The 2020 season seemed to present some challenges for the polar bears after the loss of key seniors, such as Kyle Swartz, and many of the tacklers from last season, but with the return of a strong class of rising seniors the varsity football team hopes to qualify for playoffs this fall. As a result of COVID-19, the number of teams that can qualify for districts has shrunk noticeably, thus making it more difficult for the Polar Bears to move past the regular season. The indefinite fate of this season, in regards to playoffs and the Coronavirus pandemic, has caused the team to focus on what they can control as a team, according to Nick Fekete, senior captain. The focus that Nick describes is evident through the polar bears 5-0 record so far after defeating East Penn, West Perry, Shippensburg, Greencastle Antrim, and Susquehanna Township. These wins have resulted in Northern placing at the top of the Colonial Division and qualifying for District Three playoffs.
The Class of 2021 Seniors
The loss of key seniors from the class of 2020 have been met by a range of players on both sides of the ball this season. On offense, Jordan Heisey brings experience as a seasoned quarterback for the Polar Bears, and his ability to both throw and run the ball. Jordan leads the team in rushing with 382 yards and also has completed 31 passes for a total of 397 passing yards, which demonstrates his duality as a quarterback. Also on offense, Trent Peach, a junior wide-receiver, has gained 146 yards so far during his first year as a Polar Bear to lead the team in receiving yards. Overall, significant contributions have been made in the offense from a variety of players, like Blake Cruz, CJ Wagner, Talon Belluscio, and Zach Mowchan, throughout the season. After losing most of his junior season because of an ACL tear, Zach Mowchan has returned this season and has been impactful on defense as he has completed the most tackles on the team with 56 tackles. Other contributors on defense have been Nick Fekete, Sean Sarley, Joe Kostelac, Bay Blashak, Blake Cruz, and Hunter Fitterling. Although the individual success of players is integral to this team, senior Nick Fekete notes that because “football is such a team sport [he cannot] really say who the most important players have been [on offense and defense],” which illustrates the character and sense of community that football instills in the students of Northern. The seventeen seniors who have passed through this program embody this selflessness on and off the field and have committed themselves to ensuring that they make the most of their final season, even with the limitations that the Coronavirus pandemic presents.
Photos by Curt Werner.
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