The Richland at Penn Cambria game was supposed to be a clash of unbeaten powers from the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference with the winner not only claiming a conference championship but the probably top seed in the District 6AA playoffs.
A month ago, this appeared certain.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Bishop Guilfoyle 14, Penn Cambria 8.
Cambria Heights 27, Penn Cambria 20.
Forest Hills 20, Penn Cambria 18 (in overtime).
Three weeks, three consecutive losses for the preseason favorite in the LHAC. For now, Penn Cambria is in the top eight in the District 6AA standings, but a loss to Richland could knock the Panthers from the top eight with a tricky season finale against Somerset looming.
Penn Cambria is averaging 4.85 yards per carry, a rather pedestrian number for a team expected to win a conference championship, and has just one run of 50 yards or more.
* Richland, meanwhile, has had no problem hitting the home-run play, but the Rams can also piece together drives.
With a tailback like junior Tanner Solarczyk, there isn't much an offense can't do.
Solarczyk has rushed for 1,114 yards on 111 carries and has 15 rushing touchdowns. Here's the wild part of Solarczyk's season - he has 11 rushing touchdowns the past two games, including a whopping six Friday night against in Richland's 51-21 win over Westmont Hilltop.
* Conemaugh Valley's Shane Corson is one tough hombre.
* Chestnut Ridge quarterback Beau Bosch has put up some Solarczyk-like numbers the last two games.
Against Kutztown, Bosch rushed for 326 yards and five touchdowns. Two weeks ago, he accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing).
* Somerset found out it has a quality backup quarterback in Raven Beeman.
* Ligonier Valley rolled through six opponents before running into Penns Manor Friday night.
The Rams offense struggled in a 20-11 loss at Penns Manor. LV's lone touchdown came on a kickoff return and the offense finished with 72 yards.
Adding to the Rams' difficulties was the ejection of senior running back/linebacker Ryan Torrance, who will not be available when Ligonier Valley hosts a tough, one-loss Homer-Center on Friday.
Torrance was ejected for coming in contact with an official. For more details, click here.
* Talk about poise.
Forest Hills sophomore quarterback Joe Donoughe has plenty.
In what has to be one of this season's defining moments, Donoughe, who had missed several games due to injury, guided the Rangers on an improbable 11-play, 77-yard drive with no timeouts and only 2:03 remaining in the fourth quarterback against Penn Cambria.
Forest Hills trailed 12-6 when Donoughe took the field. They forced overtime when, fittingly, Donoughe scored on a quarterback sneak on the final play of regulation.
The Rangers eventually won in overtime.
Showing posts with label Friday night thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friday night thoughts. Show all posts
Monday, October 15, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Friday night and Saturday afternoon thoughts
When Ferndale defeated Conemaugh Valley, 46-6, back on Oct. 24, 2009, it was the second consecutive win for the Yellow Jackets, who blanked Hancock (Md.) the previous week.
It also marked the last time Ferndale won a football game ... on the field before Saturday's game against WestPAC opponent Rockwood.
And things often weren't pretty.
Ferndale concluded the 2009 season with a 42-0 loss to North Star.
The 2010 season opened with eight consecutive losses, including a 56-8 setback to Meyersdale. A 2-0 forfeit victory over Freedom Academy of Brooklyn interrupted more losing.
In 2011, the Yellow Jackets went 0-9 and started this season 0-5.
All told, Ferndale lost 24 consecutive contested football games.
That streak, one of the longest active ones in the PIAA, can to an end Saturday afternoon as the Yellow Jackets defeated Rockwood, 34-32, in double overtime.
It's one of the feel-good stories of the 2012 season.
"When you work so hard in the summer and do this, you've got to get a little sugar," Ferndale coach Tony Penna Sr. said after the game.
Ferndale's win is exactly that – a just reward for all the players who've stayed with the team through all the losing.
Ferndale and Conemaugh Valley both won games Saturday – something, I point out, that only Tribune-Democrat sports writer Mike Mastovich saw coming. For the Blue Jays, it's their second win of the season.
Bishop Carroll, which played in the PIAA Class A semifinal in 2010, now owns the area's longest losing streak at 11 games.
* Despite the headline in Saturday's Football Extra, Blacklick Valley did suffer a second-straight loss following Friday's setback to Portage.
The Vikings defeated Conemaugh Township in overtime last week.
* Berlin's gritty come-from-behind victory over Northern Cambria was big for the Mountaineers and the WestPAC. The Colts are a quality football team, and it's easily the best win for the WestPAC in a non-conference game this year.
* This just in ... Richland is good.
*Cambria Heights picked up another significant win Friday night when the Highlanders beat Penn Cambria 27-20.
That's Forest Hills and Penn Cambria in back-to-back weeks.
If Heights eliminates some of the penalties and miscues that have hindered them, they could finish the regular season with an 8-2 record, but Bishop McCort, Somerset and Northern Cambria are left on the schedule.
* The guess here is there was some serious pad-popping during the Shade at North Star game. There aren't many 3-0 games any more.
* Dalvin Williams continues his standout senior season.
The Greater Johnstown linebacker had three sacks and was part of a Trojans defense that forced four turnovers against Bedford.
*Windber is 5-1. Portage is 5-1. The two play this week.
It also marked the last time Ferndale won a football game ... on the field before Saturday's game against WestPAC opponent Rockwood.
And things often weren't pretty.
Ferndale concluded the 2009 season with a 42-0 loss to North Star.
The 2010 season opened with eight consecutive losses, including a 56-8 setback to Meyersdale. A 2-0 forfeit victory over Freedom Academy of Brooklyn interrupted more losing.
In 2011, the Yellow Jackets went 0-9 and started this season 0-5.
All told, Ferndale lost 24 consecutive contested football games.
That streak, one of the longest active ones in the PIAA, can to an end Saturday afternoon as the Yellow Jackets defeated Rockwood, 34-32, in double overtime.
It's one of the feel-good stories of the 2012 season.
"When you work so hard in the summer and do this, you've got to get a little sugar," Ferndale coach Tony Penna Sr. said after the game.
Ferndale's win is exactly that – a just reward for all the players who've stayed with the team through all the losing.
Ferndale and Conemaugh Valley both won games Saturday – something, I point out, that only Tribune-Democrat sports writer Mike Mastovich saw coming. For the Blue Jays, it's their second win of the season.
Bishop Carroll, which played in the PIAA Class A semifinal in 2010, now owns the area's longest losing streak at 11 games.
* Despite the headline in Saturday's Football Extra, Blacklick Valley did suffer a second-straight loss following Friday's setback to Portage.
The Vikings defeated Conemaugh Township in overtime last week.
* Berlin's gritty come-from-behind victory over Northern Cambria was big for the Mountaineers and the WestPAC. The Colts are a quality football team, and it's easily the best win for the WestPAC in a non-conference game this year.
* This just in ... Richland is good.
*Cambria Heights picked up another significant win Friday night when the Highlanders beat Penn Cambria 27-20.
That's Forest Hills and Penn Cambria in back-to-back weeks.
If Heights eliminates some of the penalties and miscues that have hindered them, they could finish the regular season with an 8-2 record, but Bishop McCort, Somerset and Northern Cambria are left on the schedule.
* The guess here is there was some serious pad-popping during the Shade at North Star game. There aren't many 3-0 games any more.
* Dalvin Williams continues his standout senior season.
The Greater Johnstown linebacker had three sacks and was part of a Trojans defense that forced four turnovers against Bedford.
*Windber is 5-1. Portage is 5-1. The two play this week.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Friday night thoughts
It's a question raised on many occasions, and a fair one at that.
"Why isn't Somerset better at football?"
Somerset has some things going for it many other schools in the area do not. There's a larger population base. The nearest private school with a football team is 30 miles away. Other programs have tasted success, particularly the baseball team. Plus, Somerset plays a schedule filled mostly with smaller schools.
Yet, the Golden Eagles have produced only a couple winning seasons since the 1990s.
Kinda scary.
Turning around a program that has struggled for, well, basically decades, was the task given Bob Landis, who took over the head coaching position before the start of the 2011 season - one year after the Golden Eagles went 0-10.
Somerset took a big step toward establishing itself as a contender in the often-rugged Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference with Friday's 19-13 win over Bishop McCort. The Crushers are a Class A team, and it might sound weird that a Class AAA team took a major step beating a small-school team. Yet, the win marks Somerset's first victory over Bishop McCort.
Somerset's record in the series now stands at 1-23.
Yep, a major step.
At 3-0, Somerset sits atop the conference with Penn Cambria and Richland - a pair of teams who have looked impressive to date. The win total matches the Golden Eagles' output of the last two seasons combined.
Somerset is running the football and playing strong defense. The Golden Eagles with need a strong defense against an offense the caliber of Richland's.
* Even with Somerset's surge, still say the game of the year is Penn Cambria at Richland.
* Anyone else notice Windber has quietly pieced together a 3-0 record and are racking up some significant offensive statistics?
* Got to love all the national and regional attention the Walnut Heights at Ampipe, er, Westmont Hilltop at Johnstown game generated.
As neat as the pregame story lines were, the game produced something that could significantly impact the LHAC race as the Trojans offense showcased junior Deion Moore.
Moore rushed for 146 yards in Johnstown's 20-17 victory, and he displayed the type of shiftiness and athleticism that could make defenses look silly the rest of the season.
As much talk as the game generated before kickoff, and it's difficult imaging a high school game in the country that drew more headlines, Moore was the talk after the game.
"Why isn't Somerset better at football?"
Somerset has some things going for it many other schools in the area do not. There's a larger population base. The nearest private school with a football team is 30 miles away. Other programs have tasted success, particularly the baseball team. Plus, Somerset plays a schedule filled mostly with smaller schools.
Yet, the Golden Eagles have produced only a couple winning seasons since the 1990s.
Kinda scary.
Turning around a program that has struggled for, well, basically decades, was the task given Bob Landis, who took over the head coaching position before the start of the 2011 season - one year after the Golden Eagles went 0-10.
Somerset took a big step toward establishing itself as a contender in the often-rugged Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference with Friday's 19-13 win over Bishop McCort. The Crushers are a Class A team, and it might sound weird that a Class AAA team took a major step beating a small-school team. Yet, the win marks Somerset's first victory over Bishop McCort.
Somerset's record in the series now stands at 1-23.
Yep, a major step.
At 3-0, Somerset sits atop the conference with Penn Cambria and Richland - a pair of teams who have looked impressive to date. The win total matches the Golden Eagles' output of the last two seasons combined.
Somerset is running the football and playing strong defense. The Golden Eagles with need a strong defense against an offense the caliber of Richland's.
* Even with Somerset's surge, still say the game of the year is Penn Cambria at Richland.
* Anyone else notice Windber has quietly pieced together a 3-0 record and are racking up some significant offensive statistics?
* Got to love all the national and regional attention the Walnut Heights at Ampipe, er, Westmont Hilltop at Johnstown game generated.
As neat as the pregame story lines were, the game produced something that could significantly impact the LHAC race as the Trojans offense showcased junior Deion Moore.
Moore rushed for 146 yards in Johnstown's 20-17 victory, and he displayed the type of shiftiness and athleticism that could make defenses look silly the rest of the season.
As much talk as the game generated before kickoff, and it's difficult imaging a high school game in the country that drew more headlines, Moore was the talk after the game.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Friday night thoughts
Thought you needed to know ...
Like many Class A teams at the high school level, teams from the WestPAC appeared to be moving more toward spread or pass-first offenses. At least that topic was one being thrown around regularly during the conferences media day at Portage in early August.
About the only coach to disagree was Conemaugh Township's Sam Zambanini, who predicted the conference champion would be the one who could line up and play power football.
Folks, meet the Berlin Brothersvalley Mountaineers.
Berlin has been impressively strong in wins over Conemaugh Township and, most recently, at Portage. Given how the conference is shaping up, Zambanini's prediction sure looks correct.
Right now, Berlin looks like the team to beat in the WestPAC, a conference where as many as four or five teams could still end up finishing in the top spot as Blacklick Valley, North Star, Windber and Portage are also contenders.
How's this for a power football statistic?
Berlin ran 56 offensive plays against Portage - 52 were runs as Drew Glotfelty finished with 221 yards on 33 carries.
* Mark your calendars.
The Game of the Year is shaping up to be Richland at Penn Cambria on Oct. 19.
That said, Bishop McCort and Forest Hills will have plenty to say in the shaping of the LHAC standings. Heck, Somerset may have a say too.
* If there was a local fantasy football league based on local high school players, the first selection should be Ligonier Valley's Ryan Torrance.
Torrance scored touchdowns on four consecutive possession for the Rams Friday night against United.
The second pick should be Blacklick Valley's Johnny Sheesley.
* Will any team in the Heritage Conference challenge Ligonier Valley this season?
As the only Class AA team in the Heritage, LV holds an obvious advantage over the competition and Penns Manor's season-opening loss to Northern Cambria, which lost at Homer-Center last night, makes one wonder if the Rams are by far and away the class of the conference.
The question remains, can Ligonier Valley be tested enough to have it pay off in the postseason? It takes quality competition to produce a quality postseason product - in any sport.
*It's easy to get caught up in style points.
Forest Hills scored a bunch of those during a season-opening win against Westmont Hilltop. The Rangers ran well and passed effectively. Bishop McCort, on the other hand, took a while to get going against an undermanned Bishop Carroll team undergoing a major program face lift.
So, naturally, the Bishop McCort defense made most of the plays during the Crushers' 10-6 victory. McCort improved to 2-0 and set up an interesting game with Somerset, which is off to its first 2-0 start since 2004.
Forest Hills rolled up 332 total yards, but Bishop McCort forced four turnovers.
The game served as a reminder that, as Steelers coach and noted cliche machine Mike Tomlin says, style points don't matter.
Like many Class A teams at the high school level, teams from the WestPAC appeared to be moving more toward spread or pass-first offenses. At least that topic was one being thrown around regularly during the conferences media day at Portage in early August.
About the only coach to disagree was Conemaugh Township's Sam Zambanini, who predicted the conference champion would be the one who could line up and play power football.
Folks, meet the Berlin Brothersvalley Mountaineers.
Berlin has been impressively strong in wins over Conemaugh Township and, most recently, at Portage. Given how the conference is shaping up, Zambanini's prediction sure looks correct.
Right now, Berlin looks like the team to beat in the WestPAC, a conference where as many as four or five teams could still end up finishing in the top spot as Blacklick Valley, North Star, Windber and Portage are also contenders.
How's this for a power football statistic?
Berlin ran 56 offensive plays against Portage - 52 were runs as Drew Glotfelty finished with 221 yards on 33 carries.
* Mark your calendars.
The Game of the Year is shaping up to be Richland at Penn Cambria on Oct. 19.
That said, Bishop McCort and Forest Hills will have plenty to say in the shaping of the LHAC standings. Heck, Somerset may have a say too.
* If there was a local fantasy football league based on local high school players, the first selection should be Ligonier Valley's Ryan Torrance.
Torrance scored touchdowns on four consecutive possession for the Rams Friday night against United.
The second pick should be Blacklick Valley's Johnny Sheesley.
* Will any team in the Heritage Conference challenge Ligonier Valley this season?
As the only Class AA team in the Heritage, LV holds an obvious advantage over the competition and Penns Manor's season-opening loss to Northern Cambria, which lost at Homer-Center last night, makes one wonder if the Rams are by far and away the class of the conference.
The question remains, can Ligonier Valley be tested enough to have it pay off in the postseason? It takes quality competition to produce a quality postseason product - in any sport.
*It's easy to get caught up in style points.
Forest Hills scored a bunch of those during a season-opening win against Westmont Hilltop. The Rangers ran well and passed effectively. Bishop McCort, on the other hand, took a while to get going against an undermanned Bishop Carroll team undergoing a major program face lift.
So, naturally, the Bishop McCort defense made most of the plays during the Crushers' 10-6 victory. McCort improved to 2-0 and set up an interesting game with Somerset, which is off to its first 2-0 start since 2004.
Forest Hills rolled up 332 total yards, but Bishop McCort forced four turnovers.
The game served as a reminder that, as Steelers coach and noted cliche machine Mike Tomlin says, style points don't matter.
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