Hoping to shine bright under the Thursday night lights

Annual game set for Nazareth’s Andy Leh Stadium

Kristen Pittman, the president of the Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic, said that as kickoff approaches for the game each year people get stressed out about the weather.

“I tell them to just calm down,” she said. “I have a meteorologist I work with and he tells me what’s going to happen and what’s going on. He gives me the windows. By 4 o’clock I make the final decision, and knock on wood, I’ve made the final decision correctly every single year. I’ve already looked at the forecast and I’m not stressed this year by either rain or the heat.”

Instead, the 52nd annual game, set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Thursday at Nazareth’s Andy Leh Stadium, will feature great weather. It’s the kind of weather high school players open their fall seasons with in late August.

But while the weather may be reminiscent of an opening night, the game will mark the end of the high school careers for many of the players and it will be the end of organized football overall for those not planning to play in college.

So for some it’s a steppingstone to the next level and for others it’s the end of a journey that began perhaps when they were in elementary school.

“That’s why we hope the game is a great experience for them,” Pittman said. “And for many, this game is something they’ll always remember. Friendships are formed here that can last a lifetime. I know players who met in this game who have been in each other’s wedding. Bonds are formed.”

Bangor coach Paul Reduzzi, who has coached in the game several times and is the head coach of the Northampton County/Palisades/Phillipsburg Gold team team in this one, said he has been impressed with the kids on his roster.

[JUMP]“I had some phone calls from kids who had work and stuff and couldn’t make practice, but they let me know,” Reduzzi said. “You know something we deal with all the time with this game and with our own programs is kids losing a sense of tradition. I tried to teach it at Pen Argyl, and I’ve tried to do it at Bangor and it’s not easy. It’s hard to keep games like this going, but the committee does a great job and I really believe that this is a good showcase for the kids and individual programs. You’re going to see all of the head coaches here who want to see their kids play for one last time.”

Pittman said that the committee continues to adapt, evolve and adjust with the changing times and the game has had an increased social media presence this year. It has been used to communicate with the players and also to spotlight them more.

In recent years, the game has competed with baseball or softball teams playing in state finals at Penn State, which might have splintered media attention and fan support.

However, Parkland’s boys volleyball team is the only 2022-23 scholastic squad still competing and the Trojans don’t compete for the PIAA 3A gold until 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Penn State against District 7 champ Shaler.

Speaking of Parkland, the Trojans, the District 11 6A champions last November, have two players involved in the game — Nakhi Bullock and Gryffin Mitstifer. Former Trojans star Kenny Yeboah, who went on to considerable collegiate success at Temple and Ole Miss and is now with the Jets in the NFL, will be the game’s honorary captain.

Alexie Sangster and John Roeder represent another 6A powerhouse and last year’s district runner-up Freedom.

“It’s going to be entertaining for the people coming to watch us,” said Sangster, who is headed to California of Pennsylvania. “We’re all learning from different coaches and playing with different kids we’ve never played with before. It’s going to be great.” #0, Alexie Sangster, DB, Freedom

#1, JuJu Fears, WR, Easton

#2, Izzy Ramos-Dobbins, LB, Becahi

#3, Siddiq Small, DB, Liberty

#4, Kai Stiansen, DB, Palisades

#5, Christopher Weston, RB, Wilson

#6, Galen Limantour, WR, Palisades

#7, Isaiah Jackson, DB, Phillipsburg

#8, Connor Hille, LB, Phillipsburg

#9, Terry Rahmel, RB, Becahi

#10, Eric Striba, QB, Bangor

#11, Javon Fruchey, DL, Easton

#12, Chris Bugbee, P/K, Nazareth

#14, Nolan Lobb, WR, Nazareth

#16, Gian Greggo, LB, Pen Argyl

#18, Anderson Louis Jeune, WR, Wilson #20, Will Aviles, WR, Becahi

#21, Travis Riefenstahl, DB, Saucon Valley #22, Dylan Miller, LB, Bangor

#24, Troy Miller, DB, Becahi

#27, Kris Kessler, RB, Pen Argyl

#28, Liam Slack, LB, Phillipsburg

#34, Travis Pfizenmayer, LB, Saucon Valley

#35, Steven Lilly, RB, Palisades

#37, Anthony Pez, DB, Notre Dame-GP #40, John Roeder, LB, Freedom

#50, Mason Ludlow, DL, Notre Dame-GP #53, Anthony Embardino, OL, Easton #54, Sean Wilson, OL, Easton

#55, Ken Steckel, OL, Wilson

#56, James Mitsch, DL, Palisades

#59, Jai Griffin, DL, Liberty

#61, Nicco Spezza, OL, Becahi

#69, Sheadon Carr, OL, Palisades

#72, Qian Walters, OL, Phillipsburg

#73, Christian Bundra, DL, Northampton