Lions take mandatory break before season opener

By Lisa Paine
Posted Thursday, July 3, 2008

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By Lisa Paine
VIEW Sports Editor

ALMONT — After a perfect 3-0 preseason that included wins over the Detroit Diesel and the Flint Fury, the newly formed Lapeer County Lions semipro football team will kick off its first regular season in the North American Football League at 7 p.m. July 12 at Almont High School. A rematch against the Flint Fury will get the regular season rolling.

After spending the majority of the late winter and spring finding a home field, the Lions announced in May that their games would be played at Almont. Other locations under consideration included Replays in Lapeer, the former North Branch Wesleyan High School field and the practice football field at North Branch High School.

The Lions pulled some of the best high school graduates from Oakland, Genesee and Lapeer counties, with more than a dozen from Imlay City, Lapeer and North Branch. Several former Genesee County Patriots and Flint Admirals players also made the final roster.

Jeff Tody, 27, a Davison grad and former Genesee County Patriot, is an inside linebacker. At 5-foot-10 and 200 lbs. Tody has already earned several Player of the Week nods.

Andy Tvorik, 34, also of Davison and the Patriots is a 5-foot-11, 240-lb. defensive tackle.

Jeff Brown, 34, of Goodrich is a 5-foot-9, 230-lb. defensive tackle.

Lapeer West grad, Matt Yelle, 24, a 6-foot-2, 230-lb. defensive end joins brothers, Danny, 28, a 5-foot-11 linebacker and Kenny Yelle, 29, a 5-foot-11, 195-lb. linebacker.

Fellow Panther Kevin Pritchard, 26, is a 5-foot-11, 185-lb. running back.

Imlay City fields the largest contingent with Justin Sortor, 20, a 6-foot, 160-lb. quarterback; Tre Montroy, 19, a 5-foot-11, 185-lb. cornerback; Angel Pizzaro, 18, a 5-foot-10, 160-lb. cornerback; Trevor Montroy, 19, a 5-foot-9, 190-lb. running back; Brad Jackman, 19, a 5-foot-10, 160-lb. running back; Danny Bieganowski, 24, a 5-foot-10, 190-lb. fullback; Rich Webster, 28, a 5-foot-11, 200-lb. defensive tackle; David Grapetin, 23, a 6-foot-1, 190-lb. wide receiver; Santiago Mauricio, 33, a 6-foot, 300-lb. offensive tackle and Tommy Schutz, 40, a 6-foot-3, 345-lb. offensive tackle. Rick

Yarbrough, 23, a 5-goot-10, 165-lb. wide receiver hails from North Branch.

Car wash fundraisers, tryouts for the Lady Lions and Little Lady Lions dance teams, and other marketing plans were put into motion in the early spring. To help kick off the season, the Little Ladies and Lady Lions will perform for the first time at halftime of the July 12 season opener.

A mini cheerleading camp for young ladies will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and the singing twin duo R & R Doubletake will also perform at halftime. Kid’s Day activities will include a punt, pass and kick competition from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with winners announced in each age group during halftime. Face painting, moon walks and other $1 activities for kids of all ages will take place prior to the game.

Admission is $7 for adults and kids under the age of 12 are admitted free of charge.