The Easton Foundation has named Joseph York as this year’s Grand Marshal for its Battle of the Heroes charity flag football game. York, best known as Coach Joe in Raider football circles, is entering his 19th year as an assistant coach with the Habersham Central High School football program. He has long been regarded as a source of strength for the team, students, and fans and has maintained relationships with players beyond the playing field.
‘Can’t imagine Raider football without him’
“Coach York is an integral part of our program and inspires both our coaches and players every day,” says Habersham Central Head Football Coach Benji Harrison. “He’s the most dedicated individual I’ve had the pleasure of working with and I can’t imagine Raider football without him.”
The foundation will honor York during pregame festivities at the event on Saturday, August 6. The game, which pits first responders from Habersham and Banks counties against their Hall County peers, raises money to support the foundation’s charitable causes.
“As a foundation serving the young people of our community, we could not imagine a better-suited person to serve as our grand marshal,” says Easton Foundation Board of Directors Chair Glenn Ingram.
The foundation is named in honor of former Raider student-athlete Easton Singleton who died in a car accident in 2012.
“One of my final memories of Easton was a photo that showed both him and another player walking off the field with Coach Joe in the background. For someone that has given so much to our community’s youth, I know this is a perfect fit for our grand marshal,” Ingram says.
Motivation and milestones
Joseph York has been involved with Habersham Central football since his junior year at the school. Born with cerebral palsy and confined to a wheelchair, he has motivated and inspired athletes to overcome obstacles through his unwavering support of the team and motivational speeches. Some of Coach Joe’s favorite Raider moments include going to the state playoffs in 2011 when quarterback Kevin Ellison led the team. He also fondly looks back on 2018 when the Raiders shut out Douglas County at Raider Stadium to end their years-long playoff drought.
In addition to celebrating Coach Joe’s contributions to Raider football and the larger community, the Battle of the Heroes will mark a significant milestone. It will be the last time that Habersham Central
Band of Blue Director Ryan Dukes will lead the marching band on the field for this charity event.
Dukes was in his fifth year of teaching at HCHS when Easton Singleton died. He says it’s been a true honor to support the foundation that grew from that tragedy.
“I had not witnessed a group of students and community come together with such a focus on loving and supporting a foundation in this manner,” he says.
Dukes has faithfully brought the Band of Blue to the Battle of the Heroes game each year. Now, in his last year of teaching, he’s preparing to hand over the reins to his successor, Jacob Weinstein. Both directors will be present with the band at Saturday’s game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Raider Stadium in Mt. Airy. A 15-minute fireworks show will cap off the evening at the end of the game.
