You can take the boy out of the game, but you can’t take the game out of the boy. Or in this case, out of the man.

Prospects for the brand-new Carbon County Savages, a semipro football entry in the 14-team Greter Eastern Football Association, recently flashed their skill sets during a combine tryout at Baer Memorial Park in Lehighton.

For the love of the game

Owners Chris Styer of Palmerton, and Kevin Kline of Saylorsburg, along with a seven-man coaching staff, are excited to bring eight-man, full tackle football to the local area.

“We want a more community-based program to attract local athletes and fans to be a part of something that hasn’t been available in many years,” said Styer.

The league’s geography extends from New Jersey to Pittsburgh. Play begins in April, and the Savages look to build a 40-man roster from several tryouts, and then practice and scrimmage through the winter months. A 10-game schedule commences in the spring.

Kline, who has played for the Monroe County Diamondbacks, explained why he and Styer have embraced this venture.

“We love football, and the semipro eight-man game continues to grow in popularity,” said Kline. “In fact, there are teams as far away as Uganda. We’re hoping to attract 50 to 100 tryout players to fill our 40-man team. This is a great area with Lehighton, Jim Thorpe, and Panther Valley so close by.

“Ages range from 18 to whatever. We have a 43-year-old trying out today, and he’s looked quite impressive.”

Those selected to play for the Savages will receive no pay, nor will the coaching staff.

“We are relying on local sponsorship to fund our team,” said Styer.

ABC Day Care of East Stroudsburg, and PJ Whelihan’s of Lehighton, have already made contributions.

Play by the rules

The head coach of the Savages is Mike Gonzalez of East Stroudsburg. He accepted the position after coaching youth football for the Monroe Saints, the Jim Thorpe Red Swarm and the Pocono Thunder middle school teams. He played football at Bryant High School in New York City, semipro ball for the Queens Saints, as well as the Army battalion team in Fort Carson, Colorado.

“I met Kevin when our kids played football together,” he said. “I’ve loved the eight-man game, and really got to understand it by studying the indoor arena style.”

The eight-man game is played on a 30-by-70-yard field. On offense, there is a center, two tackles, a tight end, a quarterback, a running back, and two wide receivers. Defensively, a three-man front is backed by two linebackers, two cornerbacks, and a safety. Linebackers can only blitz between the tackles.

Goal posts are not necessary. After a touchdown, one extra point can he scored on a running play, and two are awarded upon a completed pass. Games are officiated by PIAA officials.

The prospects

Ryan Campbell, from Palmerton and a former Pleasant Valley High School football player, is a prospect hoping to make the Savages’ roster at offensive tackle. The former Extreme Flag Football League player thinks that the full equipment game is much less of an injury risk than in the XFFL where there was hard contact every play with players wearing no equipment.

A married father of two young daughters, Campbell has the support of his family. “I love the game. I just want to put the pads on one more time.”

Campbell, like all of the prospects, signed a waiver stating that the league and the team ownership are not responsible for minor injuries, but will help handle costs in serious cases.

Twenty-year-old Kevin Brown from Summit Hill, who played his high school ball at Pocono Mountain West, was trying out for wide receiver and cornerback. He formerly played for the Northeastern Shock, a team that lost in last year’s championship game.

“I think this team is good for this area, said Brown. “It opens doors for kids out of school who still want to play.

“And I’m trying to get noticed by the NFL, and maybe get invited to one of their combines.”

Twenty-one-year-old Christoper Woods, a huge offensive lineman from Tobyhanna, didn’t hesitate when asked why he enjoys football.

“I love to pancake somebody. It’s a man handling another man and when I do that, I say to him, ‘I’m your daddy now.’”

Community and

family cooperation

Both Styer and Kline expressed their gratitude to the booster club and to the Lehighton community for permitting the Baer Memorial Park field to be the site for their home games.

Styer’s wife, Jolene offered support for her husband’s endevor to own the Savages.

“I love him. He’s a football nut, and this game makes him smile,” she said.

For anyone interested in trying out for the Carbon County Savages, contact the team through its Facebook page.