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All 14 Schuylkill County football teams returned to the field on Monday for the start of heat acclimation and set the tone for the season ahead.
“We just want to work hard every day and our goal is always a district championship and to make a deep run to the state playoffs,” Williams Valley running back Fletcher Thompson said. “For a lot of our team, the whole culture we bring is playing for a state championship.”
The Schuylkill League also welcomes two first-year head coaches to the scene as Frank Gaffney takes the reins at Williams Valley and Joe Tomtishen takes over at North Schuylkill.
Here are some soundbites from around the league as teams gear up for the season.
Blue Mountain senior WR Chase Guers on team chemistry:
“Coach has been talking about ‘we over me,’ and as the season goes down to the end we have to play as a team. Last year we stuck together and this season we want to stick together throughout the entire season.”
Pottsville senior WR/DB Shay Strencosky on rebounding from a 3-8 season:
“We just want to win as many games as we can as a team and have fun. I definitely feel like we’re a tighter knit family than we’ve been before and we do a lot in the offseason together to get ready for the season. It’s a second family to all of us.”
Schuylkill Haven RB Colton Reber on returning from a season in which he led the offense with 38 touchdowns and 2,875 rushing yards:
“I’d like to rush for over 3,000 yards, break some scoring records and go undefeated as a team again. We want to win a district championship this year and make it to states and we’re working every week to be the best team we can be.”
Minersville’s Derek Derenzo on succeeding Dante Carr at quarterback:
“It’s big shoes to fill and I’ve learned all offseason that I don’t need to be anybody except for myself. We have a new offense installed now, we’re a really close team and we all have each other’s backs and nobody will expect us to compete.”
Tri-Valley’s Donovan Keeth on getting more carries:
“I’ve always been overlooked at fullback and now is my chance to get the ball more and I’ve built my body up to this point. Our whole goal is to bring it and be a team others don’t want to go up against.”
Marian Catholic’s Gregory Tirpak on leading a new, pass-heavy offense:
“We’re going to be a more pass heavy team this year so I expect a lot more out of myself. The toughness and competitiveness is what I enjoy most about this league. It could always be the biggest dogfight of the season no matter the record.”
The weeks ahead
Guers — and everyone else in the Schuylkill League — is focused on having the best season possible, and that starts with the hard work in camp.
“Everyone’s on the same playing field right now and I’m trying to put it in the past that I’m the big man on campus,” Guers said. “It’s go 1-0 every day at practice so I’ve been trying not to look into the future and worry about the day in front of me.”
Padded practices will begin on Aug. 17 and the Schuylkill League will hold its “Scrimmage Saturday” on Aug. 22.
The 2026 football season will kick off on Friday, Aug. 28
Continue reading...
“We just want to work hard every day and our goal is always a district championship and to make a deep run to the state playoffs,” Williams Valley running back Fletcher Thompson said. “For a lot of our team, the whole culture we bring is playing for a state championship.”
The Schuylkill League also welcomes two first-year head coaches to the scene as Frank Gaffney takes the reins at Williams Valley and Joe Tomtishen takes over at North Schuylkill.
Here are some soundbites from around the league as teams gear up for the season.
Blue Mountain senior WR Chase Guers on team chemistry:
“Coach has been talking about ‘we over me,’ and as the season goes down to the end we have to play as a team. Last year we stuck together and this season we want to stick together throughout the entire season.”
Pottsville senior WR/DB Shay Strencosky on rebounding from a 3-8 season:
“We just want to win as many games as we can as a team and have fun. I definitely feel like we’re a tighter knit family than we’ve been before and we do a lot in the offseason together to get ready for the season. It’s a second family to all of us.”
Schuylkill Haven RB Colton Reber on returning from a season in which he led the offense with 38 touchdowns and 2,875 rushing yards:
“I’d like to rush for over 3,000 yards, break some scoring records and go undefeated as a team again. We want to win a district championship this year and make it to states and we’re working every week to be the best team we can be.”
Minersville’s Derek Derenzo on succeeding Dante Carr at quarterback:
“It’s big shoes to fill and I’ve learned all offseason that I don’t need to be anybody except for myself. We have a new offense installed now, we’re a really close team and we all have each other’s backs and nobody will expect us to compete.”
Tri-Valley’s Donovan Keeth on getting more carries:
“I’ve always been overlooked at fullback and now is my chance to get the ball more and I’ve built my body up to this point. Our whole goal is to bring it and be a team others don’t want to go up against.”
Marian Catholic’s Gregory Tirpak on leading a new, pass-heavy offense:
“We’re going to be a more pass heavy team this year so I expect a lot more out of myself. The toughness and competitiveness is what I enjoy most about this league. It could always be the biggest dogfight of the season no matter the record.”
The weeks ahead
Guers — and everyone else in the Schuylkill League — is focused on having the best season possible, and that starts with the hard work in camp.
“Everyone’s on the same playing field right now and I’m trying to put it in the past that I’m the big man on campus,” Guers said. “It’s go 1-0 every day at practice so I’ve been trying not to look into the future and worry about the day in front of me.”
Padded practices will begin on Aug. 17 and the Schuylkill League will hold its “Scrimmage Saturday” on Aug. 22.
The 2026 football season will kick off on Friday, Aug. 28
Continue reading...
