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Mark your calendars! The Touchdown Club is bringing some sunshine to help end the winter blahs and usher in spring — a dance! The dance will be held April 12 at the Penn Forest Fire Co., Route 903. $15 per person, $25 per couple. Beer and soda included with the ticket price and tickets will be sold at the door.

Click here for the story on the Morning Call’s Web site and here for the TIMES-NEWS article.

Congratulations Josh!

 
Touchdown Club President Pearl Sheckler, Coach Rosenberger and Club Vice President Lori Cinicola

Speech by Touchdown Club President Pearl Sheckler:

Coach,

- 10 years. You hit a milestone.
- For all your time, we can never re-pay.
- For all the things you have missed with your family, we can never repay.
- For the life lessons you have taught every player who went through this program, we can never repay.
- For taking the challenge to make an 18-kid team and turn it into the program it is today.
   - Yes, I said 18 kids and to boot we were playing our games at the Palmerton High School!
- To this day, those 18 kids remember the new coach, how tough he was, but today they are successful in life as most of your players are.
- In bringing the PRIDE back and teaching our kids not only to be good football players, but teaching them life lessons they will always remember.
- For expecting the best and accepting nothing but that. No excuses.

Coach Rosenberger was honored by the Touchdown Club, players, school board members, trainers, coaches, teachers, parents and friends with a Ten Year clock.

Thank you Coach Rosenberger!

This year’s first offensive MVP had many fans at the edge of their seats when the ball was in the air. Anticipation, waiting for the next great diving catch and along touchdown reception. His work ethic in the off-season weightroom and at speed camp has made him into one of the best receivers if not the best receiver to ever come out of Jim Thorpe.

Unfortunately, the school records are not updated but I would like to believe that 60 catches in one season is probably a school record. In addition, he had 1,006 yards receiving on the season and 11 touchdowns.

One of this year’s MVPs - Josh Hontz.

This year’s other co-MVP is a young man who has been entertaining fans with his legs for four years - three as a starter and one as a complimentary back. This young man has show extreme dedication to personal perfection as he spent seven years in Speed Camp and countless more hours in the weightroom.

His strength and his speed were his two greatest attributes. This young man finished this year with 1,275 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. A lot was made about another RB in our league from Schuylkill Haven but if I had my choice I would take Redline any day - after all he can run on a muddy field!

This year’s co-offensive MVP is Phil Redline.

The first defensive MVP is a young man who will be winning this award for astonishing third straight year. On the field, he was the man who called the defense and set up the defensive front. He was essentially the quarterback of our defense.

His dedication to lifting and speed camp made him a weapon on defense. His bruising hits often wore down teams running backs. And his knack of being around the football made him an outstanding linebacker.

This young man led the team with 90 tackles, 10 for a loss. He also recorded 3 forced fumbles, 2 quarterback hurries, one sack and one recovered fumble.

This year’s co-defensive MVP is Kyle Porembo.

This year’s other co-MVP is a young man who defines a football player. Strong, physical, smart, tough and the ability to block out pain. This was evident at Lansdale when he led the team in defensive points as well as playing offense when he should have probably been with the trainer on the sidelines.

His dedication on and off the field made him into a three-year defensive starter. His intelligence allowed him to help Kyle organize the defense and call out opponents’ tendencies.

This young man finished the season with 85 tackles, seven for a loss, two forced fumbles, one recovered fumble and one quarterback hurry.

This year’s co-defensive MVP is Scott McGonigal.

This year’s man in the trenches helped lead our offense and defense over the past three seasons. He was a player who was consistent and durable during his time in Jim Thorpe. He started in every game over the last three years.

This year he blossomed into a dominant two-way lineman. This young man was always making line calls and he, along with Billy (Rieck), were the brains of the operation. And his football intelligence grew in leaps and bounds this year.

This year’s MVP had 45 tackles, 6 sacks, 7 QB hurries, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. And is also our best offensive lineman.

This year’s Lineman of the Year is Lance Malatak.

The Anthracite Football League believes that sportsmanship is of the utmost importance in helping young adults become successful leaders of the future. Sportsmanship is showing teammates, opponents and officials respect.

This year’s recipient of the Sportsmanship Award is a young man who has been a role model on and off the field. His patience, coachability and respect for mankind is why he is receiving this award today. This young man will be greatly missed next year for more than just his athletic abilities.

This year’s Olympians Sportsman is Matt Taylor.

The criteria for the Edward “Fuzzy” Fahey Memorial Award is to be awarded to a sophomore who has shown dedication, leadership, hard work ethics and the strong desire to improve.

This athlete showed his desire for all of the traits mentioned earlier during the off-season as well as during the season.

This year’s recipient bursted onto the scene in the first quarter of the Tamaqua game and continued to flourish throughout the season. This young man is on pace to shatter every passing record in school history. This year he had an area-leading 1,957 yards passing and 24 touchdowns. He was named to many all-star selections including 3rd Team All State by the Pennsylvania Football News.

This year’s recipient of the Ed Fuzzy Fahey award goes to Corey Cinicola.

This year’s Special Teams MVP came out for football for the first time this year. He was actually a two-sport fall athlete as he also was a member of the Olympian soccer team. His desire to become a kicker started last spring when he first mentioned the possibility to me. I was immediately excited because of the success last year we had with Alex Landon as a full-time kicker.

It was very common to watch this young man kick 100-200 balls during summer workouts. This year he was 35-39 for extra points and one field goal. He also had several crucial touchbacks.

This year’s special teams MVP goes to Nathan Schmidt.

The Phil Heraty Award goes to a player who shows extreme dedication to his sport, is a team player, plays through adversity and overcomes injury. This year’s recipient is a senior who has worked very hard over the last several years. His dedication to the football program has been exceptional. This young man was on every special team during the course of the game. His team first attitude was constantly displayed when he played three positions in our defensive backfield as well as tight-end at a tiny 145 pounds.

Most of his opponents were bigger than this young man in all parts of the body except one — THAT BEING HIS HEART!

That is why this young man was successful - he has the HEART of a CHAMPION.

Jake the Snake Zurn come on up!