Fall and High School Football

           High School football was the king of the sports in DuBois in the 1960s. Boys wanted to play football for the Beavers. There were back yard sandlot games all over the city. There were no Pee Wee football leagues at that time, so most kids got their first shot in organized football in Junior High. Dozens and dozens of young boys “went out” for football. Besides cross country, there were not other sports to compete with football. It was the “manly” thing to do…try to be a football player. From the heat of August to the chill of November, boys learned hard lessons about themselves and how to work as a team for a cause greater than themselves.

            The heritage of football was rich. Youngsters hoped to be the next QB like Bill Gordon, the next back like Don Gilbert or Gene Mikelonis, the next lineman like Bill Rearick, the next receiver like Sam Miller. But, there was more than an individual component to playing football. Football was a part of the warp and woof of the community. It was an honor to play for the high school team which represented the community. It was a matter of pride to play football for the DuBois Beavers. At this time there were very few college and professional football games on TV. The emphasis for most folks was on the local high school eleven.

            This was also the time before district and state playoffs. The team played 10 games and that was it. Your rivalries were of utmost important. Clearfield, Punxsutawney and DuBois made up the mythical Big Three. It was the goal of the season to defeat the other two. Except for the late thirties and middle fifties, DuBois and Punxsy dominated the rivalry. Clearfield had its triumphs in wrestling having a 64 match win streak in the sixties and still having the most state champion wresters of any school in Pennsylvania.

            So, the season finale between DuBois and Punxsy was always the watershed event of the football season. Like Army/Navy, winning that game could turn a dismal season successful. The game almost always played on Veteran’s Day [Armistice Day for the purists]. Both communities festooned themselves with school color ribbons, balloons and signs like “Trap the Beavers” or “Make Ground Chuck”. Because the day was a holiday, even day games were packed with fans of both teams. The teams were the representatives of their communities fighting for “bragging rights” for the next year.

            Times have changed. There are so many more options for a young boy today. Many play Pee Wee football and find early on it’s not their thing. Soccer has siphoned off many who would otherwise play football. Young folks are not inclined to put in the time, effort and sacrifice to play football. In an age of individuality, prosperity and choices, why choose to play a team game when I can do what I want. With the overwhelming amount of college and pro games now on TV, loyalties are no longer to the Beavers but to college and pro teams. On the streets of DuBois you will see more Steeler and Penn State gear than DAHS. High school football games are now the domain of parents and grandparents of the teams and marching bands. 

            Fall and football are different now. The leaves still color in brilliance, but high school football is no longer an important component of school and community. No one talks of the Big Three anymore. The last couple years, DuBois has played Clearfield and Punxsy the first two games of the season. Reports are that they will no longer be playing each other after this year. Rivalries are passé and all that counts is being district and state champion. High school football programs are having difficulty fielding full squads of 33 players. Youngsters are no longer participants but observers. Boys do not seem to be interested in the lessons of self-sacrifice and teamwork learned on the gridiron. Whether for good or bad, it is a different time.