Six Bobcats To Participate In 2018 Lezzer Lumber Football Classic (05/30/18)

The Burford family: Laura, Mason, Ty, Brian and Ethan after 2017 Lezzer Lumber Classic

The Central Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association’s thirty-fourth Annual Lezzer Lumber All-Star High School Football Classic is less than a month away, and seven graduated Clarion Bobcat gridders have been chosen to participate, as members of the North Squad, in this North/South All-Star contest.

This year’s game will be held at Altoona’s Mansion Park Stadium, on Friday, June 22nd at 7:00PM.

Those selected from Coach Larry Wiser’s 2018 District Nine Class AA Champions are: Zak Bauer, Sterling Conner, Spencer Miller, Colton Rapp, Colt Stimmell and Keeven Weaver. These young men have represented the Bobcats well throughout their careers and have the opportunity to showcase their talent in one of the longest running All-Star games in the state. Miller continues a family tradition, with his brother Brendan having played in the 2016 game and father Scott coaching in the 2014 contest.

Bobcat 2014 representatives: Kneeling (L-R) Kevin “Fonzie” Slike, Antonio Troese, John Katis, Todd Smith, Benny Murtha. Standing (L-R) Larry Wiser, Keith Murtha, Nate McClaine, Cody Hearst, Scott Miller, Damien Slike, Benton Reichart, Don Skunda

This will be the largest Bobcat contingent since 2014, when Wiser, the North Head Coach was joined by a number of his Bobcat staff on the sidelines and five players from that great District Champion and PIAA semifinalist squad. Bobcat players were involved in every one of the North’s twenty-four points (throwing, receiving, running, kicking), in that night’s 24-7 North victory, in 30th Annual Lezzer Classic.

With this past season’s Bobcat squad being the most successful since, could we see similar results from our Bobcat representatives? As I said much of the last campaign, “I wouldn’t put anything past these guys.”

This prestigious game features players from CPFCA member schools. The CPFCA has over thirty schools ranging from large schools the size of Altoona and State College too smaller schools such as Clarion and covers an area from Clarion and Brookville to the north, Clarion to the west, east of State College and below Altoona to the south.

Coach/Dad Scott Miller and Brendan with scholarship certificate presented at 2016 Lezzer Lumber Classic

The Lezzer Game is a major showcase of football talent in the central part of the state. And having attended numerous ones in the past, I can attest that this game, year in and year out features, great skill players and some really hard hitting.

(Mark your calendars and plan on heading to Altoona on Friday, June 22nd, in a big show of support of these fine Bobcat athletes. Congratulations to Zak, Sterling, Spencer, Colton, Colt and Keeven!!!!)

Destin Strauser #5 at linebacker for the North Squad in the 2015 Lezzer Lumber Classic