Area high school graduates are gracing collegiate football fields from as far north as Maine to all the way down in West Virginia this fall.
Last week's Football Friday cover story subject, University of Maine starting quarterback and Mount Carmel graduate Marcus Wasilewski, started his first collegiate game Saturday at Boston College.
Wasilewski went 20-for-42 with two interceptions and 134 yards, but the Black Bears lost to the Eagles 34-3. The schedule gets considerably easier in week two with a game against Bryant.
Southern Columbia grad Ken Schetroma was a preseason All-American for Susquehanna and through two games he has 15 tackles and one forced fumble for the 1-1 Crusaders. Aaron Inch, a Line Mountain grad, has five tackles. Schetroma's brother, Tom, is a freshman on the team, as is Shamokin grad Cameron Pensyl.
Shamokin's Tim Bousson and Mount Carmel's Justin Pellowski are both seeing time at Wilkes University for Frank Sheptock. The Colonels are 1-0 so far this season. Bousson has one catch for 16 yards and Pellowski has five tackles on defense and a 34-yard kickoff return to his credit. Mount Carmel's Lucas Amarose is also on the Wilkes roster.
The Colonels will play Lycoming College on Oct. 27 and four area players will be suited up for the Warriors.
Making the biggest contribution thus far for the 2-0 Warriors is North Schuylkill's Kody Flail. Through two games, Flail has 14 tackles. Fellow Spartan graduate Scott Houser has one catch for 11 yards. Shamokin's Jake Phillips and Line Mountain's Kyle Troutman are also on the roster for Lycoming.
Players are also dotted across the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference landscape.
Close to home, Mount Carmel's Chris Steck is in his third year starting for the Bloomsburg Huskies. Southern Columbia's Tyrell Thomas is also on the roster. The Huskies will face Kutztown University this weekend. Southern's Chase Fraley is the starting center for the Golden Bears. North Schuylkill's Mike Shinkus and Zach Yankiewicz are also on Kutztown's roster.
Lock Haven has two local players. Mount Carmel's James Goins has 11 tackles and two sacks for the Eagles. Line Mountain's Luke Erdman is also on the roster.
North Schuylkill's Ed Pavalko has one carry for three yards in two games for Colgate.
A pair of Mount Carmel graduates are still on Division I rosters, but have yet to see time this season. Trevor Demko is fighting for time on the defensive line at West Virginia, while Dave Shinskie is already in his fourth year at Boston College.
Not to be left out of a collegiate wrap, Lourdes graduate Bob Chesney Jr., now the head coach at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., has his Seahawks at 2-0. The team's first win was provided in part by the leg of Montoursville graduate Christian Clark, who kicked a 35-yard field to beat Union in week one. Also on the roster is Shamokin grad Jared Haddock.