The Big 33 All-Star Classic is set to kick off Saturday, June 14th. Just days before Pennsylvania's finest take the field against some of the better athetes the Buckeye State has to offer, here are some preview snippets for each coach:
The Coaches
Jim Morgans, Parkland HS (Head Coach) - Morgans is the only Lehigh Valley coach to reach PIAA championship games with two different schools. Morgans won PIAA gold in 1993 and 1998 with Allentown Central Catholic, then coached Bethlehem Freedom for a time, and now leads the Parkland Trojans, who reached their second PIAA finals since 2002.
Art Walker Jr., North Allegheny HS - Walker is one of the brightest young coaches in the WPIAL. Only 38 years old, Walker has won 2 WPIAL titles as a head coach and one as an offensive coordinator in 1997. He owns a career record of 86-32, and won the 2004 "AAAA" championship while at Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
Phil Riccio, Altoona Area HS - Riccio guided the Mountain Lions to District championships in 2001 and 2002, both years in which Altoona reached the PIAA semi-finals against WPIAL juggernaut Woodland Hills. Riccio finished the 2007 regular season with a 7-3 record, and drew Wilson-West Lawn in the opening round of the District 3/6 playoffs.
Sam Leedy, Gettysburg Area HS - Leedy guided the Warriors to the 2007 District 3 "AAA" championship game, where Gettysburg fell to Lampeter-Strasburg. Gettysburg has been a perennial playoff contender in the District 3 "AAA" playoff field, earning a #1-seed in the 2004 8-team tournament.
Rick Pennypacker, Pottsgrove HS - Pennypacker helped guide the District 1 team to the district's "AAA" championship game against Garnet Valley, and has Pottsgrove among the D1 teams to watch for the next couple of years.
Mike Milano, Downingtown West HS - Milano is the head man of a team known for its prolific passing offense. Milano's Whippets finished 2007 with a 10-win season, falling in the District 1 "AAAA" playoffs to West Chester Henderson in the semi-finals.
The Big 33 All-Star Classic is set to kick off Saturday, June 14th. Just days before Pennsylvania's finest take the field against some of the better athetes the Buckeye State has to offer, here are some preview snippets for each player:
The Players
AJ Alexander, Altoona Area HS - Ran for 1,011 yards and had 267 return yards. He also lined up at quarterback on some occasions. He helped the Mountain Lions to a 7-3 regular season record in 2007.
Jonathan Baldwin, Aliquippa HS - This 6'6, 233-pound beast of a man will continue playing his football at Pitt, and the Big-33 game marks the second high-profile high school all-star game Baldwin has played in. The Quips' star receiver caught a 46-yard touchdown pass in the US Army All-American game in San Antonio back in January.
Vaughan Carraway, Muhlenberg HS - He was one of the best vertical threats in Berks County, totalling up 818 yards receving on 49 receptions to go along with 13 touchdowns. He added 204 rushing yards scored 19 total touchdowns for the Muhls.
RJ Dill, Camp Hill Trinity HS - Dill, a 285-pound monster on the line, helped pave the way for a 12-0 start to Trinity's 2007 season. The Shamrocks finished as District 3 "AA" runners-up last season.
Nate Eachus, Hazleton Area HS - He's the best running back out of District 2 since Berwick's Brant Quick, perhaps better. Eachus ran for 2,196 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. 842 of those yards came in the Cougars' 2/4/11 "AAAA" playoff run against Easton, Liberty, and Parkland.
Austin Fedell, North Allegheny HS - He paved the way for the Tigers' ground attack, spear-headed by a physical running back named Carl DiCiantis. Fedell's blocking helped NA amass an average of 247 rushing yards per game, en route to a second straight WPIAL semi-final berth.
Robbie Gumbita, Mount Pleasant Area HS - The two-time defending "AAA" Keystone Conference champions got many big contributions from this hulking 6'5, 300-pound lineman.
Jarred Holley, Easton Area HS - He was one of the most sought-after cornerbacks in the Keystone State. Everybody tried to avoid throwing the ball his way, but yet the Rovers' defensive back totaled 46 tackles and 2 INTs.
John Jackson, Central Bucks South HS - He was seldom used as a receiving threat in the Titans' running-oriented offense, but he did register 80 receiving yards and 1 touchdown. Jackson paved the way for a ground attack which chewed up over 306 yards per game.
Chris Johnson, Roman Catholic HS - Johnson was the field general for the purple and gold offense which scored 385 points and was crowned as the PCL Red Division champions. Johnson threw for 1,380 yards and 18 scores a season ago.
Mike Jones, Bishop McDevitt HS - Jones was lightning quick, and could be used in a variety of ways, whether receiving, returning kicks, or taking handoffs out of the backfield. The slippery Crusader back gained 1,390 rushing yards, 337 receiving yards, and scored 23 touchdowns for the Crusaders, a tradtional Mid-Penn power.
John Laub, Parkland HS - He set a school single-season record for passing yards, over 2,200 of them, in helping the Trojans reach its second PIAA finals since 2002.
Philip Long, Souderton HS - Souderton has been known for staunch defenses. In 11 games last season, the Indians held 9 of 11 opponents to 14 points or less. Long chipped in on the defensive effort with 42 tackles and 3 sacks, and boasts an imposing 6'1, 297-pound frame.
Pete Massaro, Marple-Newtown HS - This 6'1, 240-pound Division-1 lineman will continue his football career at Penn State.
Lucas Nix, Thomas Jefferson HS - Nix was a driving force behind Thomas Jefferson's battering ground attack. Benefitting from the coaching of a former Division-1 offensive lineman in head coach Bill Cherpak, Nix helped block for two 1,000 yard rushers and lead TJ to its second PIAA championship in Class "AAA."
Josh Potts, Harrisburg HS - He helped Harrisburg win its first-ever District 3 championship in dominating fashion over Governor Mifflin, and will continue his football career in Philadelphia at Villanova.
Antwuan Reed, Greater Johnstown HS - Reed was hands down one of the most electrifying running backs in the scope of District 6 big schools in his time for GJ. Reed ran for over 1,900 yards and scored 23 touchdowns in 2007, and has run for more than 3,300 yards in his briliant career.
Eric Reynolds, Central Bucks South HS - Reynolds was a one-man wrecking crew for the Titans, who finished 11-1 in 2007. Reynolds ran for 2,832 yards, good enough for second-best in the state behind Jeremiah Young's 3,344. Reynolds scored 38 touchdowns and averaged over 236 yards per game.
Adrian Robinson, Harrisburg HS - Robinson was one of the Cougars' team leaders on defense, helping the silver and black win its first District 3 championship and reach its first-ever PIAA semi-finals against Pittsburgh Central Catholic. Robinson will continue to play football at Temple.
Cameron Saddler, Gateway HS - Saddler was a dynamic playmaker for the Gators, who reached its 10th WPIAL finals and second in the last 4 years. #5 totaled 2,310 all-purpose yards despite missing a couple of games with a hamstring injury and scored 28 touchdowns.
Mike Shanahan, Norwin HS - The Knights' talented 6'4 wide receiver led the team in both receptions and receiving yards. He helped Norwin turn in one of its best regular seasons in school history and earn a berth in the WPIAL playoffs.
David Soldner, Manheim Township HS - He's easily the best place-kicker in Blue Streaks history, and is one of the top graduating kickers in all of District 3. Soldner connected on 38-of-40 extra points, but, more impressively, connected on 22 field goals. Soldner scored 104 points on the season.
Matt Stankiewitch, Blue Mountain HS - This 295-pound lineman played for a tough, hard-nosed coal region football team, and his style of play fit the Eagles' philosophy very, very well. This star lineman will continue playing at Penn State.
Tino Sunseri, Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS - Sunseri played for a Vikings' team that was double-loaded -- not only could the Vikings beat you with a workman-like ground game, but a vicious passing attack. Sunseri threw for 1,962 yards and 23 touchdowns in helping a Viking offense score a school-record 612 points last season.
Andrew Taglienetti, Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS - Taglienetti finished as one of 2 Central backs with over 1,000 rushing yards. He was also a threat as a defensive back and a receiver out of the backfield. Taglienetti scored 17 touchdowns for the PIAA champions.
Wayne Tribue, Central York HS - Tribue was one of the biggest, and best, linemen in York County. The 290-pound lineman is the only York County representative on this year's Big-33 roster.
Dan Vaughan, Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS - Vaughan was a fullback and defensive end for Central Catholic, running for 759 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns. Vaughan was one of 3 Viking running backs to score 10 or more touchdowns -- Andrew Taglienetti and sophomore Jeff Knox were the others.
Brandon Ware, Harrisburg HS - Ware was hard to miss along the Harrisburg line this season. Standing in at 6'5 and 340 pounds, just lining up opposite this Cougar would seem intimidating. He was a driving force in the blocking for a Cougar offense featuring weapons like running back Cameron Artis-Payne.
Corey Watts, North Allegheny HS - Watts doubled as a fullback and a linebacker for the WPIAL semi-finalist Tigers. He ran for 166 yards while also providing blocking for Carl DiCiantis. From his linebacker position, Watts racked up 59 tackles, and was one of the Tigers' key defensive leaders.
Brandon Weaver, Washington Trinity HS - Weaver played for a Hiller squad that garnered a lot of pre-season hype and some attention in a couple statewide polls. The Hillers qualified for the WPIAL "AAA" playoffs, reaching the second round before being eliminated.
Mark Wedderburn, Cardinal O'Hara HS - This 6'7 tight end hauled in 26 passes for 386 yards in the Lions' Wing-T offense a season ago. It's questionable whether Wedderburn's receiving stats would have been greater had star quarterback Tom Savage not missed half the season with an injury.
Quentin Williams, Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS - Williams is the fourth Viking selected to the Big-33 team, and he's very deserving. Williams hauled in 23 passes for 443 yards and 6 touchdowns last year.
Christian Wilson, Montour HS - Wilson was one of 11 Keystone State running backs to crack the 2,000-yard rushing mark last season. Wilsom ran for 2,021 yards and scored 25 touchdowns for the WPIAL runners-up. Wilson was also a stud linebacker for the Spartans.
Mike Yancich, Washington Trinity HS - Yancich was one of the best linebackers in the WPIAL last season, regardless of the classification. He racked up over 200 career tackles and is a Penn State commitment.
Jeannette High School, as it has so often done this 2007-2008 scholastic sports season, made more history with its 76-72 overtime victory against District 12 champion Strawberry Mansion this past Saturday at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center.
The Jayhawks (25-4) claimed victories in both football and basketball state championships in the same academic year, joining only 2 other PIAA programs that have accomplished such a feat.
The General McLane Lancers, of Edinboro in southeastern Erie County, won state gold in the PIAA "AAA" football and "AAA" basketball titles a year ago, defeating Pottsville 28-23 in football and Greencastle-Antrim 57-55 in basketball.
The other, the Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers, from the Harrisburg area, claimed PIAA "A" football gold with a 34-15 drubbing of Serra Catholic in December and a 65-52 victory over "AAA" rival Susquehanna Township Friday evening.
Jeannette, McLane, and Steel-High, though, are not the only PIAA-affiliated teams to reach both football and basketball state championships in the same academic year. Below is a list of the programs that have accomplished the feat, with results from both football and basketball championships:
1988-'89 Aliquippa Quips:
Football: lost to Berwick Area 13-0
Basketball: def. Allentown Central Catholic 78-75
1989-'90 Perry Commodores:
Football: def. Berwick 20-8
Basketball: lost to York Catholic 63-52
1993-'94 Duquesne Dukes:
Football: def. South Williamsport 24-21
Basketball: lost to Scotland School 45-43
2000-'01 Aliquippa Quips:
Football: lost to Mount Carmel Area 26-6
Basketball: lost to Camp Hill Trinity 79-65
2006-'07 General McLane Lancers:
Football: def. Pottsville 28-23
Basketball: def. Greencastle-Antrim 57-55
2007-'08 Serra Catholic Eagles:
Football: lost to Steelton-Highspire 34-15
Basketball: def. Friere Charter 67-66
2007-'08 Steelton-Highspire Steamrollers:
Football: def. Serra Catholic 34-15
Basketball: def. Susquehanna Township 65-52
2007-'08 Jeannette Jayhawks:
Football: def. Dunmore 49-21
Basketball: def. Strawberry Mansion 76-72 (OT)
Even before Clement Johnson arrived at Valley Forge Military College, he was used to the big stage.
As a member of the Carlisle Thundering Herd, Johnson played on the 2004 team that reached the District 3 "AAAA" championship game at Hersheypark Stadium against powerhouse Bishop McDevitt.
Consider that appearance at Hershey Stadium just a bit of foreshadowing. Thanks to his athleticism and big play ability, Johnson signed a binding letter of intent to play football in the Atlantic Coastal Conference at North Carolina State last Wednesday.
Johnson, who aspires to reach the NFL, will play defensive back during his days at the Raleigh, NC school, a slightly different perspective than what he was used to during his time at VFMC.
"I liked NC State because I really felt comfortable with the coaching staff and the players," Johnson said in a phone interview Monday evening. "I liked how serious they took the academics, and the coaches were really serious about players making it to classes.
"The depth chart was also favorable. I could go there and have an immediate impact."
Johnson should be used to having the phrase "immediate impact" attached to his name. In his freshman campaign at Valley Forge, he led the team to the Sealand Conference championship while running a spread attack.
The off-season brought a coaching change, and a rather drastic switch from a spread attack to the triple option, an attack VFMC coach Don DiCarlo described as a "full blown wishbone offense."
The complex, running-oriented attack calls for precise reads and flawless execution. Johnson's days at Carlisle gave him a distinct advantage.
"He ran the Veer in high school," DiCarlo said. "His ability to make reads, his speed, his athleticism (in running the offense) really helped. Teams couldn't contain the option."
Teams couldn't contain the option or the man running it. Johnson ripped the opposition to the tune of over 1,400 yards rushing and over 750 yards passing. In the process, he helped engineer a second consecutive Sealand Conference title and was named a First Team All-Conference selection at quarterback.
DiCarlo was asked to grade his field general. "An 'A' without question," the VF boss said. "He's a great option QB. And, he can chuck it, too."
Since Johnson was the only quarterback at Valley Forge that could effectively run the option attack, DiCarlo was hesitant to put his star in on defense, fearing injury.
"He begged me all season to let him play DB," DiCarlo said. "But because he was our quarterback, I didn't want him to get hurt."
There wasn't much of a need to put Johnson in the defensive backfield, but that all changed when VF played Princeton.
"Princeton had this one receiver that our guys had a tough time covering," Johnson said. "Coach put me in there. I played press coverage on him, and he couldn't get off the line."
Not only was Johnson a proficient D-back, but he also returned kicks and punts, and even ran a couple back for touchdowns.
"He's the total package," DiCarlo said. "No question about it.
"He's a great option QB. He's better at DB. You can play him anywhere because he's good both ways."
ALTOONA - When Joey Orlando straps on his helmet and laces up his cleats at Altoona's Mansion Park Stadium on Saturday evening in the East-West All-Star Game, his father, and former NFL defensive back Bo Orlando, will be watching.
The elder Orlando played in the Big 33 game after his senior year at Berwick, and now his son gets to experience an all-star game of his own.
"I'm glad Joey's getting to experience some of the things I did when I was in high school," Bo said in a phone interview Tuesday evening.
"The way I look at it is, 'Hey, this is your congratulations present for a successful high school football career.'"
Joey Orlando's career was pretty successful. His Bethlehem Liberty Hurricanes won a District 11 championship reached the 2006 PIAA "AAAA" state title game in his junior season, a year in which he finished with 655 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
2007 was also a solid year for #5 - he totaled 473 receiving yards and scored 8 touchdowns, leading the Hurricanes in both categories and helped Liberty reach its third straight District 2/4/11 "AAAA" semifinals.
"Joey had a great year," his father said. "He was our (team) MVP. I love his work ethic. I was harder on him than any of the other players, and he worked his tail off."
Now, he's teaming up with some of the best receivers in the state.
"It's an honor -- just to be with all these athletes, it's a real honor," Orlando said.
Orlando will be part of an East team which also features Roman Catholic's Al Desiderio, Bishop McDevitt's Julian Harrell, and Wilson-West Lawn's Chris Hartzell.
Combined, the quartet hauled in 148 passes for 2,372 yards and 30 touchdowns a season ago.
"We've been coming together as a team this week," Orlando said.
And when the talented receviing corps has two strong-armed quarterbacks in Downingtown West's Nolan Kearney and West Scranton's Matt McGloin, it makes for a pretty scary offense.
Kearney has thrown for just over 5,000 career yards, and McGloin finished 2007 with a 12-2 record and a berth in the "AAA" quarterfinals against Garnet Valley.
"(Nolan) he's got a really strong arm," Orlando said. "And (McGloin) has a strong arm too - he played baseball as well."
Truth is, Orlando could have played either receiver or defensive back. He played both positions in high school, and racked up 8 career interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.
"Coach Gallagher (Souderton's Ed Gallagher) had 4 DBs at the beginning, and then (Tyrell) Harris from Bishop McDevitt got called in, so they're OK at DB," Orlando said.
"I'd play either position," Orlando continued, "but I do like catching the ball."
And come Saturday, both father and son will be experiencing Mansion Park Stadium for the first time.
"Joey tells me it's a nice little stadium out there with a ton of tradition," Bo said. "I just told him to be careful and have fun out there.
"That's what it's all about."
ALTOONA, Pa. - Sometimes a football game provides the ultimate dichotomy in power and precision versus speed and an aerial assault.
Those in attendance at last year's East-West All-Star Game in Altoona saw that very match up, and the power attack won.
Last year's West team, led by head coach John Franco (Tyrone Area) and a powerful offensive line, churned out 192 rushing yards, rarely heard of in a high school football all-star classic, especially in an age of spread offenses and shotgun formations.
But the West, which won 24-14, did exactly that, running the ball, passing when needed to meet game requirements, and controlling the clock with a backfield of Matt Wimbush (Hollidaysburg Area), Maurice Williams (Strong Vincent), Vondre Griffin (Woodland Hills), and Scott Lewis (Bishop McDevitt).
This year, the West is shaping up to have a similar-looking team. And the head coach is Gateway's Terry Smith, who coached his Gators to an 11-2 WPIAL runner-up season while averaging 231 rushing yards per game.
Leading Smith's potential backfield toters are a pair of stud District 10 running backs. Chris Burns (Wilmington Area) and Akeem Satterfield (Erie Cathedral Prep) are the 2 listed running backs on the West roster.
Most stat services say Burns ran for 1,901 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. He did, but only through the Greyhound's first 13 games. Burns added 243 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns against Bishop McCort in the PIAA "AA" quarterfinals and 91 yards and 2 scores against Jeannette in a PIAA "AA" semifinal a week after.
All told, Burns ran for 2,235 yards and 34 touchdowns a season ago.
Akeem Satterfield easily led the Ramblers, a 3-time PIAA finalist, in rushing with 1,816 yards and 27 touchdowns. In 12 games, Satterfield averaged over 151 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns per contest. He helped Erie Prep reach its third straight PIAA "AAAA" quarterfinals, where the orange and white fell to Central Catholic, 44-6.
But Burns and Satterfield aren't the only two potential ground threats.
Serra Catholic's Isaiah Jackson, listed as a linebacker, ran for 1,662 yards and over 20 touchdowns last season. He might see some touches as a running back.
Smith's own Leon Green, a transfer to Gateway from West Mifflin, is a potential rushing threat, having totaled 478 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground.
A pair of Upper St. Clair Panthers also could see some carries Saturday. Adam Chrissis and Grant Serdy combined to rush for 811 yards and score 8 touchdowns on the ground in 2007.
Rounding out the potential ground threats is McKeesport Area's Marvase Byrd, a speedster who would be the perfect home-run threat late in the game. Last season, Byrd averaged over 10 yards per carry, rushing for 971 yards and 12 touchdowns. He ran for 1,022 yards in his junior season for the Tigers.
Byrd is listed as a defensive back on the West roster.
Will the crowd at Saturday's East-West Game see a power running-oriented attack like they did a season ago?
Let's say this much: the potential does exist.
ALTOONA, Pa. - The East-West All-Star game saw some electricity late in the first half with the West team trying to kill the clock.
Then, electricity cut the game short.
After two lightning delays, officials called the 8th annual PSFCA East-West game with 7:18 left in the 3rd quarter. The West, which led 10-0, won by that final margin.
"It's unfortunate that the game had to get called, but the people in charge had to make a decision," said West head coach Terry Smith (Gateway). "You gotta look out for the safety of the kids first."
But some of the East players, anxious to get back out on the field, didn't see things that way when they found out a series of thunderstorm complexes moving through the Altoona area cut their final high school game short.
In the end, though, the same mistakes that plagued the East in last year's 24-14 loss haunted them in this latest edition.
After getting the ball back, down 10-0 with :49 left in the first half, the East drove to the West 46 yard line. On 3rd-and-5, with :05 left in the half, Matt McGloin's (West Scranton) pass to Nihja White (Conestoga) came up 10 yards short of the end zone.
The East then got the ball to start the second half, and embarked on an 11-play, 69-yard, 4:42 drive, but Justin Myer's (Manheim Central) short field goal attempt sailed wide right.
"I thought things were headed in our direction," East head coach Ed Gallagher (Souderton Area) said. "There were some adjustments we made at halftime.
"But," he continued, "we just didn't finish some things."
The West, on this night, did finish.
The gold-clad visiting team took its opening drive the length of the field, highlighted by the rugged running of Chris Burns (Wilmington Area) and two spectacular catches by James Jett (Carrick).
That drive was capped by a Drew Hareza (South Fayette) 27-yard field goal.
The punters, and the referees, then became the focal point of the game, as the two squads exchanged field position and the refs threw enough flags to remake the famous "Yellow Brick Road."
Then, after the East punted, pinning the West at its own 21 yard line with 1:21 left in the opening half, Smith's team dealt the deciding blow.
On a 2nd-and-15, Marvase Byrd (McKeesport Area) darted 84 yards, untouched, for a 9-0 West lead.
"We knew if he hit the right gap, he could bust it, and that's what he did," Smith said.
"He (Terry Smith) said just hit the hole and do what you gotta do," Byrd said. "Coach told me I could have run for 500 yards tonight if it hadn't been called."
The West ran for 150 of its 200 total offensive yards on the night, paced by Byrd's 97 yards on 3 carries, over 32 yards per carry. Burns chipped in with 43 yards on 9 attempts, and Kyle Simmons (Plum) added 15 yards on 3 carries.
The East was paced by the two quarterbacks - McGloin (6-of-12, 78 yards) and Downingtown West's Nolan Kearney (7-of-13, 75 yards). All told, the East racked up 200 yards of offense.
Joey Orlando (Bethlehem Liberty) caught 5 passes for 73 yards, and White added 3 receptions for 42 yards.
Smith said he didn't envision this being the way the game would play out.
"But you take wins however they come," the Gateway boss said.
Sit back for a moment and try to imagine a typical Friday night in Pennsylvania. It doesn't have to be any specific location.
Fans are buying tickets, filing into stadiums, and finding their seats in aluminum bleachers. They are cheering their team to victory -- or booing the refs for a bad call.
Every touchdown scored, except for those in the third quarter, draws the strains of the school's fight song or victory march.
Now, imagine having none of that on a Friday night for the past 50 years. Does it seem kind of hard to imagine? If you answered yes, there's one school district in Pennsylvania that had to live without football for 50 years.
But, on August 29, the fans of the Northeastern York High School, in Manchester, York County, will finally see a football game played at its campus.
Northeastern had been the largest PIAA-affiliated program to never have a football program. When the Bobcats take the field against East Juniata, that dubious title will be removed.
"We're expecting upwards of 5,000 people at that (East Juniata) game," said Joseph Griffith, the man responsible for bringing football to Manchester.
By day, Griffith is a walking mail carrier for the United States Postal Service.
When he removes the blue uniform, it's all orange and black for the former 20-year member of the Army.
"The story of bringing football to Northeastern could someday be made into a movie," Griffith said.
He isn't lying, either. It's a story that might seem too good to be true, like one of those fishing stories, except this one is very, very real.
"Back in September 2003, the Northeastern Football Association went to the school board and requested that football be brought into the district," Griffith said.
The members of the association were given a tough assignment: reach a $250,000 threshold, and do it exclusively from private funding.
The school board said the football association would have to bankroll the first three seasons of Bobcat football, and then they would support it after that.
Why all private funding? The Northeastern School District is one of the highest tax bases in all of York County. Raising a quarter-million dollars from an increase in taxes would have been a big mistake to folks sore over already-high taxes.
Griffith had gotten elected to the school board in November of 2004, and he asked the superintendent at the time about what was going on with the efforts to bring football to NE.
When he went to a meeting in March of 2005, nearly a year and a half after the school board gave their decision, the association had only raised $5,000 and seemed to hit a brick wall.
"At that time, I volunteered as their campaign manager," Griffith said. "And I told them I would raise half the funds needed in one year."
Envelopes for donations and pledges went all over the mail curcuit, even to Happy Valley. That envelope was addressed to Joe Paterno.
But things didn't look good. It had been three months since Griffith sent out the forms and he hadn't heard a response.
Then, one day, he got a phone call from Happy Valley. It was Joe Paterno.
"He said he couldn't donate money because of a potential NCAA violation," Griffith said, "but he did express his support and said it would only be a matter of time before things came around."
Three days later, a local business pledged $5,000 per year for three years. And from there, the wheels began turning. Donations poured in left and right, and by Thanksgiving of 2005, Griffith had raised $100,000 in cash and pledges.
"At Christmas, one individual gave $50,000," he said.
Feeling on Cloud 9, Griffith and the football association went back to the school board meeting in February of 2006 with $151,000 in cash and pledges, plus a $70,000 line of credit provided by a local Sovereign Bank.
By a 5-4 vote, the board approved that football be brought to the school, but made the stipulation that the remaining $29,000 had to be raised within the next 27 days, or football would have to wait another year.
With just five days left in February, Griffith was still short of the goal by a few thousand dollars. When word got out that time was growing thin, donors responded once again.
All told, in those final 27 days, Griffith raised $53,000 in cash and pledges.
He officially hit the $250,000 cash mark Tuesday, July 2.
Football at Northeastern would become a reality after all.
"The community has really come around," Griffith said. "There were a lot of nay-sayers at the beginning because they didn't think it could be done.
"Now, they're saying, 'Hey, we can't complain one bit because it didn't cost us a penny.'"
And Northeastern has already had some pretty big football accomplishments, even if it hasn't played a varsity game yet.
For Northeastern's first freshman football game, 3,000 people packed the Bobcat's 1,100-seat stadium.
The Bobcats' jayvee team spanked Harrisburg, a "AAAA" school, 26-6, and defeated York Suburban in Leader Heights a year after suffering a 36-6 pasting at home.
"People have asked me why I did this," Griffith said.
"I told them it was the right thing to do."