WAYNE VALLEY FOOTBALL TO HONOR FIRST RESPONDERS

This year’s opening day high school football game between Wayne Valley and Downingtown West (Sept. 1, 7 p.m. at Wayne) will be about much more than just the sport. A ceremony honoring first responders will be held (beginning at 6:15) prior to the highly anticipated showdown between the New Jersey and Pennsylvania powerhouse programs. A first responder is a person who is likely to be among the first people to arrive and assist at the scene of an emergency, such as a crime, accident, medical crisis, natural disaster, etc. This typically includes police officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, paramedics, rescuers and others who have joined voluntary organizations connected with this type of work. “This is going to be a big game for us, but it’s still important for our players and young fans to realize that it’s more than just football,” Wayne Valley coach Roger Kotlarz said. “First responders work hard and put their lives on the line every day. This is our way to say thanks for the many sacrifices that these men and women, heroes all, make for our communities.” It’s also an extremely visible way to recognize these heroes. The game is expected to be well-attended. “In New Jersey, technically, Week One is September 8. But if you start with an out-of-state game, you are permitted to play a week early. That’s called Week Zero,” Kotlarz explained. “Most New Jersey teams travel out-of-state for Week Zero. We are one of the few New Jersey teams hosting a regular-season game that night. I think a lot of people will want to check it out, especially since we’re hosting such a renowned program.” The first responder ceremony was announced on Wayne Valley’s football Facebook site (facebook.com/waynevalleyfootballteam) a few weeks ago. Several former Wayne Valley football players have subsequently expressed interest in participating. If first responders are traveling with the Downingtown West contingent, they will be enthusiastically welcomed to join the festivities. Two flags will be raised over the field that night. One is being lent by Rick Ruggiero, father of Wayne Valley sophomore lineman Ricky Ruggiero. The elder Ruggiero was stationed at the forward operating base in Sharana, Afghanistan in 2011. The American flag he’s lending to Wayne Valley that day was raised at the base on the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. A sign accompanying the flag reads, “So that all shall know, this flag was flown in the face of the enemy – in the winds of freedom, illuminated in the dark by the light of justice, over Forward Operating Base Sharana in the Paktika Province of Afghanistan.” The other American flag was specially designed by the Wayne Valley Booster Club for the occasion. It has a blue line (to honor the police), a red line (to honor fire fighters), and an orange line (to honor the EMS). The Booster Club is also presenting an honorary plaque and making a $500 donation to each unit. Prior to the start of the game, the Wayne Honor Guard and the Emerald Society (with bag pipers and snare drummers) will escort Wayne Valley to the field. Mayor Chris Vergano will conduct the coin toss. This will be the second year in a row Wayne Valley has hosted an event honoring the brave. Lineman Jake Pluta (now at Kutztown) carried a “thin blue line” flag onto the field prior to the Lakeland game. Wayne Valley was honoring local law enforcement that night. “It is going to be a great ceremony,” said Kotlarz, a coach respected for his integrity. “Then, we will play a huge football game.” Downingtown West had averaged 10 wins a season for 10 years, before going 5-5 last year. The downturn, though, isn’t fooling Kotlarz, especially since Valley barely beat Downingtown West in Pennsylvania last year, 34-31. “They had a tough season last year, but that’s going to happen now and then when you consider that they play in a powerhouse conference,” Kotlarz said. “They are very well-coached and they have a lot of talent coming back. One of the guys they have returning is their quarterback, Kyle Geiser. He killed us last year.” Kotlarz is calling the game “a positive” well ahead of knowing the outcome. “Scheduling an out-of-state game is challenging. You don’t have any common opponents, so you really don’t know what you are getting until the game starts,” he said. “The goal is play a good-quality opponent that will prepare you for the rest of the season. It was a battle last year. We benefited from it and I think they did too.” Are Wayne Valley and Downingtown West headed for another battle this year? Kotlarz says “yes.” But not until they honor the brave.

WAYNE VALLEY FOOTBALL TO HONOR FIRST RESPONDERS

Photo Credit: Doug Scancarella

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