In football lingo, a two-way player is defined as someone who plays both offense and defense.

That’s not what it means for Lehighton’s starting right tackle Michael Yeakel.

At the end of the first half of the game, Yeakel lays down his football helmet and picks up his trombone.

He plays in the marching band during their halftime performance.

“You can’t miss him when you watch our halftime show,” said band director Bryan Buffington. “He’s the band member who’s wearing a football uniform.”

Yeakel’s ability to play football and play in the band is a “time sharing” agreement he has with Indians gridiron coach Tom McCarroll, Buffington said. That agreement begins in the early summer.

“We begin our practices in July before football practice starts up,” said Buffington, “but then the time comes when Michael has football two-a-day practices, and in between, he does performance drills with us.”

The 6-0, 230-pound sophomore starts at right tackle for McCarroll.

“He’s definitely earned to be a first-teamer, and it’s great that he plays in the band at halftime,” said McCarroll. “The high school experience is about taking advantage of opportunities and striving for balance. Michael is certainly an example of doing two things at once, and he’s doing them both very well.”

Yeakel, with encouragement from his mother, was going to play football and play in the band as a freshman, but that never happened.

“I broke my wrist last summer during football two-a-days,” said Yeakel. “I was pretty bummed out, but I was still glad to be on the sideline for our 12-1 season.”

Yeakel has been playing the trombone since fifth grade and football since middle school. Juggling both now under the Friday night lights has its challenges.

“Once the half is over, I have one or two minutes to get a drink of water before I march with the band. Our routine is always the same, so I know my steps through memory.”

Yeakel admits playing football is never routine, as he must learn different blocking schemes based upon the upcoming opponent.

“He’s an amazing kid because he shoulders both responsibilities,” said McCarroll. “After a brief rest, he can refocus on the band, and then we coach him up for the second half. He grasps it all.”

“Michael is an athlete and he’s a musician all in one night,” said Buffington. “He never complains about being exhausted, but we only ask him to perform three of our four songs and then go get ready to play more football.”

Yeakel explained that his band mates think he’s “pretty cool” that he does both events.

“Sometimes my football teammates make fun of me, but I just say to them that none of you are smart enough to do what I do,” he remarked with a laugh.

Buffington appreciates the vision McCarroll has for the overall high school experience, unlike some coaches who might demand that Yeakel commit himself only to football.

“We left the decision totally up to Michael, and we are delighted he said yes to both,” said Buffington.

McCarroll, who played three sports in high school, strongly disagrees with the specialization that many coaches demand of their athletes.

“Times have changed, and not for the better,” McCarroll said. “Michael is a unique example that when in high school, you should do as much as you can for as long as you can.”

Yeakel doesn’t believe he is doing anything special, but his football coach and his band director feel otherwise.

“I know his mom is thrilled, and so are we,” said Buffington. “Michael is an asset to both of our programs.”

“What Michael doesn’t have to realize at his young age is that he’s preparing himself for the real world by utilizing his multiple talents,” added McCarroll.

Michael Yeakel, the football player, and Michael Yeakel, the trombone player, “blows his own horn” under Friday night lights, and that’s a special bonus for anyone who enjoys watching this young man’s versatile talents.

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OLIVIA AND THE INDIANS ... Lehighton is the top team in the District 11 Class 1A field hockey rankings. The Indians are off to a 5-2-1 start under rookie coach Vanessa Rimbey. Last Thursday, Lehighton blanked Bloomsburg in the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Game of the Week. The Indians’ Olivia Frendt had a strong performance in the victory and was selected the TN/LVHN Player of the Game.

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IT’S GOOD TO BE PV .... The Panther Valley and Pleasant Valley volleyball teams are both off to tremendous starts to the season. The Panthers are 6-0, and the top-ranked Class 2A team in District 11, while the Bears are 5-0 and the top District 11 team in the Class 4A subregional. Panther Valley, which has dropped just one set the entire season, has been getting outstanding balance as Erika Dubosky, Jenna Dubosky, Rachelle Filer, Olivia Dacey, Emily Kwaak and Sarah Zabroski have all made major contributuions. Meanwhile, Pleasant Valley has received outstanding performances from Desi Powell, Cameron Caffrey and Ari Weaver .

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HROMYAK THE HERO ... Tamaqua beat Palmerton 3-2 on Saturday in a non-league girls soccer match. The Raiders won on a Rebekah Hromyak goal in the second overtime.

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BIG BEARS ... Pleasant Valley’s boys soccer team is off to a 6-1 start and had scored at least six goals in a game three times this season. Two of those high-scoring victories happened in the past week as Zion Moore scored four goals in a 6-0 win over Nazareth on Saturday, and Mirza Sabovic had a hat trick in a 7-3 victory over Dieruff on Monday.

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BULLDOGS, MILLS HOT ... After dropping its first two games of the season, the Northern Lehigh field hockey team has now won six straight. The most recent win during the streak came on Monday, when standout Jada Mills scored three times in a 5-0 victory over Catasauqua.

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NO 1 .... Three area soccer team are currently ranked at the top of their District 11 class. In boys soccer, Tamaqua is first in Class 2A and perennial power Northwestern is first in 3A. Despite weather playing havoc with their schedule, the Raiders are in first place with a 2-0 record, and have posted shutouts over Blue Mountain and Northern Lehigh. Meanwhile, Northwestern has won five straight games to compile a 6-1 record, having shut out their last four opponents. Northwestern is also flexing its muscles in girls soccer, as the Tigers are 7-1 and currently sit atop the Class 2A rankings.