With an imminent and distant future ahead, Derrick Bond understands what a commitment in sports and life is about.

Head football coach Tom Falzone refers to Bond as the team's "jack-of-all-trades" as he been the squad utility man this fall, being able to replace or temporarily fill-in spots along the way.

Bond has played both tight end and wide receiver for the Roughies and has been on the line and in the linebacking corps on defense.

After a knee injury sidelined him for half of 20132 season, Bond has redirected and refocused his efforts to make the best of his senior season. His playing time and responsibilities likely will increase on offense due to the recent injury to Jacob Stopay, who will be lost from the team for three to four weeks.

With the Roughies again steamrolling through their regular season, Bond has taken the undefeated campaign in stride.

"For me, it has been a good year and I'm hungry and anxious to do well," said Bond. "We prepare the same for each game and we attack it like it is our last. That's how it was last year, too.

"We have a great group of seniors who have played together for a while and we know each other very well. There really hasn't been too many adjustments."

As for Bond, it took him a few weeks to adjust to his new positions.

"At first, it was tough," recalled Bond. "But we have a great coaching staff here and I felt comfortable soon after that. It was just a matter of doing some different things. I knew I was committed to getting everything right."

Falzone was confident Bond would be a good fit.

"Derrick (Bond) is a hard worker and we knew he could make the change," said Falzone. "He can play at a few different spots for us. He has really made some great improvements in his play over the past two years."

After Catasauqua, Bond plans to venture into a field of entering one of the service academies, and avenue he has pondered for quite some time.

"I know I want to go to one of them and I might think about playing football," he said. 'I don't know what career I would like to pursue, but I know I'd like to be in one of the academies."

Bond credits his father, Michael, in helping him learn the basics of sports as well as being there for constant support. His mother, Kristin, is a former head boys' volleyball coach at Catty and brothers Kevin, a sophomore, and Cullen, an eighth-grader, have helped formed a solid sports family model.

"My family has always been there for me," he said. "We have all been involved with sports and it is a big part of our lives."

Bond's best sports memories ironically both have been defeats in district championships games, both in football and basketball last season. He plans to do his part to help erase those memories and create more positive ones.

"We just have to take one game at a time," he stated. "But I want to end on a good note. I just have to keep working and moving forward."

Judging by his sense of commitment and character, it should be that difficult.