Easton to hold 1st Annual Easton Football “Night of Champions”

Written by: David Mika on Tuesday, July 19th, 2016. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

 

Red Rover Football Program to honor championship teams from 1961, 1966, 1986, 1991, 2001 prior to September 16, 2016 game versus Parkland

EASTON, PA. – The Easton Area School District Department of Athletics is proud to announce the 1^st Annual Easton Football “Night of Champions” to be held prior to the Friday, September 16 game versus Parkland at Cottingham Stadium. The “Night of Champions” is an opportunity to annually honor significant championship teams from Easton’s storied football history on a milestone anniversary. The 1^st annual pregame event will honor the 1961, 1966, 1986, 1991, and 2001 Red Rover Football teams.

The 1961 football team is celebrating the 55^th anniversary of their Big 5 (Dieruff, Liberty, Allen, Phillipsburg, Easton) championship. The 1961 season marked the first time in history that the Rovers were known as the Easton AREA High School “Red Rovers” as the new high school building opened in Palmer Township at 25^th St. and William Penn Highway. In addition to Big 5 foes, this squad matched up with Eastern Washington H.S. from Washington D.C., Altoona H.S., Linton H.S, and Thomas Jefferson H.S. from Brooklyn. The Bob Rute coached Rovers finished the season 7-3 and shared the Big 5 championship with Dieruff and Phillipsburg. Jim Jones was named 1^st team All-State and All-American.

50 years have passed since the 1966 Red Rovers won the Big 5 and shared the Big 6 (Allen, Dieruff, Liberty, Neshaminy, Pennsbury, Easton) Championship with Pennsbury. Both teams had 4-1 league records. Despite preseason uncertainty over who would coach the team, Coach Bob Rute returned to lead the team to a 9-1 overall record, including a 13-6 victory over Phillipsburg, and John Cappellano was an Honorable Mention All-State selection. The 1966 team began a 24 game unbeaten streak for the Rovers that lasted into the 1969 season, with the Rovers logging a record of 28-1-1 over the course of three seasons. Robin Griffin played the role of hero on Thanksgiving Day, returning an interception for the game winning touchdown. In addition to Cappellano and Griffin, other notable players included Gary Rute, Bob Hosier, Mike Jones, and future Easton coach and athletic director, Bob Shriver. In a sign of things to come, contributing underclassmen included, among others, Daryl Woodring, Joe Parsons, and Bob Pilz.

The 1986 team is celebrating its 30^th anniversary. The Bob Shriver coached Rovers finished the season 10-2, sharing the East Penn Conference title with Whitehall. The team finished ranked the #1 team in the area by the Express-Times and included the All-Area Player of the Year, running back Frank Lane. Current football staff member Mike Heimbach was the program’s scholar-athlete along with being named an all-area offensive lineman. The team defeated Phillipsburg 20-10 on Thanksgiving Day. Overall, the 1986 and 1987 teams were part of a school record 19 consecutive games without a defeat or tie.

25 years ago, Coach Bob Shriver led the 1991 Red Rovers to one of the most successful seasons in program history. Finishing the season with a record 13 victories, the team’s only loss came in the PIAA Eastern Final versus eventual state-champion and nationally ranked, Central Bucks West. Along the way Easton won the East Penn Conference, beat Phillipsburg 24-15, and defeated Pottsville 25-15 to capture the District 11 Championship. The roster featured record-setters at various positions, many All-League and All-Area selections, and numerous players who continued their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Mark Libiano and Juan Gaddy were named 1^st team All-State, while Nick Azzolina was named to the 3^rd team. Most importantly, Dean Jones notes the team was full of friends that loved being together, on and off the field, and were proud to don the Red Rover uniform.

The 2001 Red Rover Football Squad is celebrating its 15^th anniversary. Coached by Steve Shiffert, the team finished their season 11-1, with the lone loss coming to Bethlehem Catholic in the District XI 4A championship game. The team, led by a plethora of seniors including future coaching staff members Bob Stroble and Jesse Pellegrino, as well as current Brown University coach Todd Parsons, finished an undefeated regular season as Mountain Valley Conference Champions. On Thanksgiving Day, the team defeated Phillipsburg 28-7 behind standout performances from Parsons and Pellegrino. Three players from the team earned All-State recognition: Pellegrino (2^nd team AP; 3^rd team Pennsylvania Football News), Stroble (Honorable Mention PFN), and Joey Fernandez (Honorable Mention PFN).

The Easton-Parkland Eastern Pennsylvania Conference South Division football game will kickoff, Friday, September 16, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Those planning on being part of the pregame ceremony should report to the Bob Rute Field House by 6:00 p.m. and see Dean Jones.

Former players, coaches, and staff members interested in being honored and attending the event should RSVP to the athletic office (610-250-2575), Matt Baltz (baltzm@eastonsd.org), Jack Logic (logicrover@gmail.com), or Dean Jones (jonesa@eastonsd.org) by Friday, September 9.

Purchase Easton Area High School football tickets by visiting eastonrovertickets.com or calling the Easton Area School District Athletic office at 610-250-2575.

Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball

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