Elk Catholic finished off its best season in years and now their coach is being recognized because of it.
Tony Gerg led the Crusaders to an 8-4 record and its first District 9 title game appearance since 1995 in his fourth year as head coach. Now, the 1991 Elk County Christian graduate has been tabbed to lead the Pennsylvania squad in August’s Big 30 Charities Classic.
“When you have the opportunity to work with the best, it’s a great opportunity to go out and represent your school,” Gerg said, noting he’ll be able to coach some Crusader seniors. “To have one last time, that’s exciting.”
The this year’s crop of graduating seniors were the first group that Gerg coached all the way up through the Crusader varsity program. That group got off to a rocky start, going 0-9 in 2013, but rebounded to go 23-10 over the last three years.
In 2016, Gerg led the Crusaders to a 6-3 regular season and the third seed in the District 9 Class A playoffs. Playoff wins against Redbank Valley and second-seeded Clarion-Limestone pitted Elk Catholic against county rival Ridgway for the Class A championship. Ridgway won, 42-13.
The three straight winning seasons also ended with playoff appearances.
By taking up the task of coaching in the Big 30 Classic, Gerg and his staff will be have to juggle the Pennsylvania all-stars as well as make sure his Crusaders are ready for training camp. The Big 30 game is set for Aug. 7, meaning practices spread across Warren, McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter counties cuts into prime offseason training time for high school programs preparing for the upcoming season.
That, however, is something the Crusaders’ coaches are prepared for.
“It’s going to be a struggle to juggle both of those hats,” Gerg said. “I spoke it over with my staff. We’re just excited to have one more opportunity.”
Elk Catholic coaches Eric Weisner, Andy Rettger, Marty Braun and Tom Heary have also signed on to assist Gerg during the 44th game.
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TRIO INK LETTERS OF INTENT
A trio of area football players inked National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, National Signing Day. Otto-Eldred running back Seth Drummond (Gannon) and Kane lineman Keaton Rounsville (Clarion) are headed to Division II to play in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
Drummond ran for 2,638 career yards to become the Terrors’ all-time leading rusher. He gained 603 yards as a senior after his junior-year campaign was cut short due to an ACL injury. He joins a group of 20 future Golden Knights looking to improve upon last season’s 5-6 campaign.
Rounsville was a force on both sides of the ball for the Wolves in helping the team win its third straight District 9 title. Kane gained more than 5,300 yards of total offense in 2015 and 2016 with Rounsville leading the charge.
Honored as lineman of the year from D9Sports.com and the Big 30, the coach’s take from Clarion says he could play across all five offensive lineman positions for the Golden Eagles under coach Chris Weibel.
Meanwhile, Bradford High’s Harley Thompson is headed to Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, to continue his career for the Student Princes. Thompson made 30 tackles, including a sack, as a defensive lineman and started as the Owls’ left tackle on offense.
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YOUNGSVILLE CONSIDERED FOR CO-OP
News out of Warren County is dim for the future of the Youngsville football team. After low numbers the last few seasons – the Eagles forfeited two games in 2016 and dressed just 15 players for another – the Warren County School District has proposed the program merge and enter into a cooperative agreement with Warren for the upcoming season and beyond.
If that’s the case, Warren would become just another of a handful of schools that compete in the Big 30 Charities Classic with a co-op agreement.
