Lezzer Lumber Classic honors two local legends

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: June 11, 2023

Photos Courtesy of Tom Shearer
By BRIAN CARSON

TYRONE—Two legendary Mifflin County football coaches whose lives were dedicated to the sport were honored at the 38th annual Lezzer Lumber Classic on Sunday.

Willie Breon, a legendary former Indian Valley coach, was honored during halftime with induction into the CPFCA Hall of Fame. The program in Mifflin County was revitalized during Scot Sechler’s tenure as head coach, and the community held a memorial service for him.

Though their impact was widespread, it was nonetheless deeply individual.

For Breon, it was all about turning around underachievers and instilling values that would remain long after the game was over.

For Sechler, it was the lives he touched, rallying a team and town around him throughout his courageous cancer battle until the end. Both men shaped Mifflin County football for the better.

The game itself featured three area athletes on the South team–Caleb Smith (WR-DB) and Makih Hunt (TE-LB) of Juniata, and Elijah Osborne (C-DT) from Mifflin County.

Smith had a 51-yard interception return for a TD in the fourth quarter, to go along with two tackles and one reception for eight yards. Hunt had nine tackles from his linebacker spot.

Bishop Guilfoyle’s Dominic Yanoshak collected two TD receptions, while quarterback Nate Myers of Southern Huntingdon threw for three touchdowns to lead the South to the 45-20 victory, snapping a five-game losing streak. The North leads the all-time series 20-18.

Scot Sechler

Sechler meant as much to his players as any coach could. He was a mentor, role model, and father figure, as devoted to their well-being off the field as he was to their success on it.

Sechler lost his battle with melanoma in November. The outpouring of grief throughout the region was a testament to how Sechler affected those around him.

Like many high school coaches, Sechler was the fabric of his community. An Indian Valley High alum, he attended Susquehanna and Penn State, competing as a sprinter, before embarking on his coaching career.

He started at Lewistown and Indian Valley, then came to Mifflin County, where he spent nearly 20 years at the helm of the football and track programs.

Sechler was a players’ coach who inspired deep loyalty and affection. His athletes looked to him not just for guidance but for friendship. Sechler gladly shouldered the responsibility, always putting others first even as he fought a difficult illness. Only his compassion surpassed his dedication.

The Mifflin County community remains forever indebted to Sechler for his irreplaceable contributions during his too-brief life. Though taken far too soon, his legacy continues thanks to his indelible imprint on the program he built and the countless players and coaches he inspired.

Scot’s wife and Mifflin County boys track coach, Tamara Sechler, is delighted yet astonished to receive the news, a bittersweet reminder of the legacy her late husband built in such a short time.

“It was a wonderful surprise to hear the CPFCA chose to honor Scot at the annual Lezzer Lumber Classic. He loved this game, bringing together and recognizing football players from all over Central PA,“ she said. “In his years as the head coach of Mifflin County football, he also enjoyed attending their meetings and interacting with a group of people who shared his love of the sport. Although he could only be in that position for a few years before cancer took him away, it is nice to know his contribution to the group was significant enough to be remembered in this way.“

Willie Breon

With an impressive background as a player and coach, Breon’s accomplishments on the gridiron have left an enduring mark on the local football landscape.

Breon lived and breathed Central Pennsylvania football his whole life, first as a standout player for Lewistown-Granville in the 1960s and then as a coach who helped turn around multiple area programs.

Mifflin County football coach Shane Breon had this to say about his father’s induction.

“It‘s really neat to honor him as a high school football coach and a teacher. It‘s great to see him get this recognition,“ he said. “I want to thank the coaches’ association for inducting him and Tom Shearer (former Indian Valley head coach and assistant under Breon) for nominating him. I‘m glad they saw Dad deserved to be in the Hall of Fame.“

Breon was a hard-hitting linebacker and center in high school, helping Lewistown-Granville win a conference title in 1966. Despite playing half his senior season with a broken hand, he earned Big 33 Honorable Mention honors in 1967. He took his talents to Lock Haven University, where he played while earning his teaching degree.

Breon launched his coaching career in 1973 at Clearfield High before returning home to coach at Chief Logan from 1977 to 1987. As defensive coordinator, his stingy units helped Chief Logan rattle off 20 straight wins and back-to-back championships in 1982 and ‘83. During this exceptional run, Breon’s defensive units yielded a mere 65 points in 1982 and 64 points in 1983.

After Chief Logan merged with another school to form Indian Valley, Breon took over as head coach in 1992. In his first season, the Warriors posted their first winning campaign and playoff berth in school history.

Breon was named Big 8 Coach of the Year in 1994 after leading Indian Valley to another league title and playoff appearance. His 1995 and ‘97 squads also reached the postseason, with the ‘96 team scoring the school‘s first-ever playoff victory. He coached the Warriors from 1992-99.

Breon was a player’s coach who valued hard work, discipline, and teamwork. His players responded to his leadership style and were fiercely loyal. Whether as a player, assistant, or head coach, Willie Breon was synonymous with success and championships.

Across his coaching stints in the Mifflin County schools and as the head coach at Indian Valley, Breon proved himself a master of his craft. As a player, coordinator, and head coach, his championship pedigree is a testament to his immense dedication and football acumen.

Shane Breon believes his father’s lasting contributions to the game and his students can be summed up as follows–passion, respect, and hard work.

“His fire for the game. His passion for the game. He never went into a game thinking they would get beat; that‘s what led to his upsets over Tyrone and then Central in the playoffs,“ Breon said. “The kids believed in him, and there was mutual respect there as a coordinator and head coach. They played hard for him, and that‘s all you can ask as a coach.“

His impact on Mifflin County football spanned over 30 years in various roles. The Hall of Fame nod is a testament to how thoroughly he shaped the local football scene. Breon carved out his own important place in that exclusive company through the lives he touched and teams he transformed along the way.

Lezzer Lumber Classic

South 45, North 20

North 0 6 014-20

South 014823-45

SCORING

2nd Quarter

N-Gavin Eckley 7 pass from Daniel McGarry (kick failed), 10:24.

S-Eli Lingenfelter 7 pass from Tucker Rossman (kick failed), 6:18.

S-Dominic Yanoshak 5 pass from Nate Myers (Ian Palilla 2-pt. kick), :49.

3rd Quarter

S-Yanoshak 18 pass from Myers (Palilla 2-pt. kick), 5:26.

4th Quarter