Coach Bagnall named Dream Game ‘Man of the Year’

Nearly eight seasons have passed since Dick Bagnall graced the Susquehanna Community High School football sidelines, yet the accolades continue to mount.

Bagnall will be honored as “Man of the Year” at halftime of tonight’s 85th annual Scranton Lions Club’s Dream Game to be held at Jack Henzes/Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Peckville.

Last year, Bagnall was selected to the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Hall of Fame after compiling a 169-129-3 record in almost three decades as coach of the Sabers.

For his commitment and dedication to the football community the Scranton Lions Club has chosen Bagnall as its Man of the Year.

After joining the staff as an assistant in 1972, Bagnall became the head coach in 1975 and guided the Sabers until 1995.

During that tenure Bagnall’s Sabers captured Suburban Conference Championships in 1975, 1981, 1982, and 1995; and claimed a victory in the District 2-12 1A sub regional in 1994 when his Sabers defeated District II and Big 11 powerhouse Lakeland in the final. The win ended a 22-game losing streak that Suburban Conference teams had in matchups with Big 11 teams in the playoffs.

After a decade long hiatus, Bagnall returned to the sidelines to revive a program in the midst of a 34-game losing streak. Despite entering into a co-operative agreement with the neighboring Blue Ridge School District, the program suffered from low participant numbers.

Coach Bagnall was able to turn the tide and lead the Sabers to a Lackawanna Football Conference Division III title and District II playoff berth in 2010. He retired a second time after the 2011 season.

At tonight’s Dream Game, current Saber coach Kyle Cook will be at the helm of the City team. Cook is coming off a season in which he led the Susquehanna team to the District II Class 2A Championship game.

Four local players were also named to the team: Mason Deakin, Adam Roe and Sam Cosmello from the Sabers; and Chuck Rohan of the Meteors.