After productive summer, Franklin Regional itching to put on pads

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, August 5, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Third-year Franklin Regional football coach Lance Getsy was in a walking boot at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Larry Sellitto Memorial Passing Tournament at Latrobe.

He suffered a fractured left foot while demonstrating a play during a summer workout.

“Scout-team quarterback. I rolled left and felt it,” Getsy said, shaking his head and flashing an ornery grin. “I tore my ACL when I was in high school but kept playing. I’ll be all right. I was raised to ignore pain.”

Getsy is instilling similar toughness in his team.

He can’t wait for training camp to start Aug. 14 so “real” football can begin.

The Panthers, who went 6-4 last season and lost in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs, have had a productive summer.

They competed in the Evolve 2tenths and WCCA 7-on-7 tournaments, facing high-level competition in the former and finishing 4-1 in the latter.

Games against Aliquippa, Imani Christian and Farrell tested the team during a passing workout at Woodland Hills.

“You do these things for the competition, but nobody is wearing pads,” Getsy said. “We have our offense and defense in, but you never really know what you have until they put on pads.”

The Panthers are primed to return eight starters on defense.

“We like the look of the defense,” Getsy said. “We have to replace Roman Sarnic (at quarterback). We have to shore some things up on the line.”

Chase Lemke looks like the next QB for the Panthers as he took most of the reps over the summer.

Junior lineman Andrew Devola announced recently he is set to return from shoulder surgery, which should bolster the Panthers.

Getsy believes his system is taking root, but there is work to be done.

“The system is in place,” he said. “But what about the culture? We have a ways to go, yet.

“Football is my life. Kids have other things going on in their lives. To be successful in 5A, three has to be a buy-in to everything we’re doing.

“We have a lot of potential, but right now that’s all it is: potential.”

Getsy said the Panthers plan to honor their late teammate, Joe Purdue, during the season. He said the players will wear helmet decals with Purdue’s initials.

Purdue died in March after a battle with pediatric brain cancer. The former lineman was 19.

“I was able to visit with him the weekend before he passed away,” Getsy said. “He was such a good kid.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional