Juniata football hosting 7-on-7 High School Passing Tournament and “Big Man Challenge” this Saturday

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The official start of the high school football season may be several weeks away, but central Pennsylvania football fans can get an early fix and a preview of the 2010 seasonthis Saturday, July 10, at Juniata College’s 2^nd Annual 7-on-7 High School Passing Tournament and Big Man Challenge. 

Over 350 high school athletes will take to the field at Knox Stadium and Ellis Practice Field for competition, with “pool” play in the morning to seed teams for the double elimination tournament which starts at 1:00 p.m.  The championship game will take place at approximately 4:00 p.m. at Knox Stadium. 

“If you love football, you’ve love watching this tournament,” said former Penn Cambria standout and Juniata head coach Carmen Felus, who enters his second season at the helm of Eagle football. “This is a great opportunity for these teams to get a head start on their 2010 season. The talent level will be outstanding, including some participants who have committed early to Division I programs, and I’m looking forward to a fun day on the field.” 

Defending champion Brockway High School will return to try and hold on to its crown, as will 2009 runner-up Holy Cross High School from Brooklyn, N.Y.  

Participating Pennsylvania high schools include

-        Huntingdon Area;

-        Central from Martinsburg;

-        Bedford;

-        Tussey Mountain;

-        Altoona Area;

-        Philipsburg-Osceola;

-        Berlin Brothersvalley;

-        DuBois. 

In addition, there will be three other Pennsylvania high schools coached by Juniata alums competing in the 7-on-7 Passing Tournament and Big Man Challenge:

-        Mount Carmel, coached by Carmen DeFrancesco ’75;

-        Elizabethtown, coached by Mike Cottle ’89;

-        Red Land, coached by Frank Gay ’89.

A number of out-of-state high schools will also be participating, including Centennial High School from Ellicott City, Md.; and Waverly Central from Waverly, N.Y., coached by Juniata alum Jason Miller ’92,; in addition to Holy Cross HS from New York City. 

Format for the 7-on-7 Passing Tournament will be a quarterback, center, and five eligible receivers squaring off against seven defenders, with the defense able to earn additional points with stops and interceptions. Games will be 25 minutes with a running clock, played on a 40-yard field with a 10-yard endzone. While the quarterbacks and receivers do battle on the gridiron, linemen will participate in the Big Man Challenge, with teams competing in a series of strength, agility, and conditioning challenges. 

Fans are welcome to attend and there is no admission charge. There is no seating at Ellis Practice Field, so fans are urged to bring a lawn chair in case their favorite team is competing on those fields. Water and gatorade will be available for sale at Knox Stadium throughout the day.