Contender and Pretenders

With each passing football season, teams must find out who their new leaders and playmakers will be for the ones that just graduated.  Sometimes, there is a smooth transition.  Other times, the road may be long. As we go into Week #4 of the high school football season, some of those new team foundations are being poured.

Shamokin Area and Mount Carmel were expected to have a solid nucleus of starters returning lending to some expectations from both school's fan base.  Southern Columbia who had to replace many starters on both sides of the ball was expected to have some growing pains.  After three weeks of play, it looks like the Indians have some work to do offensively and the Red Tornadoes have to the same on defense.  Both issues have surprised many in the area. The Tigers while only entering Week #4, look to make a run deep into the playoffs.

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In a long time coming, Line Mountain will honor 1961 Mahanoy Joint grad Glenn Ressler before their game with Williams Valley.  Ressler went on to become the best collegiate lineman in the country at Penn State. He played in Super Bowl III and V with the Baltimore Colts.  He is the first person from Northumberland County to earn a Super Bowl ring.  He is one of two players  from the Twin Valley conference to make it into the NFL.  The other being Williamstown High's Gary Collins who was a two-year All Pro. Collins was a wide receiver and punter for the Cleveland Browns.  Collins scored the first TD on Monday Night Football which debuted on this date in 1970.

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Salve Regina ran their record to 2-0 on the young season.  The Rhode Island D3 program now has a 9-game winning streak.  The Seahawks are coached by Kulpmont native Robert Chesney. He also is assisted by his father Robert and brother Nick.