Skylights

Central Catholic father, son share Friday night football experience

PITTSBURGH — Sports have the ability to create a special bond between families. On the Central Catholic football team, those bonds are even more apparent as the program has three fathers on the coaching staff with sons suiting up for the Vikings.

That includes quarterback Peyton Wehner and his father, the wide receivers coach.

“You know, he’s always on me. He’s always just trying to make me the best I can be,” Peyton Wehner said.

“Me on his back makes it easy on him on Friday night,” Jim Wehner said.

Between the two, there are coaching moments.

“I want him to push me everyday just as any other coach would,” Peyton Wehner said.

There are also dad moments, like when there’s an injury. Peyton Wehner hurt his ankle in last year’s WPIAL championship game.

“What do you do? Your son is laying there. You know, as a dad you’re thinking is he ever going to walk again,” Jim Wehner said.

The conversations between the two don’t stop the minute they walk off the field on Friday nights.

“On the field, I think he sort of blocks me out. And going home, he tries to block me out. But it’s me and him in the car so he really can’t block me out because I turn the radio off. And we talk about what went on in practice and what he needs to do to get better,” Jim Wehner said.

“We are always close, me and my dad. We’ve always been close and we just, we were always in the backyard throwing, going through our plays,” Peyton Wehner said.

Even though they might not admit it, the Wehners have a whole lot of pride for each other both on and off the field.