Legacy Under the Lights: 91st Dream Game Media Day Unites Past and Future of NEPA Football
By: Brad Loff | Sportzwire | July 16, 2025 | Photo courtesy BLSportsPhotography.com / Brad Loff
VALLEY VIEW — A summer rain storm set the stage under the bleachers of Valley View’s football stadium, where dozens of the region’s top high school football players gathered for the 91st Annual Dream Game Media Day. It was more than a press event. It was a reunion, a farewell, a coming-of-age story all in one.
Hosted by longtime broadcaster Tony Sibilla and Honesdale’s newly appointed head coach George Howanitz, Media Day was filled with stories from players on the cusp of adulthood and from coaches whose roots run deep in Northeastern Pennsylvania’s football soil.
Returning Home, Rebuilding Anew
Howanitz, a former Valley View standout turned head coach, stood back under the stadium where he once emerged as a player. “We used to run out from under these bleachers,” he recalled. “Being back here now, representing a new team, it’s surreal.”
Now leading the Honesdale Hornets, Howanitz emphasized the challenge and privilege of stepping into a new leadership role while still carrying the spirit of the Cougars with him. “It’s a community that reminds me so much of Valley View. Tight-knit, tough, proud.”
Generations in the Stands and on the Field
The Dream Game isn’t just a showcase of talent; it’s a living monument. As players filtered through the media gauntlet, there was constant mention of fathers, uncles, and brothers who had worn the same uniforms in decades past. Jerry Preschutti, longtime organizer and Valley View legend, spoke emotionally of his own experience. “I had scholarship offers lined up, but a coach walked into the locker room after this game and changed my life,” he said.
Jerry’s legacy is living history—a man who played in 1961, coached in the ’70s, and still carries his jersey to this day. “This game isn’t about us,” he told the players. “It’s about the Lions Club, about service, and about finishing something with pride.”
A Final Run in Familiar Places
For Valley View’s own Nick Kucharski and Gianni Marino, the Dream Game is a homecoming and a finale. “To wear this helmet one more time, in this place, with these people—it’s everything,” said Marino, whose father also played in the Dream Game.
Across the field, Scranton Prep quarterback Louis Paris stood with the quiet intensity of someone who has already faced life’s curveballs. After tearing his ACL in the final game of the season, he worked through months of grueling rehab. Now, he’s headed to Franklin & Marshall. “It stings to not be able to play, but I’m proud to be here. I want to support these guys however I can,” Parris said.
From Firehouse to Football Field
Lackawanna Trail players Logan Edwards and Brian Gow brought a different kind of toughness. As volunteer firefighters, they’ve already faced real-life adversity. “It’s about relying on the guy next to you,” Edwards said. “Whether you’re in pads or on a fire call, that teamwork means everything.”
Mid Valley Brotherhood and the Class That Changed It All
Three Mid Valley seniors—Jacob Lesher, Gavin Rapuch, and Nick Jackson—arrived with an aura of quiet pride. They led their school to its first league title in decades. “We came in wanting to change things,” said Jackson. “We weren’t going to settle.”
They spoke not about personal stats, but about culture: how they shifted the narrative from individual glory to team-first grit. “We wanted to leave a mark,” said Lesher. “And we did.”
The Coaches Behind the Mission
West Scranton’s Jake Manetti and Old Forge’s Mike Schuback will coach the City and County squads, respectively. For Schuback, the moment is deeply personal. “I remember watching these games as a kid. Now I get to lead the same sidelines. And the talent? It’s the best it’s ever been.”
Manetti, coaching in his first Dream Game, echoed the sentiment. “It’s a balancing act with summer schedules, training, life. But to coach these kids, many I’ve coached against for years? It’s special.”
Why This Game Still Matters
Beyond touchdowns and tackles, Media Day served as a reminder of why the Dream Game endures. The Lions Club remains its backbone, with funds going to support vision and health needs across the region. And with attendance expected to top 7,000, the Dream Game remains a mid-summer phenomenon.
As Sibilla and Howanitz closed out interviews beneath the bleachers, laughter echoed, cleats clacked, and hugs were exchanged. It felt like the end of something and the beginning of something else.
When the players take the field on July 23, under the lights at John Henzes Memorial Stadium, they won’t just be playing a game. They’ll be stepping into history—a game that has outlived generations and one that continues to define what football means in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
