Honesdale football players earn invitations to the 88th Annual Dream Game

PECKVILLE — One of the most pleasant surprises of the 2021 Lackawanna Football Conference season was the performance of a young Honesdale team.

Under the direction of Head Coach Paul Russick, the Hornets battled their way to a respectable 4-6 record. Included among those wins was a stunning road upset of perennial powerhouse Abington Heights.

Two senior captains played key roles in Honesdale’s success last fall and both will be taking their talents to the next level. Tailback Connor Schmitt will be attending Hartwick College, while lineman Kyle Hanson has committed to Misericordia.

Before they head off to the NCAA wars, though, Schmitt and Hanson will represent the Hornets at the 88th Annual Scranton Lions Club Dream Game.

“I’m excited to see how they compete with and against the area’s best,” said Coach Russick. “They’re both great kids. I think the Dream Game is a fantastic way for them to start preparing for their freshman season.”

This year’s edition of the LFC’s senior all-star classic will be played at John Henzes Veterans Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, July 20. Opening kick-off is set for 7 p.m.

Onward & Upward

Schmitt didn’t start playing organized football until seventh grade as a member of the junior high squad.

Connor’s physical style of play and innate athleticism attracted coaches’ attention almost immediately, though. And by the time he arrived on the varsity scene, Schmitt was poised to excel on both sides of the ball.

While he impressed defensively at linebacker, Connor dazzled on offense at both fullback and tailback.

“Connor has two of the things we preached to him: vision and patience,” said Coach Russick. “He sets up his blocks while having patience to find the hole. He’s perfect for the zone run scheme we installed when I took over.“

Schmitt’s numbers bear out that assertion.

As a sophomore, Connor rushed for 719 yards and eight touchdowns. He added 715 yards and six more scores during his junior campaign. As a senior, Schmitt powered his way to 1,060 yards and six TDs.

All told, he closed out a stellar three-year varsity career with a total of 2,494 yards and 20 touchdowns … which made him a no-brainer when it came time for Dream Game nominations.

Schmitt is looking forward to playing for the County Team and contributing in any way Coach Keith Olsommer asks.

“I am up for wherever coach wants me,” Connor said of the possibility of seeing time offensively and defensively. “If I can help on both sides I will absolutely do that.”

The Dream Game is the longest running high school football all-star game in the country. This will be the 88th edition of the mid-summer gridiron classic … and an appropriate way for Schmitt to close out his varsity career.

“I loved every second of my time at Honesdale,” Connor said. “The small town atmosphere where everybody knows one another is very special. And, there were so many great people who helped me every step of the way.”

Connor is the son of Mark and Brenda Schmitt. He’s an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and TJ Watt is his favorite player.

Schmitt is excited to be taking his game to the next level at Hartwick where he’ll pursue studies in History and Education.

“I would like to thank my parents for always believing in me and pushing me to be the best I can be,” Connor said. “I would also like to thank my three brothers for showing me the game of football and helping me achieve my goals.”

In the Trenches

Hanson enjoyed an outstanding 2021 season, anchoring Honesdale’s offensive and defensive lines.

His natural leadership abilities, blue collar work ethic and unselfish attitude made Kyle a perfect choice to serve as a team captain. He set an excellent example for his younger teammates on and off the field.

“Kyle is our strongest player,” said Coach Russick. “He had a great senior year for us. Kyle played both sides of the ball. He’s a guard on offense and was very effective as a run blocker.”

Hanson is a well-rounded young man who works on a local horse farm every weekend. He’s also an avid fisherman and workout warrior, putting in countless hours pumping iron with teammates and coaches.

Thanks in part to Hanson’s consistent play in the trenches, Honesdale won its final two games of the LFC slate and earned a spot in the District 2 playoffs.

Kyle is the son of Corey and Sue Hanson. He’s a fan of the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. He got his first taste of the gridiron while playing for the Wayne Highlands Stingers in the All-County Conference Junior Football League.

From there, Kyle advanced to the junior high ranks and then the Honesdale freshman team. Longtime coach Gordy West was instrumental in convincing Hanson to focus on making the varsity squad where he quickly became a fixture in the starting line-up.

The next stage of his academic and athletic career will take place at Misericordia University this coming fall.

Hanson is hoping to study History and Secondary Education while also playing football for the Cougars. Coach John Davis’ squad posted an overall record of 3-6 last season including a pair of wins in the MAC.

Kyle is currently traveling in Greece and Italy with his classmates. TCI Sports will catch up with him when he returns during the run-up to this year's Dream Game Classic.