BROCKWAY — After leading Smethport to an undefeated regular season and a trip to the District 9 Class A title game, Adam Jack has been tapped for a new challenge.
Jack will coach the Allegheny Mountain League team at the Fourth Annual Frank Varischetti football All-Star game slated for Friday, June 28 in Brockway.
Seniors from the Class of 2019 are selected off the votes of head coaches from what were formerly the AML and the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conferences.
The AML and KSAC combined into a three-division District 9 League last fall, but the Varischetti game decided to retain the AML-KSAC matchup that has been featured since the game began in 2016.
“We inquired of coaches, players and fans about changing the alignments, and the overriding sentiment was to keep it the way it is,” game manager Nick Hoffman said in a release.
“The players have told us how much they enjoy teaming up with their former rivals, and from the chemistry that develops in a week of practice, it’s obvious how much fun they are having. We are not going to tamper with that.”
The AML squad is comprised of players from Bradford, Brockway, Curwensville, Elk County Catholic, Kane, Ridgway, Cameron County, Coudersport, Otto-Eldred and Smethport.
Jack, the District 9 Small School North coach of the year in 2019, has coached the Hubbers for the past two seasons and led Smethport to their best season in nearly 20 years.
Jack will get to coach four of his seniors from that 11-1 team: Blake Kinner, Nathan Hollowell, Bradley LaFleur and Grant Ognen.
The AML has won all three games so far, including a 40-14 win over the KSAC last year.
Bradford’s Donny Pattison, Jaron Ambrose and Nathan Gehm will also play for the AML, while Ridgway — which won the D-9 Class AA title last fall — leads all schools with five players selected.
The KSAC team has players from Brookville, Clarion, Karns City, Moniteau, Punxsutawney, St. Marys, Clarion-Limestone, Redbank Valley and Union/A-C Valley.
Clarion-Limestone’s Dave Eggleton, who was named the District 9 South Small School coach of the year, will coach the KSAC squad. The Lions went 9-3 last season in their last year as an independent program. Clarion-Limestone will be forming a co-op with Clarion for the 2019 season.
Redbank Valley, Clarion-Limestone and Clarion each had five seniors selected to the game.
The Frank Varischetti Foundation, with support from the Brockway Gridiron Association and the Brockway Area School District, is hosting the game. In addition to showcasing top talent from District 9, the game will also award $1,000 scholarships to players at halftime.
Kickoff is set for 7 o’clock. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children.
Full AML rosters for the game:
Bradford: Donny Pattison, Jaron Ambrose, Nathan Gehm
Brockway: Leyton Mangiantini, Peter Downer, Garrett McClintick, Tyler Serafini and Zane Puhala
Cameron County: Devin Geitner
Coudersport: Stephen Kelly, Mason Klesa and Wyatte Osborne
Curwensville: Avery Francisco and Noah VonGunden
Elk CC: Hunter Cashmer, Ben Sherry, Alex Breindel and Ryan Fritz
Otto-Eldred: Chris Connelly, Trey Lee, Chase Sebastian
Ridgway: Evan Furlong, Daunte Allegretto, Chase Pontious, Parker Rohr and Isaac Schloder
Smethport: Blake Kinner, Nate Hollowell, Bradley LaFleuer and Grant Ognen
KSAC
Brookville: Bryan Dworek and Cabe Park
Clarion: Archer Mills, Nick Porciello, Sam Minich, Logan Minich and Camden Boggess
Clarion-Limestone: Ayden Wiles, Jim Gunning, Matt Coleman, Drew Beichner and David Wiles
Karns City: Hunter Jones, Brandon Bastian, Madden McMillen and Stephen Covington
Moniteau: James Parentu, Bobby Mathews and Chance Nagy
Punxsutawney: Dylan Ishman, Carter Newcome and Alex Gianvito
Redbank Valley: Keaton Kahle, Hunter Martz, Hunter Wiles, Blaney Brooks and Travis Crawford
St. Marys: Alex Agosti
Union/A-C Valley: Joe Dehart and Chase Kline
