FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Mansfield Lights It Up Again after 121 Years – Mounties host Princeton in Season Opener in First Night Game Since 1892 – Broadcast Live on ESPN 3
MANSFIELD -- For the first time in 121-years, Mansfield University – the Birthplace of Night Football – will host a night football game when the Mountaineers take on the Princeton Tigers in the 2013 CSFL opener for both teams Saturday night at Karl Van Norman Field.
Kickoff is set for 7:35 p.m. The game will be broadcast by Sportsfever and shown live on Blue Ridge Cable, WETM-2 and on ESPN 3 starting at 7:30 pm. You can also listen to the game on ESPN Radio Williamsport with Shane Wilber and streamed on GoMounties.com.
On the evening of September 28, 1892, Mansfield University, then called Mansfield State Normal School, hosted Wyoming Seminary in what later became recognized by both the College and Professional Football Halls of Fame as the world's first night football game.
The game, which took place five years before Mansfield had electricity, was part of the Great Mansfield Fair with electricity provided by a dynamo brought in by train. The thousands of people who were recorded as attending that first night football game, were actually there to see the lights and got a two-for-one show.
The game, which ended in a 0-0 tie, was called at halftime because of the dangerous conditions created by the feeble light. It would be 121 years before Mansfield would have the opportunity to host another night football game.
Saturday's game marks the 119th season of Mansfield football since the university first fielded a team in 1891.
The Mountaineers return a core group of veterans along with a strong recruiting class for 2013. Head coach
Graham Johnsen, who was an assistant coach on the Mountaineers 8-3 team in 2003, is in his second year at the helm and has brought a great deal of consistency to the program.
The offense returns most of its skilled players from last season including quarterbacks
Ben Pepper and
Mike Maniscalco who split duties in 2012. Junior Jeremy Estermera, a 2nd Team All-CSFL selection, was a two-time CSFL Offensive Player of the Week last season and will start the year at running back. Senior
David Wallace was also named to All-CSFL honors after leading the team with 27 catches for 271 yards and five TD's last year. Fellow wide out
Casey Huff also earned All-League honor with 20 catches for 236 yards as a freshman. The offensive line is led by a pair of three year starters in 2nd Team All-CSFL selection
Blaine Wainwright and
Josh Stone.
Although the Mountaineers lost a good deal of starter from last year's defensive unit, they return a lot of veterans who saw action. The defensive will revolve around senior linebacker
Jake Myers who earned All-CSFL 2nd Team honors last season after leading the team, and ranking second in the CSFL, in tackles with 61.
Mansfield replaces most of its front line and secondary with seniors
Anthony Mazzone and
Jonathan Keller along with junior
Thomas Hanlon providing veteran leadership. The secondary will feature many new, but talented, faces that should be bigger and more athletic as a unit.
Stephen Everette is entering his third season at the helm of the Princeton and has produced markedly improved teams in each of his first two years. Last season four of Princeton's six losses came by seven points or less.
Senior John Wolf heads up the offense after catching 19 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns last year while senior Lawrence Diao and junior Chris McCord were All-CSFL selections in 2012.
Mansfield hits the road for the first time in 2013 next Friday when the Mountaineers travel to historic Franklin Field to play Penn.
