CANTON — Canton will have a new man leading its varsity football program for the first time in a quarter-century. Jerry "Satch" Sawyer Jr., formerly a volunteer coach with Ogdensburg Free Academy, will head the team this fall.

"It's something I always wanted to do," Sawyer said. "If you don't want to be a head coach, why are you in it?"

Sawyer, 39, takes over for Dave Bradman, who retired from Canton after a 25-year stint on the sidelines. Bradman, who also served as the Golden Bears' lacrosse coach, said Sawyer was a prime candidate with the necessary coaching resume to lead Canton into it's next era of football.

According to Sawyer, Canton superintendent William Gregory appointed him coach-elect on Thursday. The board of education will need to approve the appointment before it's official. Sawyer said that should happen later this month.

"He's had experience working at a small school and has the north country experience," Bradman said. "He's a guy who lives football and really wants to be a football coach."

Sawyer, a 1986 graduate of OFA, also played football for the Blue Devils and went on to a brief career at Ithaca College.

"I'm excited," he said. "It's my first time being a head coach."

Sawyer takes over a Canton team which finished 4-5 last season. He says there will be a number of changes in coaching style, but the athletes will still enjoy playing the game.

"I may be intense with the fact that I like to get after it," Sawyer said. "I believe in a lot of hard work and effort, but I also believe we can still work hard and have fun at the same time."

Sawyer added that he feels his job as coach isn't only to get wins. He said he wants to mentor his players and be there as more than just a man with a whistle.

"I want to make these kids better people," he said.

ROTARY TO HOST ALL-STARS

The fifth annual North Country Rotary All-Star Football Classic will take place at 7 p.m. tonight at Frank Tice Memorial field in Tupper Lake.

The game features the graduated senior football standouts from Section 7 and Section 10. Last year, the West needed a two-point conversion to top the East all-stars to win, 21-20.

The West will have nine north country schools represented on this year's team, while the East with feature eight other schools.

The Rotary Club of Tupper Lake will use the proceeds from the game to help fund both local and international community projects.