grow and gain confidence.”

The former president of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association, Farr is now the East executive manager, with all head coaches from districts 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 reporting through him.

He said the PSFCA has a Preseason Committee, which falls under his watch, that has put together a proposed schedule of what the preseason should look like for football teams, starting in the middle of July with heat acclimatization week and gradually working into more contact practices with pads.

The proposed schedule concludes with the choice of another scrimmage or a controlled game situation practice with another team. There has been dialogue with the PIAA over the issue, but nothing has been finalized.

Getting the players acclimated to hitting is the concern. It’s hard for teams with small rosters to get their starters accustomed to full contact and live game reps entering the season when in practice there’s not enough quality players to field a scout team that provides opposition.

“Kids, for the most part, are acclimated to the climate,” Farr said. “But they’re not acclimated to contact. We’re trying to add more controlled contact sooner. We need to focus on more contact, more controlled contact for the kids. That’s the safety aspect part of it.

“Our guys are in the best shape of their lives, but you can’t simulate game speed against our second group. At least an additional workout with another team, two scrimmages, one more game-like format, that gets them acclimated to game speed and  contact. That’s where the issues occur.”

Officials would benefit too

Another component of adding a second scrimmage is that it would give PIAA football officials more reps to perfect their craft.

As a baseball umpire, I can honestly tell you that the more pitches I see as a home plate umpire, the better I get at calling balls and strikes. And the first game or two of the season are the worst, until I get into a rhythm.

It’s the same with football … actually, any sport for that matter. The more you see a particular play, penalty or infraction, the easier it is to call it.

Like most sports, football is hurting for PIAA officials. And there are several new ones that have been thrust into varsity games without much experience. Another scrimmage gives them another opportunity to work with their crew, know where to be on certain plays, what to look for, etc.

Odd Stat of the Week

While covering Friday’s Schuylkill Haven at Blue Mountain game, it felt to me like the Eagles have lost a lot of home games since the school district installed artificial turf at the Eagles Nest.

I was right.

Since Blue Mountain hosted Northwestern Lehigh in the first varsity football game on the Eagles’ Nest turf Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, the Eagles are just 4-8 at home, including District 11 Class 4A playoff losses to Bethlehem Catholic and Lehighton.

Blue Mountain has wins over Saucon Valley, Bangor (twice) and Southern Lehigh (’24), and losses to Northwestern Lehigh (twice), Southern Lehigh (’23), North Schuylkill, Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven and the two playoff losses.

Meanwhile, Blue Mountain is 10-0 on the road over the past two seasons.

Now before you go crying for Blue Mountain to rip up its turf, there are some things to consider.

First, the teams the Eagles lost to at home were/are really good.

Second, of Blue Mountain’s 10 road wins over the past two years, seven were on artificial turf — North Schuylkill, Lehighton (twice), Schuylkill Haven (twice), Jim Thorpe and Palisades. The only three wins on grass were at Pottsville, Wilson and Tamaqua.

So it’s not a strictly grass vs. turf thing for the Eagles.

Do those numbers really mean anything? Probably not.

Just odd statistics worth sharing.

Odd Stat of Week, No. 2

North Schuylkill’s biggest loss to graduation from last season was kicker/punter Gavin Mentzer, who is now kicking at IUP. When asked in the preseason who the Spartans were going to use in extra point and field goal situations, head coach Wally Hall said, “That’s going to be a surprise. We’re going to keep that a little bit secret.”

The secret was out Friday night at Mount Carmel.

Nobody.

The Spartans reached the end zone nine times against the Red Tornadoes and tried a two-point conversion each time. North Schuylkill was successful a whopping eight times out of nine, an amazing 89 percent. And it wasn’t the same play every time.

I’m sure North Schuylkill has someone who will kick extra points as the season progresses. But to go 8-for-9 on two-point conversions? Wow.

BTW, the 62 points North Schuylkill scored Friday is believed to be the most points ever scored by a Mount Carmel opponent at the Silver Bowl. That’s impressive.

Tamaqua Hall of Fame

The Tamaqua Athletic Hall of Fame will hold its 29th annual induction ceremony prior to the Sept. 5 home game against Pottsville. Ceremony will begin around 6:40 p.m.

This year’s Hall of Fame class includes the 1980 4×100-meter track and field relay team (Joe Lakitsky, Mark McCarroll, Ted Keich, Steve Comisac), Emma Kuczynski and three members of the Blue Raiders’ 2019 football team that reached the PIAA Class 3A state semifinals: Brayden Knoblauch, Nate Boyle, Bronson Strouse.

Congratulations to this year’s inductees.

Week 1 Honor Roll

North Schuylkill’s Luke Miller is this week’s Fanelli, Evans & Patel Athlete of the Week after rushing for 234 yards and scoring four touchdowns in the Spartans’ 62-20 rout of Mount Carmel. The Spartans rushed for a whopping 354 yards and scored the game’s final 36 points.

Miller was also the inaugural Fanelli, Evans & Patel Athlete of the Week exactly one year ago. You can see Luke’s interview with Matt Freiler here:

Here’s a look at some other standouts from Week 1:

Rory Dixon, Marian — Dixon rushed 25 times for 226 yards and four touchdowns in win over Hanover Area. He also had a receiving touchdown, interception and tipped a pass that resulted in another interception.

Colton Reber, Schuylkill Haven — Junior running back rushed 13 times for 205 yards and two touchdowns, then caught game-winning, 27-yard TD pass with 11.8 seconds left. He also recovered a key fumble in the end zone.

Brady Shomper, Williams Valley — Senior QB rushed for two scores and threw for two more in Vikings’ rout of Upper Dauphin. You add the Vikings’ defense to this list, as they held Upper Dauphin to 79 total yards in the shutout effort.

Dante Carr, Minersville — Central Florida commit opened season in grand style, running for two touchdowns and throwing for two more in 35-13 win over Halifax. He also hurdled a Halifax player en route to one of his touchdowns:

JuJu Bainbridge, Pottsville — Senior running back ran 21 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns against Shamokin, a game the Tide was in for most of the contest.

Parker Hatter, Tri-Valley — Sophomore tailback rushed 13 times for 98 yards and three scores in Dawgs’ 50-14 win over York Catholic. You can get more insight on the Dawgs as they visited with Eli Doyle and myself for this week’s 4th and Short Podcast at Bullpen Fitness in Hegins. That podcast should be loaded later today.

Cole Lazorick, Jim Thorpe — Senior dual-threat QB was just that in 28-14 win over Palmerton, completing 15-of-20 passes for 239 yards and two TDs while running 18 times for 60 yards and another score. Josh Louk also had a big game for the Olympians, catching eight passes for 66 yards while running 11 times for 30 yards and a TD.

Colt Mason, Nativity — Coach’s son thrived in his first varsity start at quarterback, rushing for 98 yards and two touchdowns and returning an interception 27 yards for another score in the Green Wave’s 36-0 rout of Holy Redeemer.

Schuylkill-Colonial Standings

Week 2’s schedule kicks off Thursday night when Lehighton visits Bangor and Northwestern Lehigh faces Northern Lehigh. Here’s a look at the Schuylkill-Colonial standings heading into tonight’s games: