Spartans kick off Thanksgiving with a ‘little’ football, of course
Bob Wolfrum’s Thanksgivings always used to start with football. His father, Andy, coached at Frankford in Philadelphia during an era when many high school teams played on Thanksgiving morning.
The Wyomissing coach has always wanted to coach in a Thanksgiving Day game himself. Thursday morning he was part of three of them as his Spartans continued their tradition of playing against local youth teams on the A-Field.
It was hard to tell who was more excited about it: The little kids from Wyomissing’s Mighty Mites, Midgets and junior high teams, the Spartans’ varsity players or Wolfrum and his coaching staff — many of whom had their own kids, or grandkids, out on the field in one of the three touch football games going on simultaneously.
Ever since the PIAA playoffs expanded about 30 years ago, extending the season past Thanksgiving, Wolfrum and his staff have invited youth players and alumni back to the A-Field any time the Spartans are still practicing that morning.
That’s been often; the Spartans just won their 10th District 3 title. Early Thursday they were preparing for a PIAA playoff game for the third year in a row. They’ll play Scranton Prep Saturday at 2 at Mifflin Stadium.
The Thanksgiving Day practice, and the games that follow, have become a rite of passage in Wyomissing football. It’s easily the most popular practice of the season.
Seniors such Aiden Mack, Tommy Grabowski and Jack Miller remember coming to the A-Field when they were playing youth ball and how excited they were to get on the field with the big guys.
Julian DiMaio, who plays center on Saturdays, lined up behind center as a quarterback in one the games. He barked out a popular play: “Everybody go long!”
That one’s not in the Spartans’ play book, and for good reason — the pass was picked off.
Ja-Mhi Jackson, a defensive end, and Pacen Ziegler, an offensive lineman, also took turns at QB. Jackson likely won’t get the chance to do that again Saturday — one of his passes turned into a Pick-6 by someone half his size.
