Randy Spencer will get a different view of his team when the Wyoming Area Warriors open the high school football season Friday night at home against Mid Valley.
Spencer will open the season working games from the press box while he continues his recovery from a July heart procedure at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center.
The recent developments made Spencer appreciate being able to be with his team, one of the state’s most promising Class 3A teams, for a preseason youth camp and the start of practices following a perfect regular season in 2018.
“I had the heart procedure four weeks ago,” Spencer said Thursday. “It went as well as it could go and recovery is going great.
“I’m so blessed to be able to be present and engaged.”
Spencer said he is about halfway through the recovery program doctors laid out for him. He expects to remain in the press box on game nights for about the first four games of the season.
“I’ll be in the booth, on the headset and involved that way,” he said.
Assistant head coach Mike Fanti temporarily will assume Spencer’s role of running the team from the sideline.
“He’ll take my on-field responsibilities as well as work with the rest of the staff,” Spencer said. “We all work as a team – whether I’m on the sideline or not – both on and off the field.”
Wyoming Area faces a Mid Valley team that struggled through a 1-9 season in 2018 but returns eight defensive and six offense starters.
Pittston Area will also open its season at home, facing Nanticoke.
Colby Butczynski averaged 19.9 yards per completion for the Trojans last season, including more than 22 when he found leading receiver Keanu Ammons. Both return from a team that finished at .500 in the regular season.
Wyoming Area and Pittston Area each won their openers last season on the road.
The Warriors pounded Mid Valley, 48-7. The Patriots edged Nanticoke, 28-21.
