Lea Thompson's video message to Johnstown

Actress Lea Thompson posted a video message to Johnstown before Friday's All the Right Moves re-enactment, which also happened to be a LHAC game between Greater Johnstown - in the role of Ampipe - and Westmont Hilltop, playing Walnut Heights.

For the record, after nearly 30 years, Ampipe earned revenge.

Tribune-Democrat football rankings

Regardless of classification ...

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

Games of the Week

While the majority of football fans in the area (and some outside the area) concentrate on the Walnut Heights at Ampipe, err, Westmont Hilltop at Greater Johnstown game, The Varsity Club is looking at a few matchups with some serious potential to shape the postseason picture.

Bishop McCort (2-0) at Somerset (2-0)
It's been years since Somerset played in a premier matchup, yet that's exactly where the Golden Eagles are in Week 3.
Somerset is off to its best start since 2004, but there's two potential problems. In 2004, Somerset finished with a 3-6 record, and it has not beaten Bishop McCort in 20 tries.
Both teams have played well defensively. McCort has forced six turnovers in two games. Somerset has allowed just 14 points and posted a season-opening shutout versus Central Cambria.

Blairsville (2-0) at Ligonier Valley (2-0)
This game could end up being the Game of the Year in the Heritage Conference, though Penns Manor could play a decisive role in the standings despite an early loss to Northern Cambria.
Ligonier Valley has shredded its first two opponents. Running back Ryan Torrance has already scored six touchdowns in limited duty, while quarterback Scott Fennell is emerging as a dual-threat and a standout on defense.
Blairsville is a big-play offense. The Bobcats are averaging nearly seven yards per carry and 21 yards per completion. They should pose a challenge to a Rams defense that has yet to allow a point.

Portage (1-1) at Shade (1-1)
Both teams have a loss, but the Mustangs and Panthers are two of the top defensive teams in the WestPAC.
Portage must be stinging after a home loss to Berlin in a game where the Mountaineers moved the football a few yards at a time. Even with Berlin's impressive rushing performance, Portage has only allowed 30 points against the two teams expected to contend for a conference title in the Mountaineers and North Star.
Shade surprised some with its win at Conemaugh Township last week, but the Panthers are swarming on defense. Four of the area's top 13 tacklers are on the Panthers' defense.

APB, Where are they now?

Sadly, The Varsity Club's first All Points Bulletin issued for former Windber multi-sport standout Paul Romanchock – one of this blogger's favorite high school athletes – went unanswered.

Undaunted, The Varsity Club bounces back with another.

This week's All Points Bulletin is issued for former Bedford standout Josh Baker.

In 1997, Baker earned first team Associated Press Small School (AA-A) honors as an offensive lineman. A year earlier, Baker was a third team small school as an offensive lineman.

In the 1998 Ken Lantzy game, Baker earned MVP honors as a defensive lineman.

Baker was also an accomplished wrestler. As a senior, he placed second in Class AA in the heavyweight division at the PIAA championships.

Patriot-News rankings

Pa. Scholastic Football Rankings
Pennsylvania high school football rankings from the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, with school’s district in parentheses, followed by record and position in last week’s rankings. NR means not ranked.

CLASS AAAA Rec Pvs
1. LaSalle College HS (12) 2-0 2
2. Gateway (7) 2-0 3
3. North Allegheny (7) 2-0 4
4. Upper St. Clair (7) 2-0 5
5. Central Dauphin (P) (3) 1-1 1
6. North Penn (1) 1-1 6
7. Easton (11) 2-0 7
8. Downingtown East (1) 2-0 9
9. McDowell (10) 1-1 10
10. St. Joseph’s Prep (12) 2-0 NR
Teams to watch: Cumberland Valley (3) 2-0, Harrisburg (3) 1-1, Pittsburgh C.C. (7) 2-0, Ridley (1) 2-0, Wilson (3) 1-1, Woodland Hills (7) 1-1.

CLASS AAA Rec Pvs
1. Cathedral Prep (10) 2-0 2
2. Bishop McDevitt (3) 2-0 4
3. Archbishop Wood (P) (12) 1-1 1
4. Montour (7) 2-0 6
5. Central Valley (7) 1-1 3
6. Cardinal O’Hara (12) 2-0 5
7. x-Lancaster Catholic (3) 2-0 7
8. Berwick (2) 2-0 8
9. West Allegheny (7) 2-0 9
10. Pottsgrove (1) 2-0 10
Teams to watch: Clearfield (9) 2-0, Franklin Regional (7) 1-1, Mars (7) 2-0, Scranton Prep (2) 2-0, Thomas Jefferson (7) 2-0, West Chester Henderson (1) 2-0.

CLASS AA Rec Pvs
1. Aliquippa (7) 2-0 1
2. Jeannette (7) 2-0 2
3. Wyomissing (3) 2-0 3
4. Hickory (10) 2-0 4
5. Mount Carmel (4) 2-0 5
6. Seton-La Salle (7) 2-0 6
7. Grove City (10) 2-0 7
8. Pen Argyl (11) 2-0 8
9. South Fayette (7) 2-0 9
10. Imhotep Charter (12) 2-0 10
Teams to watch: Lakeland (2) 1-1, North Schuylkill (11) 2-0, Penn Cambria (6) 2-0, Trinity (3) 1-1, Washington (7) 2-0, Wyoming Area (2) 1-1.

CLASS A Rec Pvs
1. Clairton (P) (7) 2-0 1
2. Southern Columbia (4) 2-0 2
3. Dunmore (2) 2-0 3
4. Rochester (7) 2-0 4
5. Sharpsville (10) 2-0 5
6. Bishop Canevin (7) 2-0 6
7. Old Forge (2) 2-0 7
8. Bellwood-Antis (6) 2-0 8
9. Monessen (7) 2-0 9
10. Line Mountain (4) 2-0 10

Teams to watch: Brentwood (7) 1-1, Mercyhurst Prep (10) 1-1, Penns Manor (6) 1-1, Port Allegany (9) 2-0, Riverside (2) 1-1, West Middlesex (10) 1-1.

(P)-2011 PIAA champion. (x) 2011 Class AA champion. Number in parentheses is PIAA district.

Tribune-Democrat football rankings

Ranking the top 10 local teams, regardless of classification.

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

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.