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Five more former star players and long-time athletic department secretary Janice Sandy will be honored by the Belle Vernon Area Football Hall of Fame at the varsity football team’s home opener on Sept. 13.

The induction ceremony will launch halftime activities when the 2019 edition of the Leopards meets Laurel Highlands. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.

 This marks the 20th anniversary of the BVA Football Hall of Fame, operated by a small group of directors who raise funds, research records, prepare the commemorative book and carry out other organizational tasks to keep alive the school’s storied football program.

The 2019 football honorees are Rich Babich, a standout on Bellmar High School teams of the early 1950s; Terry Cotter, a 1968 BVA graduate whose honors included a Big 33 nomination; Frank Indof Jr., a feisty Leopard who went on to an outstanding athletic career at Bethany College; Cam Totedo, key contributor to an 11-0 BVA team that advanced to the WPIAL championship game in 2000; and Jonathan Vitale, a standout on the 1988 and 1989 teams that racked up 17 wins. This year’s special inductee is Janice Sandy, the knowledgeable and efficient athletic department secretary described as the “glue that holds us together.”

“We are once again proud to call attention to these individuals who are part of our history, our legacy,” a BVA Hall of Fame spokesman said. “Their achievements have enabled us to gain respect among peers for school district athletics covering generations.”

Hall of Fame directors are Steve Russell, Jack Fayak, Rob Harhai, Rebecca Hazy, Nick Gruber, Aaron McCullough and Joe Grata. Student volunteers will be selling commemorative 40-page books offering biographies of the 181st through 186th inductees, along with information, photos and records not available elsewhere.

Go to our "Gallery" to see photos of the BVA Hall of Fame Football Inductees.

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