School isn’t the only tradition starting up again in September. Football is back with the Park Ridge Owls. The junior team started practicing early last month. Their record is 1 – 2 as of October 7, 2025.
Frankie Kozibroda, a sixth grader at Patrick M. Villano School, is currently on the junior football team. He wants to be a good leader and example for the younger players.
“Doing drills and setting examples for the fifth graders is what I do doing drills, since next year they will have the responsibilities I did,” Kozibroda said.
Kozibroda’s junior team is made of fifth and sixth graders from both Park Ridge and Emerson. The two towns combined programs to boost numbers. Some boys have been playing together since kindergarten. Luke Timmerman of Emerson is one of those boys. He’s a running back for the team, and says he loves football. Joey Ligouri of Emerson has played for four years.
“Its really an honor and a privilege to me and my teammates that we get to play on this team and practice and play games on these fields. I’m grateful for my coaches and teammates,” Ligouri expressed.
