Minersville's Dante Carr steps up in the pocket during Thursday night's clash at Schuylkill Haven. At right, Dom Yourey (50) blocks Schuylkill Haven's Wyatt Keefer (75) (Photo by Kelly Wiley).

If you’re surfing through the television channels Saturday afternoon watching college football, check out the 3:30 p.m. game on FOX between UCF and North Carolina.

Pay particular attention when the cameras pan the sidelines. You just might recognize somebody you know.

Minersville quarterback Dante Carr is traveling to Orlando, Florida, this weekend for the Knights’ clash against the Bill Belichick-coached Tar Heels.

UCF, which is 2-0 after beating Jacksonville State 17-10 and demolishing North Carolina A&T 68-7, is favored by 7.5 points against the Tar Heels (2-1). North Carolina scored wins over Charlotte and Richmond after getting blown out by TCU in its opener.

“I’m super excited,” Carr said after Thursday night’s game against Schuylkill Haven. “I get to watch a great football game. UNC, coached by Bill Belichick, then obviously my home UCF. I’m just super excited to get down there this weekend.”

Carr committed to UCF in June. You can see his announcement interview here:

The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder has lived up to the Division I label so far, leading the area in passing entering Week 5 with 596 yards and 12 touchdowns while also rushing for 435 yards and six more scores. He added to those numbers with another top performance in Thursday’s 48-38 loss to Schuylkill Haven, completing 16-of-23 passes for 215 yards and two TDs while running for 143 yards and two more scores.

It’s customary for college programs to have their top recruits and commits attend key games during the season to get to know each other a little better and to make that final push to land undecided recruits. UCF picked this nationally televised contest for Carr to attend.

The Miners’ schedule worked perfectly with UCF’s plan as Minersville played Thursday night this week. Carr will depart Friday afternoon for Florida with his parents, Matt and Katie Carr, sister Karlie and cousin Bryce Ellinger and get the chance to see two practices along with Saturday’s game.

The Knights, who compete in the Big 12, could find themselves in the Top 25 with a win over North Carolina.

“They set it up with me,” Carr said of Saturday’s game. “I asked them what game they wanted me at and they said that one. They said they wanted their top recruits there, their commits there and I said ‘Let’s do it.’ It’s a huge game.

“Hopefully I’ll get to see a little bit of practice, walk-through Friday, then Sunday I’ll get to see a walk-through and fly home Monday.”

Showing their character

Schuylkill Haven coach Mike Farr was originally a little worried how his Hurricanes would react after a serious injury to senior fullback/linebacker Niko Carestia.

The Hurricanes players were emotional and upset after Carestia suffered a broken leg in last Friday’s win over Mahanoy Area, an injury that sidelined a four-year starter and Haven’s leader on defense.

The veteran coach came away impressed with the maturity level of his club.

“The initial reaction … They couldn’t believe it, just the way it happened,” Farr said.

“I was going to call a team meeting Saturday night, just to check in, maybe do something virtual. Then I thought, ‘No, I’m bringing them in Sunday night.’

“The guys right away, they all came together. They all know how talented the other (running backs) are. You lose one of the best small-school players in the state and it’s like … wow. OK, what are we going to do?”

The Hurricanes responded both on the field and off it to produce a 48-38 victory over the Miners on Thursday night. Colton Reber (31-353, 4 TDs) and Niko Castillo (13-132, 2 TDs) led a rushing attack that gained 494 yards.

Carestia took in Thursday’s win over Minersville from a yellow cart parked beyond the north end zone, near the band concession stand. You can see him raise his arms in celebration in one of videos posted in the game story on this website.

Carestia had surgery over the weekend to repair his leg, and Farr hopes to have him back for the District 11 Class AA playoffs that begin Oct. 31. For right now, the Hurricanes will take it one game at a time and look to extend their season long enough for Carestia to return.

“I thought they handled it very well, very mature,” Farr said. “They’re very hopeful. They know it’s not over for him. They’re playing for him right now, to make sure they keep playing as deep as they can so he can get back out here.”

D-11’s top QB sidelined

Carestia wasn’t the only District 11 senior standout to suffer a serious injury last Friday night.

Nazareth quarterback Peyton Falzone, an Auburn commit, suffered a fractured clavicle in his left shoulder during the Eagles’ 56-21 win over Freedom. He will miss this Friday’s unbeaten showdown with Parkland and is possibly out for the rest of the season.

Through four games, Falzone has completed 66-of-98 passes for 1,168 yards and 11 touchdowns. He threw for 327 yards against Freedom despite playing most of the first half with the injury. For his career, Falzone has thrown for 5,832 yards and 53 TDs.

Highlight Reel

Nativity graduate Noah Dolbin is a member of the Army Prep School football team, playing wide receiver.

The Prep School team recently faced off against the Army JV team in a scrimmage. Check out this one-handed catch for a touchdown by Dolbin, wearing No. 81.

Local Ties

A couple of youngsters with local ties have excelled on the big stage in recent weeks.

The Toronto Blue Jays called up their top pitching prospect, Trey Yesavage, this week to start Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 22-year-old right-hander is the son of Dave Yesavage, a 1986 graduate of Pottsville High School.

Yesavage’s debut was a great one, as gave up three hits, one run, struck out nine and walked two in five innings, throwing 49 of his 69 pitches for strikes. He got a no-decision after the Jays won the game 2-1 in 11 innings.

Yesavage grew up in Boyertown and pitched for East Carolina University before being selected 20th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. His dad was caught by TV cameras crying during his son’s debut.

Switching to college football, Dylan Lonergan is the starting quarterback for Boston College, which is 1-2 entering Saturday’s game against unbeaten California.

The 6-foot-2, 211-pound sophomore is in his first season at Boston College after two seasons at Alabama. He followed Bill O’Brien, the former Penn State head coach who was the offensive coordinator at Alabama before taking over as the head coach at Boston College this season.

Lonergan, a Top 100 recruit in 2023, hails from Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia, where he excelled in football and baseball. He’s the son of former Nativity star Dan Lonergan, who played at Penn State as a backup quarterback for the Nittany Lions and was a member of the 1982 national championship team.

So far this season, the younger Lonergan has completed 90-of-123 passes for 991 yards and nine TDs. He was 34-for-45 for 390 yards and four TDs in a 42-40 loss to Michigan State in double overtime and threw for 333 yards in a 30-20 loss to Stanford. He earned Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week honors last week.

Officials Needed

Upset with calls you see being made by the officials at local high school football games this season? Think you can do better?

The PIAA is challenging you to try.

The PIAA is in dire need of officials in every sport, especially football. It’s a reason games like the Minersville-Haven tilt are being held on Thursdays, so there are enough officials to cover all the games.

Panther Valley athletic director Kristin Black conducts testing for officials in all sports and will be giving exams to anyone interested in becoming a PIAA official, or current officials who want to become certified in multiple sports. To contact her, email blackk@panthervalley.org.

If you have any interest at all in becoming a PIAA official, in any sport, give it a try. For more information, visit www.piaa.org/officials.