Heights-Hilltop postponed

The Cambria Heights at Westmont football game scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday has been postponed because of weather. The LHAC contest will be played Monday at 4 p.m. at Westmont Middle School.

Camp Kovak, North Star (final stop)

Blogger's note: This is the final series of short stories on stops made by The Tribune-Democrat sports editor Mike Kovak during training camp. I know, I know. We're two weeks into the season already.

It was a rare dreary day in mid-August and the scene outside Kanter Middle School was a peaceful one, save for a raging bonfire burning at the far end of the practice field.

The fire could play tricks on the eyes, as it was only a few feet behind a parked vehicle, which gave the illusion that it was burning.

Upon speaking with North Star coach Stacy Schmitt, who has guided the Cougars to consecutive District 5A championships, and mentioning the fire, he quipped, "They'll look for any reason to burn something around here."

On paper, it looked like the North Star offense would burn through WestPAC defenses this season, which was a big reason why conference coaches overwhelmingly selected the Cougars as they team to beat this season. Coaches also considered North Star the favorite to repeat as district champions and return to the PIAA playoffs, where a possible game against perennial power Clairton could await.

Then something interesting happened last Friday.

Portage 13, North Star 10.

The Cougars get back on the field today at Ferndale - a team without a record following Week 1 because of an unusual game postponement against Conemaugh Valley. (In case you haven't heard, the Blue Jays and Yellow Jackets played two-and-a-half quarters last Saturday before the game was postponed by thunderstorms that never actually hit the stadium. The game will be resumed Tuesday, Sept. 18.)

And North Star will be without starting quarterback Brantley Rice, a standout pitcher on the baseball team. Rice was ejected from the Portage game and PIAA rules dictate he must miss the next game.

State volleyball rankings

Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association

State Rankings

Sept. 4

Class AAA (District)

1. Hempfield (3)

2. Parkland (11)

3. Bishop Shanahan (1)

4. North Allegheny (7)

5. Pine Richland (7)

6. State College (6)

7. Seneca Valley (7)

8. Susquehannock (3)

9. Exeter (3).

10. Southern Lehigh (11)

Class AA

1. Allentown Central Catholic (11)

2. Hopewell (7)

3. Pope John Paul (1)

4. Berks Catholic (3)

5. Bethlehem Catholic (11)

6. Delone Catholic (3)

7. Freeport (7)

8. Fort LeBoeuf (10)

9. Landsdale Catholic (12)

10. Holy Redeemer (2)

Class A

1. Clarion (9)

2. Penns Manor (6)

3. Bishop Guilfoyle (6)

4. Sharpsville (10)

5. Greensburg Central Catholic (7)

6. Northern Cambria (6)

7. Avonworth (7)

8. Saegartown (10)

9. Marion Catholic (11)

10. Navitity BVN (11)

PFN rankings

Class AAAA

Rank - School - District - Record - Score - Last Weeks Ranking1. Central Dauphin (3) (1-0) Defeated Manheim Township, 21-7, (1)

2. North Allegheny (7) (1-0) Defeated Mount Lebanon, 39-14 (2)
3. Wilson (West Lawn) (3) (1-0) Defeated Governor Mifflin, 21-0) (3)
4. Easton Area (11) (1-0) Defeated Pennsbury, 32-14 (4)
5. LaSalle College (12) (1-0) Defeated North Penn, 20-7 (6)
6. Gateway (7) (1-0) Defeated Greater Latrobe, 61-6 (7)

7. Downingtown East (1) (1-0) Defeated Monsignor Bonner/Prendergast, 42-18 (8)
8. Upper St. Clair (7) (1-0) Defeated Woodland Hill, 24-12 (9)
9. Ridley (1) (1-0) Defeated Glen Mills, 35-7 (10)
10. North Penn (1) (0-1) Lost to LaSalle College, 20-7 (5)

Others to Watch

Abington (1) (1-0)

Central Bucks West (1) (1-0)

Cumberland Valley (3) (1-0)

Delaware Valley (2) (1-0)

Garnet Valley (1) (1-0)

McDowell (10) (0-1)

Nazareth (11) (1-0)
Pennridge (1) (1-0)
Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7) (1-0)
Roman Catholic (12) (1-0)
Scranton (2) (1-0)
Seneca Valley (7) (1-0)
Souderton (1) (1-0)
St. Joseph's Prep (12) (1-0)
State College (6) (1-0)

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Class AAA

Rank - School - District1. Archbishop Wood (12) (1-0) Defeated Bensalem, 44-7 (1-0)

2. Bishop McDevitt (3) (1-0) Defeated Harrisburg, 21-20 (2)
3. Central Valley (7) (1-0) Defeated New Castle, 14-0 (4)
4. Cathedral Prep (10) (1-0) Defeated Perry Traditional Academy, 56-6 (5)
5. Manheim Central (3) (1-0) Defeated Warwick, 41-13 (6)
6. Cardinal O'Hara (12) (1-0) Defeated Archbishop Ryan,13-7 (7)
7. Pottsgrove (1) (1-0) Defeated Norristown, 35-0 (8)
8. Berwick Area (2) (1-0) Defeated Crestwood, 48-21 (9)
9. West Allegheny (7) (1-0) Defeated Blackhawk, 31-27 (10)
10. Lancaster Catholic (3) (1-0) Defeated Dallastown, 41-33 (OTW)

Others to Watch

Blackhawk (7) (0-1)

Clearfield (9) (1-0)

Cocalico (3) (1-0)

Franklin Regional (7) (0-1)

Knoch (7) (1-0)

Lampeter-Strasburg (3) (0-1)

Mars Area (7) (1-0)

Montour (7) (1-0)

Pottsville (11) (1-0)

Scranton Prep (2) (1-0)

Shippensburg (3) (1-0)

Thomas Jefferson (7) (1-0)

Valley View (2) (1-0)

West Chester Henderson (1) (1-0)

West York (3) (1-0)

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Class AA
Rank - School - District 1. Aliquippa (7) (1-0) Defeated Ambridge, 36-0 (1)

2. Wyomissing (3) (1-0) Defeated Schuylkill Haven, 37-0 (2)
3. Mount Carmel (4) (1-0) Defeated Shikellamy, 41-14 (3)
4. Jeannette (7) (1-0) Defeated Southmoreland, 48-6 (4)
5. Grove City (10) (1-0) Defeated Carrick, 40-0 (5)
6. Hickory (10) (1-0) Defeated Strong Vincent, 44-32 (6)
7. Imhotep Charter (12) (1-0) Defeated Strath Haven, 68-12, OTW

8. Pen Argyl (11) (1-0) Defeated Saucon Valley, 13-3 (7)
9. South Fayette (7) (1-0) Defeated McGuffey,42-6 (9)
10. Washington (7) (1-0) Defeated Greensburg Central Catholic, 28-7 (10)

Others to Watch

Beaver Falls (7) (1-0)

Bermudian Springs (3) (1-0)

Danville (4) (1-0)

Forest Hills (6) (1-0)

Karns City (9) (1-0)

Lewisburg (4) (1-0)

Montoursville (4) (1-0)

Northern Lehigh (11) (1-0)

Penn Cambria (6) (1-0)

Richland (6) (1-0)

Seton-La Salle (7) (1-0)

Trinity (3) (1-0)

West Catholic (12)

Wilmington (10) (1-0)
Yough (6) (1-0)

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Class A
Rank - School - District1. Clairton (7) (1-0) Defeated Chartiers-Houston, 22-20 (1)
2. Southern Columbia (4) (1-0) Defeated Pius X, 61-0 (2)
3. Dunmore (2) (1-0) Defeated North Pocono, 39-0 (3)
4. Rochester Area (7) (1-0) Defeated Avonworth, 21-7 (4)
5. Sharpsville (10) (1-0) Defeated Moniteau, 35-0 (5)
6. Brentwood (7) (1-0) Defeated Serra Catholic, 48-0 (6)
7. Bellwood-Antis (6) (1-0) Defeated Tyrone Area, 22-15 (8)
8. Old Forge (2) (1-0) Defeated Lake-Lehman, 50-14 (9)
9. Port Allegany (9) (1-0) Defeated Johnsonburg, 54-0 (10)
10. Williams Valley (11) (1-0) Defeated Minersville, 47-0 (OTW)

Others to Watch

Bethlehem-Center (7) (1-0)
Bishop Canevin (7) (1-0)
Bishop Guilfotle (6) (1-0)
Clarion Area (9) (1-0)

Columbia (3) (1-0)

Delone Catholic (3) (0-1)
Elk County Catholic (9) (1-0)
Juniata Valley (6) (1-0)
Laurel (7) (1-0)
Line Mountain (4) (1-0)
Monessen (7) (1-0)
Northwest Area (2) (1-0)
Penns Manor (6) (0-1)
Sto-Rox (7) (1-0)
West Middlesex (10) (0-1)

Camp Kovak, Rockwood (fifth stop)

The left-hand turn at the intersection in New Centerville (pretty sure there's only one in town) began the short drive into Rockwood, a place this writer hasn't visited in at least 20 years ,though some hometown friends used to frequent the Rockwood Hotel.

Upon pulling into Rockwood High School, a long-forgotten visual exploded back into memory. The guess here is Rockwood is the only high school in the state with a scuplture of a rocket in front. It's impossible to miss and it hovers high above the football field.

I covered the Jefferson-Morgan Rockets for years. Never recalled seeing a rocket in front of the school, though I've never been fed better at a football game in my life. (If any J-M people read this, please inform me of prime rib night so I can adjust my schedule accordingly.)

Rockwood's football program has hardly taken off in recent years, but it would be difficult to find anyone willing to call the Rockets underachievers. The stadium is not exactly state-of-art. The numbers are frequenltly low. Yet, Rockwood usually finds itself in playoff contention and competing against teams with bigger numbers and more talent.

This past Saturday, Rockwood of the WestPAC got off to a roaring start as it defeated a rebuilding United of the Heritage Conference, 31-7, in a crossover game.

Before the season, Rockets head coach Jerry Kaizen could not say enough about senior running back/linebacker Luke Brancato.

Following Brancato's performance against, it's easy to understand why. Brancato had more than 100 yards rushing AND receiving. No doubt, he'll be the focal point of Blacklick Valley's defensive efforts during practice this week. Friday's game will be the first under the lights at Blacklick Valley, who used to play Saturday afternoons.

Week in review, Week 1

Team of the Week
Northern Cambria
No team in The Tribune Democrat coverage area scored a bigger win than Northern Cambria, which rallied to beat Penns Manor, 28-20, Friday night in a Heritage Conference game.
Penns Manor qualified for the PIAA Class A semifinals a year ago and returned the majority of its top players, including Danny Ferens.
Northern Cambria scored the game's final two touchdowns – the first a 19-yard pass from Jeff Hogan to Dartagnan Suchar and the second a 4-yard Hogan run. Penns Manor beat Northern Cambria twice last season, including a 36-6 setback in the postseason.
The Colts dominated the fourth quarter as they ran 17 plays to five for Penns Manor, and they may have established themselves as the team to beat in the Heritage.

Runner-up
Portage
Following Portage's 13-10 win at North Star, considered the heavy favorite to win the WestPAC, Mustangs coach Gary Gouse said, "Their team is loaded with talent – 50 times more than ours. We came with heart, we came with desire and we won the football game on heart and desire."
He also said," Anybody that was betting, they weren't betting on us. Not one penny."
With a defense loaded with returning lettermen, Portage shut down the high-powered Cougars and Evan Price did a little bit of everything in the victory. 

Starting 11
Luke Brancato, Rockwood
Shawn Dell, Forest Hills
Joe Donoughe, Forest Hills
Scott Fennell, Ligonier Valley
Kyle Flick, Richland
Drew Glotfelty, Berlin
Jeff Hogan, Northern Cambria
Evan Price, Portage
Johnny Sheesley, Blacklick Valley
Tanner Stull, Somerset
Zaine Tomkowski, Bishop McCort

Say what?: Ferndale traveled to Conemaugh Valley Saturday for a game both WestPAC members desperately wanted to win. That long awaited victory will have to ... well, wait. The game was suspended with 7:35 left in the third quarter.
Conemaugh Valley, which had two wins a year ago, led, 40-18.
And, get this, the game won't be resumed until Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m. The game will be completed at Conemaugh Valley.
Here's the kicker, according to the article published in The Tribune-Democrat, the storm which forced the delay never actually hit Thomas Yewcic Stadium, home of the Blue Jays.

Friday night's not all right for fighting: Portage will be without defensive standout Caleb Kephart, who was ejected from the North Star game following a personal foul penalty in the third quarter, for its key home game Friday against Berlin. North Star quarterback Brantley Rice will not play Saturday at Ferndale after he was ejected following a brief skirmish.

Penn Cambria's Seth McClendon tries to break through the Greater Johnstown defense during Friday's game.

Oh, and by the way: Penn Cambria lived up to its preseason billing with a thorough 38-0 win over Greater Johnstown. The Panthers rushed for 321 yards on 44 attempts.

Tribune-Democrat football rankings

Ranking the local teams, regardless of classification.

1. Penn Cambria (1-0, Class AA)
2. Richland (1-0, AA)
3. Northern Cambria (1-0, A)
4. Somerset (1-0, AAA)
5. Berlin (1-0, A)
6. Portage (1-0, A)
7. Ligonier Valley (1-0, AA)
8. Bishop McCort (1-0, A)
9. Cambria Heights (0-1, AA)
10. Greater Johnstown (0-1, AAA)