Public League's equipped for game

It's OK to remove your finger from the panic button.

As the Public League squad prepares to meet a Non-Public team in the 33rd annual Daily News-Eagles City All-Star Football Game, full-scale practices are now taking place.

As of late last week, half of the Pub players did not have equipment. Riddell was withholding the gear due to past nonpayment transgressions by the school district; schools send out helmets and shoulder pads for reconditioning after each season.

Simon Gratz' Erik Zipay, the PL's coach, said his own school's equipment was returned earlier this week and that he was able to outfit those players who were having to do without.

"Everything's good now," he said. *

- Ted Silary