Considering how Berlin lost its PIAA Class A second-round playoff game versus Vincentian Academt Wednesday at Hempfield High School, it's easy to understand why the Mountaineers took the loss so hard.
Berlin pushed Vincentian, which entered the game with one loss and not many close calls through 27 games, to the limit. The Mountaineers even led the heavily favored Royals with four minutes remaining.
It ended with a 44-42 loss when Vincentian's Academy Abbey Bartoszewicz putback her own missed layup as time expired. The Mountaineers twice rallied from double-digit deficits, held Royals standout Brenna Wise without a field goal in the second half and Vincentian to just 12 second-half points.
"All the hard work these girls put in, I couldn't be more proud," Mountaineers coach Rachel Prosser said as she held back her emotions in the aftermath of the heartbreaking loss.
Berlin should also be excited for the future.
Marah Riley was the lone senior starter. Jordan Eutsey was also a senior, but she lost her last two seasons to two different knee injuries.
Back will be Shelby Coughenour, arguably the Mountaineers' best player. Erica Craig, who defended Wise exceptionally in the second half, will return. So will point guard Gina Trulick and Aleesa Fieg, who made all eight of her free-throw attempts to lead Berlin with 10 points against Vincentian.
Considering how well Berlin played in the state playoffs and a difficult District 5 Class A bracket, there's reason to believe Berlin can better this year's 23-5 record.
"They should take a lot of confidence from this. They played their hearts out. They did what they needed to do to win against one of the top programs in the state," Prosser said. "This should want to make them get better. They were one turnover away from winning this game. We have room to improve. That's the good thing."
Showing posts with label Features. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Features. Show all posts
Friday, March 15, 2013
Monday, November 26, 2012
#Won13
Every team has preseason goals and expectations. The Richland High School football team is no different.
The Rams, however, aren't afraid to raise the bar.
They're not afraid to let it be known, either.
Before a down was played this season, Richland adopted a Twitter hashtag used by coach Brandon Bailey, players and fans alike.
Many tweets concluded with "#win13."
For those not in the know, Twitter is a booming method of social media. It's used by movie stars, rock stars, pro athletes and, on a more local level, high school student-athletes and coaches. Twitter is an effective and quick way to communicate with an entire team and beyond.
Richland football actively uses Twitter as a communication vehicle. The Rams also entered the season with the heavy expectation of winning its first 13 games, which would lead to the program's first district championship.
Hence, the hashtag "#win13."
A couple weeks ago, senior receiver/defensive back Luke Shertzer explained the hashtag.
"It's something we talked about before the season, and it feels great knowing we're close to achieving it," Shertzer said. "All summer long, we talked about winning the (Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference) and the district. Winning 13 games meant we would do both."
Well, Richland achieved its goal Friday night when it shut out Forest Hills, 27-0, in the District 6 Class AA championship at Mansion Park in Altoona.
It prompted a change in hashtags.
Shertzer, who goes by @GeistownsFinest on Twitter said following the win, "Wouldn't trade this team for the world, thank you for making my senior year memorable#loveyall #WON13"
Matt Shaffer (@mshaffe12) "Words just can't describe this...#won13"
Tanner Solarczyk (@Tsolarczyk) "Best feeling ever#won13"
Mario Rizzo (@mariorizzo1411) "Hats off to FH, great game D6 champs!!!! Greatest feeling. Lets keep rolling and#win16"
Of course, for the Rams to win 16, it means they'll be crowned PIAA champions at the end of the year. First, Richland (13-0) must get past District 10 champion Hickory in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Slippery Rock University.
Who knows, by next week, maybe Richland will be tweeting "#won14."
The Rams, however, aren't afraid to raise the bar.
They're not afraid to let it be known, either.
Before a down was played this season, Richland adopted a Twitter hashtag used by coach Brandon Bailey, players and fans alike.
Many tweets concluded with "#win13."
For those not in the know, Twitter is a booming method of social media. It's used by movie stars, rock stars, pro athletes and, on a more local level, high school student-athletes and coaches. Twitter is an effective and quick way to communicate with an entire team and beyond.
Richland football actively uses Twitter as a communication vehicle. The Rams also entered the season with the heavy expectation of winning its first 13 games, which would lead to the program's first district championship.
Hence, the hashtag "#win13."
A couple weeks ago, senior receiver/defensive back Luke Shertzer explained the hashtag.
"It's something we talked about before the season, and it feels great knowing we're close to achieving it," Shertzer said. "All summer long, we talked about winning the (Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference) and the district. Winning 13 games meant we would do both."
Well, Richland achieved its goal Friday night when it shut out Forest Hills, 27-0, in the District 6 Class AA championship at Mansion Park in Altoona.
It prompted a change in hashtags.
Shertzer, who goes by @GeistownsFinest on Twitter said following the win, "Wouldn't trade this team for the world, thank you for making my senior year memorable
Matt Shaffer (@mshaffe12) "Words just can't describe this...
Tanner Solarczyk (@Tsolarczyk) "Best feeling ever
Mario Rizzo (@mariorizzo1411) "Hats off to FH, great game D6 champs!!!! Greatest feeling. Lets keep rolling and
Of course, for the Rams to win 16, it means they'll be crowned PIAA champions at the end of the year. First, Richland (13-0) must get past District 10 champion Hickory in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Slippery Rock University.
Who knows, by next week, maybe Richland will be tweeting "#won14."
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
North Star's two-back system proves effective
Between Rashard Mendenhall, Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer, it's been said that the Pittsburgh Steelers have an embarrassment of riches at the running back position. Some have gone as far as saying the trio gives Pittsburgh the most depth at the position in the NFL.
While not many have said that North Star boasts the best backfield depth in District 5. The statement may be true.
The Cougars, who are in the District 5 Class A championship game for the fourth time in five years, can counter any defense with a runner suited to help North Star win a football game.
And North Star (10-2) has won seven straight games, including three by shutout, heading into Friday night's championship game against Berlin (10-1) at Somerset. The game also serves as a first-round game in the PIAA Class A playoffs with the winner drawing the WPIAL champion, either Clairton or Sto-Rox, Nov. 30.
"For us, everything starts with the line play more so than anything else," North Star coach Stacy Schmitt said. "If we're having a hard time moving people, Thomas Miller is the better back to move people with. Shawn Costas has blinding speed."
Miller, a 5-foot-8, 185-pound junior, rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore. This year, he's carried the football 142 times for 709 yards and six touchdowns. Two of those scores, 26 of his carries and a season-high 132 yards came in last week's thrilling 21-20 win at Northern Bedford in double overtime.
Costas (5-5. 145) has rushed for a team-high 714 yards and 6.0 yards per carry. His best game came at Blacklick Valley when he rushed 19 times for 176 yards.
The nature of a particular game determines who will be effective and which back we'll go with," Schmitt said. "It's not a case of which back is better because they're both very good."
No matter the back, North Star will need to run the football against a determined Berlin team coming off a semifinal performance against Windber where the Mountaineers rushed for 463 yards and five touchdowns.
While not many have said that North Star boasts the best backfield depth in District 5. The statement may be true.
The Cougars, who are in the District 5 Class A championship game for the fourth time in five years, can counter any defense with a runner suited to help North Star win a football game.
And North Star (10-2) has won seven straight games, including three by shutout, heading into Friday night's championship game against Berlin (10-1) at Somerset. The game also serves as a first-round game in the PIAA Class A playoffs with the winner drawing the WPIAL champion, either Clairton or Sto-Rox, Nov. 30.
"For us, everything starts with the line play more so than anything else," North Star coach Stacy Schmitt said. "If we're having a hard time moving people, Thomas Miller is the better back to move people with. Shawn Costas has blinding speed."
Miller, a 5-foot-8, 185-pound junior, rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore. This year, he's carried the football 142 times for 709 yards and six touchdowns. Two of those scores, 26 of his carries and a season-high 132 yards came in last week's thrilling 21-20 win at Northern Bedford in double overtime.
Costas (5-5. 145) has rushed for a team-high 714 yards and 6.0 yards per carry. His best game came at Blacklick Valley when he rushed 19 times for 176 yards.
The nature of a particular game determines who will be effective and which back we'll go with," Schmitt said. "It's not a case of which back is better because they're both very good."
No matter the back, North Star will need to run the football against a determined Berlin team coming off a semifinal performance against Windber where the Mountaineers rushed for 463 yards and five touchdowns.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Mixed feelings on bye week for Berlin, Windber
Windber received a first-round bye in the 2011 District 5 Class A playoffs. For the Ramblers, it was a chance to earn a well-deserved rest.
"We gave the kids the whole week off," Windber coach Matt Grohal said. "We lifted two or three times and watched film but we didn't go out on the practice field until we knew we were playing Northern Bedford."
As the second-seed in this year's District 5 postseason, Berlin (9-1) received a first-round bye. The Mountaineers handled things differently than the Ramblers did a year ago.
Of course, Berlin was coming off a loss at Windber to conclude the regular season last week.
"We had four days of practice and we gave the kids Friday off," Berlin coach Doug Paul said. "Most of the team went out to Windber to watch them play Tussey Mountain. This week, it's back to a normal five days of practice."
This week is far from normal, however, as Windber (9-2) travels to Berlin for a District 5 Class A semifinal Saturday night at Snyder of Berlin Sports Complex.
Will the bye week help Berlin? Time will tell, but both coaches have mixed feelings on the bye week.
"Some kids are banged up this time of year and it gives them a little more time to heal," Paul said. "At the same time, when you're heading into the playoffs, you want to keep playing. Two years ago, I didn't like having the bye. It mixed up the routine."
Will not having the bye hurt Windber? The Ramblers bring a four-game win streak into Berlin, but they're also banged up. Devon Tomlinson, a key running back and the team leader with seven interceptions, suffered a broken ankle against Tussey Mountain. Leading rusher Dustin Blough is dealing with injury, as is starting quarterback Dakote Gipe.
Grohal expects Gipe, who is dealing with an elbow injury, to play.
"To be honest, I don't like the bye. At this time of year, you just want to keep playing," Grohal said. "Of course, in hindsight, we would have taken the bye week this year given what happened (against Tussey Mountain)."
"We gave the kids the whole week off," Windber coach Matt Grohal said. "We lifted two or three times and watched film but we didn't go out on the practice field until we knew we were playing Northern Bedford."
As the second-seed in this year's District 5 postseason, Berlin (9-1) received a first-round bye. The Mountaineers handled things differently than the Ramblers did a year ago.
Of course, Berlin was coming off a loss at Windber to conclude the regular season last week.
"We had four days of practice and we gave the kids Friday off," Berlin coach Doug Paul said. "Most of the team went out to Windber to watch them play Tussey Mountain. This week, it's back to a normal five days of practice."
This week is far from normal, however, as Windber (9-2) travels to Berlin for a District 5 Class A semifinal Saturday night at Snyder of Berlin Sports Complex.
Will the bye week help Berlin? Time will tell, but both coaches have mixed feelings on the bye week.
"Some kids are banged up this time of year and it gives them a little more time to heal," Paul said. "At the same time, when you're heading into the playoffs, you want to keep playing. Two years ago, I didn't like having the bye. It mixed up the routine."
Will not having the bye hurt Windber? The Ramblers bring a four-game win streak into Berlin, but they're also banged up. Devon Tomlinson, a key running back and the team leader with seven interceptions, suffered a broken ankle against Tussey Mountain. Leading rusher Dustin Blough is dealing with injury, as is starting quarterback Dakote Gipe.
Grohal expects Gipe, who is dealing with an elbow injury, to play.
"To be honest, I don't like the bye. At this time of year, you just want to keep playing," Grohal said. "Of course, in hindsight, we would have taken the bye week this year given what happened (against Tussey Mountain)."
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Backyard football helps Richland become elite
Being undefeated at this late stage of the season, which is something that sets the Richland High School football team apart from all others, requires a combination of things.
First, there needs to be talent. Check. The Rams boast talent in bunches and at all positions.
Players need to be coachable. Check. Richland's players often talk about following the game plan in order to be successful.
Sometimes a team needs to catch a few breaks, or at least make their own. That happened in the regular season finale as Richland won a tough game at Bellwood Antis.
Often, intangibles come in to play.
And there's at least one offseason intangible Richland (11-0), which hosts Tyrone (8-3) Friday night in the District 6 Class AA semifinals, attributes its in-season success to.
"Our kids love to play football," Richland coach Brandon Bailey said. "Come up to Richland any time of the year, and you'll see those kids back there playing touch football. They love putting their helmets on because they realize there's only so many opportunities to play on Friday."
Richland truly believes those impromptu flag football sessions are a reason why the Rams are still playing and favored to win the program's first District 6 championship.
"I would say we're probably up there almost every day of the week during the summer," said senior receiver/defensive back Luke Shertzer. "It makes us close. When you have fun together, it brings you closer as a team."
There's no denying Richland's cohesion on offense. The Rams average more than 400 yards per game while players like Shertzer, quarterback Matt Shaffer, running back Tanner Solarczyk and receiver Kyle Flick are putting together the type of seasons that merit all-state consideration as the wins pile up.
It's a bond that's been forming for some time.
"When we were in seventh grade, that was the first year that Richland made the playoffs. We saw that and knew if we keep working hard, we could do the things the previous groups did," said Derek Crawford, who starts at center and defensive tackle. "Now it's up to us to win the District 6 championship."
A District 6 title and a spot in the state tournament, where Richland could run into perennial powers like Grove City, Aliquippa, South Fayette or Washington at some point if the Rams continue to win, would cement a legacy for the senior.
It would also raise the bar for returning players.
"The kids really want to be remembered down the road as one of the best Richland teams ever," Bailey said. "They've been setting goals that have never happened at Richland before. They're the first team to win 11 games, now they're going for 12. They're the first to go undefeated in the regular season since 1971. They're the first to win a Laurel Highlands championship."
First, there needs to be talent. Check. The Rams boast talent in bunches and at all positions.
Players need to be coachable. Check. Richland's players often talk about following the game plan in order to be successful.
Sometimes a team needs to catch a few breaks, or at least make their own. That happened in the regular season finale as Richland won a tough game at Bellwood Antis.
Often, intangibles come in to play.
And there's at least one offseason intangible Richland (11-0), which hosts Tyrone (8-3) Friday night in the District 6 Class AA semifinals, attributes its in-season success to.
"Our kids love to play football," Richland coach Brandon Bailey said. "Come up to Richland any time of the year, and you'll see those kids back there playing touch football. They love putting their helmets on because they realize there's only so many opportunities to play on Friday."
Richland truly believes those impromptu flag football sessions are a reason why the Rams are still playing and favored to win the program's first District 6 championship.
"I would say we're probably up there almost every day of the week during the summer," said senior receiver/defensive back Luke Shertzer. "It makes us close. When you have fun together, it brings you closer as a team."
There's no denying Richland's cohesion on offense. The Rams average more than 400 yards per game while players like Shertzer, quarterback Matt Shaffer, running back Tanner Solarczyk and receiver Kyle Flick are putting together the type of seasons that merit all-state consideration as the wins pile up.
It's a bond that's been forming for some time.
"When we were in seventh grade, that was the first year that Richland made the playoffs. We saw that and knew if we keep working hard, we could do the things the previous groups did," said Derek Crawford, who starts at center and defensive tackle. "Now it's up to us to win the District 6 championship."
A District 6 title and a spot in the state tournament, where Richland could run into perennial powers like Grove City, Aliquippa, South Fayette or Washington at some point if the Rams continue to win, would cement a legacy for the senior.
It would also raise the bar for returning players.
"The kids really want to be remembered down the road as one of the best Richland teams ever," Bailey said. "They've been setting goals that have never happened at Richland before. They're the first team to win 11 games, now they're going for 12. They're the first to go undefeated in the regular season since 1971. They're the first to win a Laurel Highlands championship."
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Bishop McCort's playoff journey takes flight
Bishop McCort has moved the football more successfully through the air than on the ground during the 2012 season, but the Crushers aren't following all the trends infiltrating passing games at the high school level.
The Crushers' offense isn't a spread. They don't always line up in shotgun formation. It's certainly far from dink and dunk.
To the contrary, Bishop McCort is not shy about taking chances downfield. Those gambles paid off with a 32-29 victory last Friday at Penns Manor in the quarterfinals of the District 6 Class A playoffs.
Old-time fans of the Oakland Raiders would have come away impressed by the performance of Bishop McCort senior quarterback Zaine Tomkowski, who completed 8 of 13 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns.
That's an average of 26.4 yards per completion. Move over Daryle Lamonica and Ken Stabler.
"Zaine has a really good arm and he throws well on the run," Bishop McCort coach Kevin Sheridan said following the victory over the third-seeded Colts that gave the Crushers (8-3) a home game Saturday night against Northern Cambria (8-3) in the semifinals.
But, in an interesting twist, Bishop McCort set up its highly effective passing game by running the football with a moderate degree of success against Penns Manor.
The Crushers ran 37 times for 120 yards. It was just enough to open things up in the passing game.
"We knew going into the game when we watched these guys (Penns Manor) on film, their defense is so strong, we simply can't win just by throwing the football," Sheridan added.
On McCort's opening drive, senior Dustin Belsky went at the Penns Manor defense on a succession of run plays and it set up the game's first touchdown.
Tomkowski's first pass attempt was a classic dropback, complete with a double arm pump fake to freeze the defense, and it allowed receiver Jordan Spangler to get behind the defense. Spangler made a nice catch on the high-arching 29-yard touchdown.
"We wanted to establish the run game," Tomkowski explained. "Once we did that, we wanted to go over the top, especially when they put eight, nine guys in the box."
Tomkowski later connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass to Spangler, who had three catches for 111 yards and had the game-saving interception with a minute remaining. Ryan Siwy added an 18-yard touchdown reception. Tomkowski's 211 passing yards were his most since a Week 4 win over Bedford.
"I get very greedy out there," Tomkowski said. "I always want to go over the top for it all."
His play against Penns Manor helped the Bishop McCort defense overcome another amazing performance from Comets quarterback Danny Ferens, who battled a virus to rush for a season-high 264 yards in his final high school football game.
"I would say Danny Ferens is unlike anyone we've seen in a while," Sheridan said. "The last kid we ran into who could run like that was Antwuan Reed."
Tomkowski may not run like Ferens, but he sure can throw the football.
For the season, Tomkowski has completed 99 of 183 passes for 1,511 yards and 12 touchdowns against five interceptions. Impressive numbers made more so considering that Bishop McCort, unlike many Class A teams still playing, doesn't get to play a schedule full of inferior competition.
Spangler has 49 catches for 710 yards and eight touchdowns. Luke DiFrancesco is also a big-play threat. He has 25 catches for 513 yards and four scores.
The Crushers' offense isn't a spread. They don't always line up in shotgun formation. It's certainly far from dink and dunk.
To the contrary, Bishop McCort is not shy about taking chances downfield. Those gambles paid off with a 32-29 victory last Friday at Penns Manor in the quarterfinals of the District 6 Class A playoffs.
Old-time fans of the Oakland Raiders would have come away impressed by the performance of Bishop McCort senior quarterback Zaine Tomkowski, who completed 8 of 13 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns.
That's an average of 26.4 yards per completion. Move over Daryle Lamonica and Ken Stabler.
"Zaine has a really good arm and he throws well on the run," Bishop McCort coach Kevin Sheridan said following the victory over the third-seeded Colts that gave the Crushers (8-3) a home game Saturday night against Northern Cambria (8-3) in the semifinals.
But, in an interesting twist, Bishop McCort set up its highly effective passing game by running the football with a moderate degree of success against Penns Manor.
The Crushers ran 37 times for 120 yards. It was just enough to open things up in the passing game.
"We knew going into the game when we watched these guys (Penns Manor) on film, their defense is so strong, we simply can't win just by throwing the football," Sheridan added.
On McCort's opening drive, senior Dustin Belsky went at the Penns Manor defense on a succession of run plays and it set up the game's first touchdown.
Tomkowski's first pass attempt was a classic dropback, complete with a double arm pump fake to freeze the defense, and it allowed receiver Jordan Spangler to get behind the defense. Spangler made a nice catch on the high-arching 29-yard touchdown.
"We wanted to establish the run game," Tomkowski explained. "Once we did that, we wanted to go over the top, especially when they put eight, nine guys in the box."
Tomkowski later connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass to Spangler, who had three catches for 111 yards and had the game-saving interception with a minute remaining. Ryan Siwy added an 18-yard touchdown reception. Tomkowski's 211 passing yards were his most since a Week 4 win over Bedford.
"I get very greedy out there," Tomkowski said. "I always want to go over the top for it all."
His play against Penns Manor helped the Bishop McCort defense overcome another amazing performance from Comets quarterback Danny Ferens, who battled a virus to rush for a season-high 264 yards in his final high school football game.
"I would say Danny Ferens is unlike anyone we've seen in a while," Sheridan said. "The last kid we ran into who could run like that was Antwuan Reed."
Tomkowski may not run like Ferens, but he sure can throw the football.
For the season, Tomkowski has completed 99 of 183 passes for 1,511 yards and 12 touchdowns against five interceptions. Impressive numbers made more so considering that Bishop McCort, unlike many Class A teams still playing, doesn't get to play a schedule full of inferior competition.
Spangler has 49 catches for 710 yards and eight touchdowns. Luke DiFrancesco is also a big-play threat. He has 25 catches for 513 yards and four scores.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Shope, Donoughe key Forest Hills' win streak
When Forest Hills needed a starting quarterback to replace sophomore Joe Donoughe, the Rangers turned to senior Jared Shope.
A senior, Shope had started since his sophomore season, and that year the Rangers reached the PIAA Class AA semifinals where it ran into high-powered South Fayette. As a sophomore, he started at defensive back. As a junior, he became a two-way starter - defensive back and receiver.
Shope (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) might not have been the obvious choice, but he played well in Donoughe's absence. He's back at receiver now, and returned to his normal role of Donoughe's favorite target.
And Forest Hills hasn't looked back.
The Rangers (7-3) have won five consecutive games, including gritty wins over Penn Cambria, Somerset and Greater Johnstown. They play a District 6 Class AA first-round game at Central (Martinsburg) on Saturday.
There's no doubting Shope will play a key role for Forest Hills.
"Really, he's not been full speed all season," said legendary Forest Hills coach Don Bailey, who has 331 career victories in 39 years with the Rangers. "He's been dealing with a knee injury and the kids see how he's played through it, and they respect that. He's been an effective leader."
So has Donoughe, who missed two games and still has 1,175 yards, rushed for 363 yards and accounted for 13 touchdowns.
Donoughe engineered an improbable last-minute drive to force overtime in an eventual victory over Penn Cambria. He passed for 168 yards, rushed for 119 and accounted for three touchdowns in a win against Greater Johnstown.
"He's improved each week," Bailey said. "Every week, he's seeing things better. He's finding the open receiver. He's running the ball when he needs to and throwing when he needs to. Of course, it helps that he has a couple good receivers to throw to in Jared Shope and Doltyn Sneeden."
A senior, Shope had started since his sophomore season, and that year the Rangers reached the PIAA Class AA semifinals where it ran into high-powered South Fayette. As a sophomore, he started at defensive back. As a junior, he became a two-way starter - defensive back and receiver.
Shope (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) might not have been the obvious choice, but he played well in Donoughe's absence. He's back at receiver now, and returned to his normal role of Donoughe's favorite target.
And Forest Hills hasn't looked back.
The Rangers (7-3) have won five consecutive games, including gritty wins over Penn Cambria, Somerset and Greater Johnstown. They play a District 6 Class AA first-round game at Central (Martinsburg) on Saturday.
There's no doubting Shope will play a key role for Forest Hills.
"Really, he's not been full speed all season," said legendary Forest Hills coach Don Bailey, who has 331 career victories in 39 years with the Rangers. "He's been dealing with a knee injury and the kids see how he's played through it, and they respect that. He's been an effective leader."
So has Donoughe, who missed two games and still has 1,175 yards, rushed for 363 yards and accounted for 13 touchdowns.
Donoughe engineered an improbable last-minute drive to force overtime in an eventual victory over Penn Cambria. He passed for 168 yards, rushed for 119 and accounted for three touchdowns in a win against Greater Johnstown.
"He's improved each week," Bailey said. "Every week, he's seeing things better. He's finding the open receiver. He's running the ball when he needs to and throwing when he needs to. Of course, it helps that he has a couple good receivers to throw to in Jared Shope and Doltyn Sneeden."
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Cambria Heights not fighting history against Tyrone
When it comes to postseason success, there aren't many, if any, programs in District 6 with a better resume than Tyrone.
The Golden Eagles played for the PIAA Class AA football championship last year and won it all in 1999. They're regulars to the postseason picture.
Cambria Heights, meanwhile, is the polar opposite of Tyrone.
When it comes to the playoffs, the Highlanders have, well, they're the No. 5 seed in this year's District 6 Class AA bracket. They're playing at Tyrone on Saturday.
Both teams sport the same 7-3 records, but only one team can advance to the semifinals.
"I've said this numerous times: We don't feel like we're fighting history," Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said.
What Camrbia Heights is battling is Tyrone team with a standout runner in junior James Oliver, who has 1,669 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns (27 total).
Being able to stop Oliver is more important to Camrbia Heights' chances of advancing to the semifinals than postseason history and tradition. Another thing that should help the Highlanders is the return of senior Ben Myers, who's been out since breaking a thumb against Forest Hills on Sept. 28.
"Every team is so different," Lewis said. "I don't think there's a huge benefit to what Tyrone has done in the past against our history. It's going to be a football game. The past doesn't matter."
The Golden Eagles played for the PIAA Class AA football championship last year and won it all in 1999. They're regulars to the postseason picture.
Cambria Heights, meanwhile, is the polar opposite of Tyrone.
When it comes to the playoffs, the Highlanders have, well, they're the No. 5 seed in this year's District 6 Class AA bracket. They're playing at Tyrone on Saturday.
Both teams sport the same 7-3 records, but only one team can advance to the semifinals.
"I've said this numerous times: We don't feel like we're fighting history," Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said.
What Camrbia Heights is battling is Tyrone team with a standout runner in junior James Oliver, who has 1,669 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns (27 total).
Being able to stop Oliver is more important to Camrbia Heights' chances of advancing to the semifinals than postseason history and tradition. Another thing that should help the Highlanders is the return of senior Ben Myers, who's been out since breaking a thumb against Forest Hills on Sept. 28.
"Every team is so different," Lewis said. "I don't think there's a huge benefit to what Tyrone has done in the past against our history. It's going to be a football game. The past doesn't matter."
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Behe, Lawhead could stay teammates after Penn Cambria
Should Penn Cambria beat Somerset on Saturday night, the Panthers will catapult into the eighth spot in the District 6 AA standings and qualify for the postseason.
Richland, who holds onto the top spot, defeated Penn Cambria in Week 8, but that doesn't mean the Rams would want to run into the Panthers in Week 11.
"It will be a second chance for all of us," said senior Devin Lawhead. "I think we'd be the best eighth seed anyone has seen in a while. I'm guessing most people think we're a lot better than an eighth seed."
Penn Cambria (5-4) isn't in the playoffs yet. While there postseason chances have yet to be solved, there's no denying Lawhead and fellow senior standout Mack Behe are nearing the end of standout varsity football careers.
The pair have been all-conference players and, in Behe's case, an all-state linebacker a year ago.
They've dominated in different ways.
"It's been great playing beside him," Behe said. "We're similar linebackers in a way, but we're both very different."
They're similar in that Behe and Lawhead are both team leaders. They play with high levels of energy and intensity. Both are disruptive defenses forces and solid against the run.
They're different in that Behe is a pass-rushing playmaker. Lawhead excels in pass coverage.
"We push each other and we back each other up," Lawhead said. "We're always waiting for the other one to make a play. It's been a privilege playing beside him."
Behe and Lawhead may get to keep playing together as several colleges are recruiting the pair.
St. Francis and Shippensburg are two of the more active pursuers. Towson and Youngstown State have also expressed interest.
"It's been real nice for both of us hearing from all these schools," Behe said. "We really haven't thought about playing college football together, but it would be good."
Richland, who holds onto the top spot, defeated Penn Cambria in Week 8, but that doesn't mean the Rams would want to run into the Panthers in Week 11.
"It will be a second chance for all of us," said senior Devin Lawhead. "I think we'd be the best eighth seed anyone has seen in a while. I'm guessing most people think we're a lot better than an eighth seed."
Penn Cambria (5-4) isn't in the playoffs yet. While there postseason chances have yet to be solved, there's no denying Lawhead and fellow senior standout Mack Behe are nearing the end of standout varsity football careers.
The pair have been all-conference players and, in Behe's case, an all-state linebacker a year ago.
They've dominated in different ways.
"It's been great playing beside him," Behe said. "We're similar linebackers in a way, but we're both very different."
They're similar in that Behe and Lawhead are both team leaders. They play with high levels of energy and intensity. Both are disruptive defenses forces and solid against the run.
They're different in that Behe is a pass-rushing playmaker. Lawhead excels in pass coverage.
"We push each other and we back each other up," Lawhead said. "We're always waiting for the other one to make a play. It's been a privilege playing beside him."
Behe and Lawhead may get to keep playing together as several colleges are recruiting the pair.
St. Francis and Shippensburg are two of the more active pursuers. Towson and Youngstown State have also expressed interest.
"It's been real nice for both of us hearing from all these schools," Behe said. "We really haven't thought about playing college football together, but it would be good."
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Road warriors
There a WPIAL teams that must travel through a tunnel or two (click here), but they've got nothing on Chestnut Ridge.
The Lions are the road warriors of District 5, if not the PIAA.
Without a conference to call home (not that Chestnut Ridge hasn't tried to join one), a preseason scramble was made to fill the Lions' schedule. Phone calls were laced as far away as North Carolina in an attempt to get Chestnut Ridge a 10-game schedule.
Fortunately for the Lions, the furthest south they have to drive is Maryland, but they've faced some rather long journeys on their was to a 4-3 record heading into Saturday's game at always tough Fort Hill (Md.).
"We've approached it as a positive. It's an opportunity to see teams outside our region and a chance to represent south central Pennsylvania well," Chestnut Ridge coach Max Shoemaker said.
Chestnut Ridge has played road games at Berks Catholic, located north of Reading, and Kutztown. Each required a minimum three-hour bus ride in one direction.
"On both our long trips, we scheduled a pregame meal at a college campus nearby," Shoemaker continued. "Berks Catholic was near Albright College and, of course, Kutztown University is right there in Kutztown."
Following the pregame meal, the team would tour the campus on foot then head to the game.
There the type of activities most football teams don't get to experience on a Friday.
"We've looked at our schedule as a good thing," said junior quarterback Beau Bosch. "We get to travel throughout the state to places we've never been before."
The Lions are the road warriors of District 5, if not the PIAA.
Without a conference to call home (not that Chestnut Ridge hasn't tried to join one), a preseason scramble was made to fill the Lions' schedule. Phone calls were laced as far away as North Carolina in an attempt to get Chestnut Ridge a 10-game schedule.
Fortunately for the Lions, the furthest south they have to drive is Maryland, but they've faced some rather long journeys on their was to a 4-3 record heading into Saturday's game at always tough Fort Hill (Md.).
"We've approached it as a positive. It's an opportunity to see teams outside our region and a chance to represent south central Pennsylvania well," Chestnut Ridge coach Max Shoemaker said.
Chestnut Ridge has played road games at Berks Catholic, located north of Reading, and Kutztown. Each required a minimum three-hour bus ride in one direction.
"On both our long trips, we scheduled a pregame meal at a college campus nearby," Shoemaker continued. "Berks Catholic was near Albright College and, of course, Kutztown University is right there in Kutztown."
Following the pregame meal, the team would tour the campus on foot then head to the game.
There the type of activities most football teams don't get to experience on a Friday.
"We've looked at our schedule as a good thing," said junior quarterback Beau Bosch. "We get to travel throughout the state to places we've never been before."
Sunday, October 14, 2012
A tale of two kickoffs
Before Saturday's WestPAC game between Conemaugh Valley and Rockwood at Rockwood Athletic Field, team captains gathered at midfield for the pregame coin toss.
Rockwood won the toss and, according to head coach Jerry Kaizen, the captains were instructed to defer to the second half. When the players returned to the Rockets' bench, that's what they told there head coach.
So, Rockwood kicked off to Conemaugh Valley to start the game, which the Blue Jays won 25-0 to improve to 3-4.
Trailing 22-0 at halftime, Rockwood took a little extra time in the locker room, in part because several players were part of the homecoming festivities. As they hurriedly prepared for the third quarter, the officials informed the Rockets they would be kicking off to start second half.
Say what?
Didn't Rockwood kickoff to start the first quarter?
"There was a fluke in the coin toss. My kids tells me he deferred," Kaizen said. "The refs says he tells me we want to kick."
That means the team kicks off to start the first and third quarters.
It rarely, if ever, happens.
Kaizen knew the rule and, according to him, when he spoke with the officials after halftime, he asked them why they failed to approach him after the coin toss because as he said, "the ref told me he'd never heard a team do that before."
For a depleted team searching for something, the second-half kickoff added to this season's woes.
"We laid out the whole first series and what we wanted to do," Kaizen said. "It was a little disheartening."
And it made little sense considering Conemaugh Valley ran the football 61 times and the Rockets' defense struggled to get off the field despite a strong effort from its defensive front.
Rockwood won the toss and, according to head coach Jerry Kaizen, the captains were instructed to defer to the second half. When the players returned to the Rockets' bench, that's what they told there head coach.
So, Rockwood kicked off to Conemaugh Valley to start the game, which the Blue Jays won 25-0 to improve to 3-4.
Trailing 22-0 at halftime, Rockwood took a little extra time in the locker room, in part because several players were part of the homecoming festivities. As they hurriedly prepared for the third quarter, the officials informed the Rockets they would be kicking off to start second half.
Say what?
Didn't Rockwood kickoff to start the first quarter?
"There was a fluke in the coin toss. My kids tells me he deferred," Kaizen said. "The refs says he tells me we want to kick."
That means the team kicks off to start the first and third quarters.
It rarely, if ever, happens.
Kaizen knew the rule and, according to him, when he spoke with the officials after halftime, he asked them why they failed to approach him after the coin toss because as he said, "the ref told me he'd never heard a team do that before."
For a depleted team searching for something, the second-half kickoff added to this season's woes.
"We laid out the whole first series and what we wanted to do," Kaizen said. "It was a little disheartening."
And it made little sense considering Conemaugh Valley ran the football 61 times and the Rockets' defense struggled to get off the field despite a strong effort from its defensive front.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Blue Jays way
Turning a program like Conemaugh Valley into a consistent, respectable opponent is no easy task.
The Blue Jays won a combined three game the previous three season (2009-2011), and they haven't posted a winning season since 2005, when Conemaugh Valley posted a 7-3 record.
Tough games remain against Blacklick Valley and Windber, so posting a winning record will prove difficult.
Yet. at 2-4 and with a game at Rockwood on Saturday at 1 p.m., Conemaugh Valley feels it's headed in a positive direction. Much of that has to do with last Saturday's 13-8 win against Meyersdale.
"(The players) are feeling better and we're getting better," Conemaugh Valley coach Winston Redman said. "I've said all along that our goal is to win four games this year. If we do that, that's a good step."
In order to achieve it's goal, Redman and the coaching staff gutted the team.
The Blue Jays will dress 24 players - two of them kickers - against Rockwood, which is undermanned as well.
"Next year, we'll have 30-35 kids. Probably 35. This year, we cleaned house," Redman said. "A lot of kids just wanted to wear the uniform but not be part of the football environment. We're down to the kids who really want to play football."
The small numbers have meant juggling positions and bringing up freshmen, but Redman sees progress. He hopes it continues at Rockwood, which is coming off a loss to Ferndale. The Rockets' lone win came against United.
"We won't do anything to put a player in harm's way, but we're using some kids who never played varsity before," Redman said.
The Blue Jays won a combined three game the previous three season (2009-2011), and they haven't posted a winning season since 2005, when Conemaugh Valley posted a 7-3 record.
Tough games remain against Blacklick Valley and Windber, so posting a winning record will prove difficult.
Yet. at 2-4 and with a game at Rockwood on Saturday at 1 p.m., Conemaugh Valley feels it's headed in a positive direction. Much of that has to do with last Saturday's 13-8 win against Meyersdale.
"(The players) are feeling better and we're getting better," Conemaugh Valley coach Winston Redman said. "I've said all along that our goal is to win four games this year. If we do that, that's a good step."
In order to achieve it's goal, Redman and the coaching staff gutted the team.
The Blue Jays will dress 24 players - two of them kickers - against Rockwood, which is undermanned as well.
"Next year, we'll have 30-35 kids. Probably 35. This year, we cleaned house," Redman said. "A lot of kids just wanted to wear the uniform but not be part of the football environment. We're down to the kids who really want to play football."
The small numbers have meant juggling positions and bringing up freshmen, but Redman sees progress. He hopes it continues at Rockwood, which is coming off a loss to Ferndale. The Rockets' lone win came against United.
"We won't do anything to put a player in harm's way, but we're using some kids who never played varsity before," Redman said.
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