Perfect Practice:
C-M Football Players Meet
Life-Skills Students on Field
I
n almost every football game, there is a
winning team and a losing team.
What happened October 22 at
Canonsburg Memorial Stadium produced
nothing but winners.
The Canon-McMillan football team and
a group of students from Mrs. Sherree
Mohler’s life-skills class came together for
a unique practice.
The outcomes were particularly special
as friendships were made, some football
was taught and learned and fun was had
by all.
“This group wasn’t unique or different,”
said senior Andrew Engle, a Big Macs’
football player. “All of the kids were just
like (one another), just some high school
students who wanted to try out a new
sport.
“It was my absolute pleasure being
able to help out every one who wanted
to learn. Yes, we do not normally engage
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with one another but this experience
changed that greatly.”
The Big Macs’ football team, while
preparing for its regular-season finale
against Butler — a game Canon-McMillan
needed to win to qualify for the WPIAL
playoffs — dedicated the practice to
opening the doors to the game for fellow
C-M students, who participated in drills
that develop players and sharpen their
skills.
“The football practice event was a
collaboration between Coach (Mike)
Evans, the varsity football team and me,”
said Mohler, one of the Autistic Support-
Life Skills Support Teachers at Canon-
McMillan High School.
Coach Evans wanted to provide an
opportunity for the team to give back
to the community. I also feel that it is
important for my special-needs students
to have as much opportunity as possible
Henry Cicconi works his way through a
football skill drill to improve footwork
and agility.
to interact with their typical peers inside
and outside the school building.
“The football practice was a perfect
learning experience for all involved to
socialize, provide team building and
cooperation, communication, and make
lasting friendships.”
Evans said the intention was to give
young people who wouldn’t normally
have an opportunity to practice or play
football to come together with Big Macs’
football team members to learn, build
relationships and learn about one another.
“We had one of the (life-skills) students
come down and ask about it,” Evans said.
“It’s important to do good things for
people. We definitely wanted to help and
be part of it. The senior class drove it.
The senior class made signup sheets
and organized the practice.
“They received an overwhelming
response,” Evans said. “Our senior players