(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports locally and nationally, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next day’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from June 8, 1989).

By Dave Walters

TIMES NEWS Staff

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - Touchdowns by Erik Pecha of Panther Valley and Greg Izzo of Marian led the North to an exciting 21-20 victory last night in the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association All-Star Classic at North Schuylkill High School.

Athletes, who did not have much love for each other during the recent season, became friends and teammates after one week of preparation.

The first visual sign of mutual respect by the North squad was the use of team emblems on the player’s helmets. The helmets were collages of emblems from Panther Valley, Tamaqua, Marian, St. Clair, North Schuylkill, Mahanoy Area and Cardinal Brennan.

After the 48 minutes of football was over the respect among the northern teammates continued and new friendships were formed.

Panther Valley head coach Tom Bonner, who prepared the squad for the contest, said, “I think there were a lot of friendships made here that I hope will last. A lot of the kids are going to college together.”

Bonner was pleased by the play of the players on the north squad and was particularly happy to have his PV quarterback running the offense.

“It’s nice to have your quarterback in a game like this,” Bonner said of Pecha, who scored the game’s first touchdown with a 19-yard run to the left side. “He pitched a baseball game the other day and now comes in and throws a football. I think he did a heck of a job.”

Marian’s Izzo, who carried the ball three times for 36 yards, scored the game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter with a quick-stepping 25-yard move up the middle.

“He’s a jitterbugger,” Bonner said of Izzo’s ability to slip through the line. “When that hole opened up in the line, that was six.”

Pecha, who commanded the North offense and completed 3 of 10 passes for 49 yards, said the game was fun but tough.

“It was fun, but the other team started getting cheap toward the end. Maybe because they were losing. The tempers were high.

“We all had fun. We all got to know each other. I never thought I’d talk to this kid, John,” Pecha said pointing to North Schuylkill’s John Bozena, who carried the ball seven times for 50 yards and kicked three extra points.

Bozena quickly responded, “That’s Bozena to you.”

Bonner was proud to be a part of a team with such a high level of talent.

“To work with athletes like these is an honor,” the coach said. “No one in Schuylkill County or anywhere is blessed with this kind of talent. “All the kids were a pleasure to coach. Every school could be proud of their representatives. We had a great week at practice.”

PV’s Cory Sheridan carried the ball eight times for 31 hard-earned yards.

On the defensive side, Marian’s Bob Rafferty played an aggressive game with seven tackles and one fumble recovery. Mike Lazusky and Andy Tacelosky played strong games on the offensive line.

Tamaqua’s defensive players put out a fine performance. Joe Bieniek had three tackles, Ted Sidoriak had four and Clayton Sherry had three including a sack that pushed the South back for a 15-yard loss. He also recovered a fumble.

Panther Valley’s Dave Lorchak had six tackles on the night. Bill Maynard had one kickoff return of six yards and one tackle, and All-State player Tom Miller had one reception from Pecha for 14 yards. He also had an eight-yard kickoff return. Sheridan and Izzo each had tackles on special teams.

The South squad came within one point of tying the game with 34 left in the contest as Schuylkill Haven’s Ron Becker blasted through the middle on a fourth and inches play.

A two-point conversion was nullified when Schuylkill Haven’s Jeff Bromwell caught the pass but was called out of the back of the end zone.

A visual sign of disrespect between the North and South teams was evident late in the fourth quarter when two bench clearing brawls had to be cleared and two players from the South were ejected.

“It really took the edge off of it,” Bonner said of the fight at the end of the game. “I’m not blaming one side or the other.”

“There was some good hitting,” Bonner said of the playing and not the fighting. “Without a doubt, the intensity was there. It was just a shame that it had to end like that.”

Scoring the North’s second touchdown was Mike Houseknecht of St. Clair, who picked off a pass from South quarterback Ron Becker. Houseknecht dashed 37 yards for the score.

Houseknecht was misfortunate during a defensive play before halftime where he injured his hip and was taken out of the game on a stretcher by personnel from Ashland Ambulance.