Let the stars shine
Coaches, players hoping to avoid postponement due to weather
As one team left and another arrived at Nazareth’s Andy Leh Stadium on Tuesday night for the final practices before Thursday night’s McDonald’s Lehigh Valley All-Star Classic, it was difficult to see to the west because the sun was so bright.
It was also almost impossible to find a cloud in the sky.
The players, coaches and everyone involved with the 49th annual game hope Tuesday night’s weather returns Thursday night to allow the area’s top graduating players to perform one last time on the local stage in optimum conditions.
Rain is in the forecast and game officials will be monitoring the radar. A final decision on whether to postpone, if needed, will be made no later than 1 p.m.
Football players are used to playing in the rain, and the relatively new artificial turf at Leh Stadium would provide sure footing. A thunderstorm, however, is more problematic.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed that the showers go away early and we will play,” Red team coach Matt Walters said. “If someone comes over to me to talk about weather, I just walk away and say it’s going to be sunny and 70.
“We really want to play Thursday because there’s so much going on this weekend. Several schools have graduation on Friday, and I will be taking my team [East Stroudsburg South] to Penn State on Saturday.”
Phillipsburg’s Frank Duffy, who is the head coach of the Gold team, agreed with Walters that no one wants a postponement.
“They’re going to do everything in their power to get the game in because there are a lot of scheduling conflicts afterward,” Duffy said. “Both teams would be affected by graduations on Friday night.
“We’re preparing to play Thursday night, even in the rain if need be. You can play football in the rain. That’s one of the great things about our game.”
Both Walters and Duffy have been pleased with the attitude and effort of the players participating.
There have been no complaints from players, who are giving up time at a busy period in their lives to play in a
game that raises money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
“Our best practice was our last practice [Tuesday night],” Walters said. “They have jelled so well and that’s the result of their effort and commitment.
“It’s important they understand the rules of the game — you can’t blitz, you can’t stunt. They have adjusted to that and also know our offensive terminology. They’ve put so many things aside to be here and [they] have done a great job.”
Duffy said it has been enjoyable experience for him and he wants it to be a positive experience for the players, who are representing their high schools one last time.
“If I was asked, I would definitely do this again,” he said. “As I’ve said before, any time my school [Phillipsburg] can stay involved with the Lehigh Valley, we jump to the opportunity.”
The players are looking forward to putting on a good show.
“We’re going to come ready to play,” said East Stroudsburg South’s Eli Johnson. “The rules are very basic. They keep us from doing a lot of extra things, [but] you put the helmets on, pad up and play some football.”