Pleasantville Panthers Football Team Brings Out the Crowds

From kindergartners to high school seniors, the Pleasantville school community came out on Friday to give a loud and enthusiastic send-off to the Pleasantville Panthers before the football team heads to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse to play in the Class B State Championship game.

It is the second year in a row that the Panthers will compete in the New York State Championship. The team won the Championship in 2017.

“It's very difficult to reach the state championship in any sport,” said Tony Becerra, who has been head coach of the team since 2004. “In football there's a 'high risk, high reward' aspect because players and coaches put in a lot of hard work to play only one game a week.”

The reward part was obvious as cheering students crowded the Pleasantville High School front circle waving signs and asking for the players’ autographs.

“I think they are going to win,” said Wes, a third grader in Tara Reay’s class at Bedford Road. “That’s why I wrote on my sign ‘I hope you win.’”

As Pleasantville High School Student Council President Mia Hoxhaj called the roster of players one-by-one, students in the crowed lined up for a chance to give high-fives to each of the team members.

“Our team values go beyond winning and losing,” Pleasantville Schools Athletic Director Dan Iorio said. “Players in these programs take pride in the experience and the lessons that are taught by their coaches, which last long after their high school career is over. We as a department try to promote the idea that everyone who contributes to the team is valued. I find that when all roles are valued, players are more willing to accept these roles and our teams become more successful.”

The Panthers have won 10 league championships and five section championships since 2004. Sunday’s game will be a rematch against Maine-Edwell Senior High School.

“Our success this year can be attributed to the combined efforts of players, coaches, parents, alumni and school administration,” said Coach Becerra, who teaches physical education at the Bedford Road School. “The support we receive year in and year out is incredible, and it has been an absolute privilege for me to coach these young men. There is nothing like small-town football and Pleasantville is a special place to teach and coach.”