LEHIGH VALLEY FLASHBACK
Jolonn Dunbar and Easton grad Steve Aponavicius, left, celebrate after Aponavicius’ game-winning field goal gave Boston College a 25-24 victory over Navy in the 2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina. AP 2006: Easton grad Steve Aponavicius makes his collegiate debut and kicks two field goals, including a 36-yarder, and two extra points in Boston College’s 22-3 win over Virginia Tech on ESPN. Aponavicius, a sophomore walk-on who played soccer but not football in high school and was invited to walk on at BC after being spotted kicking on campus, became the Golden Eagles’ starter when their kicker was suspended for his involvement in an off-campus bar fight. He is later named the ACC’s rookie of the week.
2006: Whitehall grad and New England center Dan Koppen announces he has agreed to an five-year contract extension with the Patriots that is worth nearly $20 million, including a $7.5 million signing bonus. Koppen has started for two Super Bowl-champion teams since the 27-year-old was picked on the fifth round of the 2003 draft out of Boston College.
1996: George Fosdick throws for 236 yards and four touchdowns to help Muhlenberg snap a 21-game winless streak with a 40-27 win over Swarthmore.
1996: Pleasant Valley graduate John Blick becomes the first true freshman to start on Penn State’s offensive line in a 31-14 win over Purdue.
1991: Mark Onushko breaks Tom Slover’s Tamaqua records for receptions in a game (8) and a career (63) in the Blue Raiders’ 42-8 win over Blue Mountain. QB Geoff Kruczek goes 15-for-18 for 295 yards and three touchdowns, including 11 of 12 for 243 yards and two scores in the first half.
1984: Fleetwood’s 120-game boys soccer winning streak in the Berks County Conference comes to an end when Oley stops the Tigers, 3-2.
1964: Dick Bleam is named Allen’s acting swim coach, replacing Dave Hacket, who had coached the Canaries to 24 District 11 titles and a 215-37-1 record in the first 34 years of the swim program. Bleam coaches for 28 years until he is forced to give up his post by state legislation when he retires as a teacher in 1982, leading the Canary boys to a 237-88 dual-meet record, four East Penn Conference titles, five District 11 crowns and the 1983 PIAA title. He also begins the school’s girls swimming program in the early 1970s, leading the team to a 164-81 dual-meet mark, two EPC titles and five District 11 championships.
In 2006, Whitehall grad and New England center Dan Koppen announces he has agreed to an five-year contract extension with the Patriots that is worth nearly $20 million, including a $7.5-million signing bonus.