Revisiting my bold predictions to start the year.....

I started the year with 20 Bold predictions for the college football season. It would only be fair to see if I did accurately predict anything right that went on during this wild and unpredictable season. Here it is, a meager nine out of 20 right. At least I tried....

1. A major program will go up in flames before the end of the season-Yep, got that one right. Not how I really had it pictured. I assumed another major recruiting violation, or players selling merchandise would be the case all over again. This one was much different. The institution that was Penn State football took a major blow, to say the least. This scandal trumps all. Penn State's sexual abuse scandal not only is one of the biggest stories college football has seen, but it has taken a life on its own in the national spotlight.  It was one of those, "Where were you type moments?"  From the releasing of the horrific grand jury report to the candlelight vigils and riots and the firing of the most successful coaches in the sport's history. It was unpredictable and very surreal.


2. Boise State will go undefeated and play in a BCS game- Well missed this one. Boise State went 12-1 after their relatively easy win over Arizona State. Had the Broncos remained in the WAC rather than joining the Mountain West, this may have come true, but Boise went down to the hands of TCU 36-35 back on November 12. The Broncos remained a presence in the Top 10 and may have actually been snubbed by the BCS for the likes of Virginia Tech and Michigan.

3. The Big 12 will start to crumble further-Well right again. The Big 12 did lose Texas A&M as predicted, but Missouri followed suit and joined the SEC. The Big 12 looked weak with 8 teams and the big boys, Texas and Oklahoma looking at the Pac 12. The Longhorn network stirred up quite a commotion, but the powers settled their differences and got Big East defectors TCU and West Virginia to keep the league stable with ten teams.

4. Florida State is back, and will be for a long time- Well they may be back for a long time, but the trendy National Champion pick did not come through this season.  The Seminoles lost a tough early season heavyweight bout with Oklahoma, and followed it up with loses to Clemson and Wake Forest in the coming weeks. The Noles finished with a respectable, yet disappointing 9-4 record.


5. Nebraska will win the Big 10- Well I thought the Big Ten transition would go a little bit better for the Bo Pelini's squad. The Huskers lost two lobsided games to mainstay Big Ten powers, Wisconsin and Michigan. They had their chances up until the final weeks, but Wisconsin and Michigan State ultimately ended up playing for the Big Ten Title.

6. Texas A&M will be overrated- Well I hit the nail on the head with this one. The Aggies were a trendy pick to win the Big 12 and play in the BCS, but I saw right through it.  They weren't too far off as five of those losses came by less than a touchdown margin.  Still the Aggies had a preseason Top 10 ranking, good teams win close games.


7. Arizona State will win the Pac-12 South- Wrong again.  The Pac 12 South was going to be a toss up with USC being suspended from post season play this year. The Trojans were the true winners, but they were not able to participate in a rematch with North winner, Oregon.  UCLA ended up winning with a 6-6 record. The Sun Devils had the easiest road but folded down the stretch losing four straight games after their 6-2 start.

8. Notre Dame will win 10 games-The Irish put the pressure on themselves early by losing the first two games of the season. The Michigan game was a classic, but a game they never should have lost. They lost two expected games with USC and Stanford, but Notre Dame lost to an inferior South Florida team to start the season. The problems with Notre Dame were simple, they turned the ball over in the red zone way too much. Those mistakes proved to be too costly as they finished with an average 8-5 record.

9. A Running Back will win the Heisman-Wrong again, but it was not because a Running Back wasn't deserving. Montee Ball had the numbers with 32 rushing touchdowns. LaMichael James missed a few games that hurt his cause, and Trent Richardson had a great year, but nothing that warranted the Heisman trophy over Robert Griffin III.

10. Oklahoma-Oklahoma State will be the game of the year-The Sooners lost some curious games to Texas Tech and Baylor that put them out of the championship conversation thus causing the game to lose some luster. Oklahoma State's potent offense had them in the thick of the championship race through 10 games, but they got caught looking ahead and lost to a bad Iowa State team the week prior to Bedlam.  The game had the makings at the beginning of the season, but it turned into an easy OK State slaughter 44-10.

11. Ohio State will lose 4 games-Well not only did the Buckeyes lose 4 games, they ended up losing six. It was a very rare non winning season in Columbus. Everybody expected the team to struggle without Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor, but the school really had a rough go at it.  Braxton Miller emerged as a face for the program, but interim coach Luke Fickell had an uphill battle all season long.  Don't expect this to turn into a downward spiral, you might have heard the hired a really good former SEC coach.

12. Matt Barkley will emerge as the NFL's top Quarterback prospect- Well in the future, he very well could. Still after this season Andrew Luck remained the top target that has NFL executives salivating.  Matt Barkley is no slouch and definitely closed the gap. He unexpectedly decided to stay with USC for his senior season. That choice cost former USC quarterback, Matt Leinart a lot of money, and maybe his whole career. I think Barkley is different. He seems poised to be next year's prized draft pick.

13. Michigan will turn the corner- Well after three dismal seasons under Rich Rodriguez, the Wolverines ended the unhappy marriage with Rich Rod and brought in a "Michigan Man."  The move paid huge dividends for the storied program. The Wolverines won 10 games and will be playing in the Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech on January 3. The impatient and demanding fan base should be pleased for a while, but Brady Hoke better keep it up.

14. Texas will remain average-It amazing to me that Texas ever has down years. They are the most prominent program in the biggest football state in all the land. I guess it can happen to anyone. The Longhorns at least made a Bowl this season, but 8-5 is unacceptable for Texas. The fan base may start pushing for Mack Brown to leave sooner rather than later.

15. Case Keenum will be invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony- Well had the Cougars won the Conference USA championship game and remained undefeated he likely would have been in New York. Case completed 70% of his passes, amassed over 5,000 yards, and threw 45 touchdowns. Those are certainly Heisman like numbers. The fact that he played for a Houston team with a weak schedule certainly hurt his cause.

16. The National Champion will not be out of the SEC- I got this one wrong big time. Not only is there one SEC team in the championship, both teams are from the league. LSU played a demanding schedule and survived the long haul with a 13-0 record. Alabama fell victims to the Bayou Bengals, but the BCS system felt they would be the best match for LSU. The rematch is on, and it will be epic. The 9-6 game will go down in history as one of the best college games in history, and most are expecting the same type of dual next week.

17.  Georgia will win the SEC East- Georgia did just that. The Dawgs started slow and the Mark Richt rumors started flying all over the place The team settled down from an 0-2 start and reeled off 10 straight and ultimately lost to the LSU machine in Atlanta. Good things are coming for Georgia,as they definitely will be in the title hunt next season.

18. SMU will be on the rise- June Jones has things pointed in the right direction and indirectly the Mustangs are definitely on the rise. The Big East invite will certainly help the program and will be SMU's first taste of playing in a big conference since the death penalty hit Dallas in the 80's.  The team did not have a great season, but 7-5 is better than the past two decades. They have a bowl game with Pitt on January 7 to try to reach the eight win plateau.

19. Army will be in a bowl game again- Army took a step backwards and did not reach a consecutive bowl game. The Cadets managed a big upset over Northwestern, but nothing else really got going. The Black Knights always seemingly are the weakest of the three service academies and this year proved no different. They played Navy tough, and closed the gap a bit, but they still need a win over the Midshipmen soon. They have not defeated their arch rivals since 2001.

20. Paterno will retire after the season- Well this one was going to be right I believe.  Joe's days of good health and being able to stay with the current game were numbered. The scandal took care of it before any talk of retirement could have happened. Joe Pa's cancer diagnosis may have been his calling to step down, but who knows? Either way this was his last season.

December thoughts.

Well I made it a whole month without a blog, I think its time to come out of my hiatus. Like any month for an avid sports guy, there are always plenty of compelling and interesting stories that affect fans locally and nationally.  This blog has always had a Pittsburgh flavor to it, but I do not forget about what is happening elsewhere. I am going to lay out eight stories that have happened recently that are national and local and let you know what I'm thinking.

8. The NBA is back.
I guess it depends on how you feel about the whole situation.  I was not missing the NBA, and I am not sure how many people really were.  The NBA had a great thing going last season that found a way to come up with a public relations nightmare with their lengthy strike.  The NBA resolved their issues and had a Christmas blowout this past week. And with typical NBA games, it came with dull Basketball, predictable blowouts that still found a way to become close games, and kicked off months of tireless games until the real stuff starts.  The NBA regular season has never been my cup of tea, I even tried to spice it up by playing fantasy basketball.  But as I stated, the league is flat for months.  Talk to me in May and I will be out in full force.

Quick NBA Predictions if you really want to know from an unenthusiastic bystander that doesn't really care.....

The Miami Heat are going to the NBA finals.  They are villains, and they are really good.  Who is going to be the knight in shinning armor that will take down?  I will boldly say Kevin Durant will fight the evil ones valiantly, but the Heat are winning it all this season. You heard it here, and probably a lot of other places too.





7. Penn State.....ummmmm

Well nothing further needs to be pointed out other than the obvious. Penn State had an atomic bomb blow up in State College.  From the very top, to janitors there were plenty of people that saw, heard, or knew "something." Jerry Sandusky is well, in a bad spot.  Joe Paterno went out in a way that nobody could have imagined. The all time winning-est coach was sitting in his house as 40,000 students were singing Kumbaya outside.  The whole thing was just flat out strange.  There was an apparent cover up, nobody can get around that. Joe's involvement is still in question, and truthfully they will protect the old man as best as possible. We can sit here and say this and that, nobody knows and nobody will know for some time.  The best possible thing the school can do, is just to move on.  They need to bring stability to a very unstable situation.The Bowl game is in a few days, they need to hire a coach in less than a week afterwards.  Dead period for recruiting ends, and the new guy will only have a month to put together anything at all. Is that guy Tom Bradley?  Maybe. But an outsider isn't the worst thing in the world. Get a coach, get back to football.  Perfect remedy.

6. Fraud Graham?

Todd Graham must have a speech he wrote about ten years ago and said "I will use this speech when I get hired as a Head Coach."  I wonder if he knew he would use it four times in such a little stretch.  Todd Graham  is a scumbag. He is a fraud, he tells you want you want to hear but is only looking out for number one.  He used and abused Pitt, and I think Pitt is the real winners in the whole ordeal. Arizona State was happy with hiring a guy that went 6-6 in the Big East? More Power to them.  He will ultimately take a better job if offered, there is very little doubt in my mind. Pitt gets a guy that is not a great speaker, but he comes highly recommended and the Wisconsin offensive production speaks for itself. He needs to bring stability and he needs to put people in the seats.  Paul Chryst has his work cut out for him, but he seems like an honest man that is very appreciative of the job. I think he will do a fine job, very unlikely that it will be next season though.


5. San Diego, Boise, Houston, Dallas in the East?

Well apparently now that is the case.  The Big East went a little wild, but did the best they could to hold what was left of their conference. UCF, San Diego State, Boise State, SMU, and Houston all have decided to bring their talents to join up with Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida, Rutgers, and UConn to form the first coast to coast conference. Well to me, it looks like a glorified Conference USA, and anything involving teams like Marshall and Tulane should not be glorified.  I give that clown, John Marinatto credit. He is trying.  Navy and Air Force might be next. Let us face facts, if the ACC chooses to go to 16 teams, UConn and Rutgers are gone. Same with the Big Ten.  Nobody wants to be in this league.  The strong Basketball clout remains, and will remain a force but taking away Pitt, WVU, and Syracuse weakens your league however you shape it. This thing is set up for failure.

4. Loyalty?

The great Albert Pujols is the baseball player of this generation. He is destined for 700 Home Runs. He was the new age Stan the man in St. Louis.  The great baseball town had a hero once again. The Cardinals were coming off an epic and memorable World Series(the second "The Machine" brought to St. Louis) and it all seemed like the legend would stay where is held in the highest regards.  The flashy new Miami Marlins tried their hardest but fell out of Albert's graces.  It all added up, Albert Pujols would be the greatest Cardinal of them all. The statue was being bronzed, than..... he signed with the LA Angels. Shocking. He spurned the city that loved him for dollar signs.  Many thought Albert was above it, myself including. He just proved to be a money hungry athlete that wanted to play for the big team. Well the pressure is on.  Alex Rodriguez is a pariah in New York. Albert can be that same thing unless he produces at MVP levels for the next few seasons.

3. Year of the Mid Major.

More like decade.  College Basketball is under way, and it is as unpredictable as ever.  Butler, George Mason, VCU proved that it can be done, and some other non power conference teams have decided they want to try it out.  An unheard amount of "mid majors" are playing factors in the College Basketball scene already. San Diego State, Harvard, Creighton, Murray State, UNLV, Saint Louis, Gonzaga, and Xavier have all appeared in the top 25, and have defeated top 25 teams. Murray State is in the ranks of the unbeaten and have a legitimate chance to run the table.  Can we see one of these teams cutting down the nets at the Final 4?  Maybe this IS the year.

2. Quarterback Frenzy.

The NFL has had quite the offensive season. It is a Quarterback's league anymore, and these guys are proving their worth.  Drew Brees just took down Dan Marino's record that stood for decades. Tom Brady is not far behind, Aaron Rodgers was running a clinic for weeks, Tim Tebow is winning games without being able to throw the ball, Ben Roethlisberger plays more like a gladiator, and Superman, I mean, Cam Newton looks the farthest thing from a rookie.  The NFL always has great Quarterbacks but the current crop seems as strong as ever, and the numbers are there to prove it.

1. Is this the year?

The Pirates gave everyone a taste for four months last season, can they keep up with the winning ways? They added some intriguing pieces like Erik Bedard, Casey McGehee, and Clint Barmes.  The Cardinals lost Pujols and Ryan Braun is gone for 50 games in Milwaukee. Things set up nicely for the Pirates. Can they regain the magic of last June? I would like to think they can.  Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker have another year of experience and some guys will be healthy this time around. The Bucs have something special brewing with Clint Hurdle. I hope the management starts giving him the tools they need to win, they are not as far away as they were five years ago.  Progress has been made, and more is coming.

There is nobody quite like Sid.

Is there one single athlete that is at the top of their respective sport, bar none, no questions asked? Is there one player that sticks out so far from the rest of the field? Is there anybody else that can take a 320 day break and come back and be the number one star of the night?  That answer simply is, No.  Sidney Crosby is the best at his game, and all bias aside, I am not too sure how close it is. I do not know if there is anyone else out there quite like Sidney Crosby. Other sports have superstars and marquee athletes, but Hockey is lucky.  They have the face of all faces for their league. They have a bona fide living legend that is just 24 years of age.  The NHL has an already accomplished super star, that inevitably will accomplish so much more.

               Sid the Kid has added just another magical chapter to his young, yet vibrant career. From being the youngest captain in NHL history, to being a Stanley Cup Champion, to netting the game winner in the Gold Medal game, and now fought off a concussion symptoms for almost a year and scored a mere two goals and added a measly two assists.  Yeah right.  Sidney Crosby is a dominant, yet graceful star.  He is a once in a lifetime kind of star that not only the city and fans of that team needs to embrace, but rather anyone who appreciates or watches hockey needs to respect.  He is the Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, and Gordie Howe of this generation.  He is the Michael Jordan of hockey. Sidney Crosby is that good, and will be this good for a long time coming.  He is joining a hockey team that was already tops in the Eastern conference.  What do you think adding the best player of the world will do for that team?   He will make a good team, a great team. The Penguins went from a clear cut playoff team, to a clear cut favorite to hoist the Cup in June.  Sidney Crosby brings that type of impact.  He can turn a regular season game against the Islanders to a playoff type atmosphere.  Before you really think about it, how many players in any sport can do what Crosby can do?  How many can change the way the league is shaped?  How many can make a team a sure fire favorite to win a championship?  How many players can force an ordinary division game into a national media frenzy? How many players can take a year off and simply dominate a game so easily on their first night back?  If you can think a some guys that match that description, well  more power to you, but only one comes to mind for me,  And that is the spectacular, Sidney Crosby.

LHAC Football Forecast Week 12. Playoffs

Last week I put a 3-1(49-15) performance together. The Panthers of Penn Cambria broke through on Forest Hills and knocked off the two time defending champs.  Bishop McCort rolled over Marion Center, Bedford had a tough bout with top seeded Tyrone, and Richland made a huge statement over Ligonier.  This week Johnstown will come off a bye and face Clearfield. McCort is still the only A team left, and both AA semifinals feature LHAC teams.  One week away from Mansion Park.

3.Richland (9-2) at 2. Philipsburg-Osceola (9-2) Friday 7:00

This is a game that features a Mountain League-LHAC showdown with a pair of 9-2 identical records. It has the makings of being a solid, highly contested game.  The Mounties features a bruising rushing attack headed by Michael John, who has put up 1,037 yards and 11 scores and is coming off a 150 yard performance against Chestnut Ridge.  Cody Lee and Aaron McKnight have been steady on the ground as well and the trio has teamed up for 30 touchdowns on the ground.  The Mounties can pass, but ideally they would like to keep things on the ground. Mike Marcinko is a senior quarterback that can run and throw.  Philipsburg is having a better season than most anticpiated and they have done it with a good running game and winning tight games. They have won four games that have been decided by less than one score, including last week's thrilling one point victory. They have a head scratching loss to Marion Center early on, but really turned it on down the stretch.  They will have their hands full this week with Richland.  Richland may have the deadliest offense left in the district field.  It starts with a lethal rushing attack that is approaching 3,000 yards as a team. John Rizzo is the main man for the Rams.  He is averaging 130 yards a game on the ground, and fellow senior Luke Rozich is coming off an impressive showing against Ligonier in the first round.  The Rams can throw it too.  Matt Shaffer is having a spectacular sophomore season, and has thrown for 18 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions. Kyle Flick and Zach Hanley have each caught seven touchdowns. The Rams have athletes all over the field and they are very tough to defend. They can beat you in a variety of ways.  Richland and Philipsburg-Osceola share a common opponent that they both played recently and the game for each went totally different ways.  Richland shut down Ligonier, where Philipsburg played them closely. It is hard to compare the games, but it is a telling sign.  Richland is the better team, and they are the more talented team.  The grass field is a good equalizer for the Mounties, because Richland wants to get out and run in space. I like Richland because I believe they are the better team.

Rams 38 Mounties 21

4. Penn Cambria (9-2) at 1. Tyrone (10-1) Friday 7:00

Penn Cambria is coming off a hard fought close game against Forest Hills. That win marked the first time these seniors have defeated the Rangers. It should be another confidence building win for the Panthers, because they are as hot as any team in the district right now. They have knocked off Richland and Forest Hills in the past three weeks. They are playing with a ton of confidence and they will make this game very hard on Tyrone.  The Penn Cambria offense is not high scoring, but it is efficient. Jordan Fuller is the key to it all. The tough running senior has been a workhorse that has put up 120 yards per contest.  Andrew Buck is a physical quarterback that can run for tough yardage and throw when he has too. Devin Lawhead and Mac Behe are two unsung heroes for the Panthers that Tyrone will need to account for. The Golden Eagle defense is no stranger to shutting down offenses.  They are allowing only 8 points per game, and held Bedford in check for the most part.  Tyrone's offense is balanced and effective.  Steve Franco is a heady senior quarterback that has tossed 21 touchdowns on the year. His main target is the speedy Nick Patton.  Christian Getz fronts the running game and he has scored 16 touchdowns.  Tyrone is good and they are on a mission for a district title, after coming up short in the title game the past two years.  Tyrone's season has been ended by and LHAC counterpart the past seven seasons, and they are looking to get over that hump.  I think this game will be close and should be an entertaining game.  The battle up front will ultimately decide how the game is won.  I think it will be lower scoring for the most part, but I like Tyrone on their home field.

Golden Eagles 21 Panthers 16

Districts 6 & 9 Sub-regional

Clearfield (10-1) vs. Johnstown (9-1) Saturday 1:00 Mansion Park

Well this will be the second straight year Johnstown and Clearfield will meet in an inter-district setting. Clearfield won last year 28-12 at Dubois High School. Ths Bisons will have to travel to District VI territory this time around.  Clearfield lost a good group from last year, but still have some familiar names that have been very productive. Curtis Frye is back and for one reason or another, his passing stats have gone down significantly.  He proved it last year that he could throw, so the threat is still there.  The Bisons have moved to being a really good running team. Beau Swales is having a monster season in which he has rushed for 1,679 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is the key to everything Clearfield does offensively. Christian Lezzer, is a sophomore back that has been very solid this year by chipping in 630 yards and 10 scores himself. Their lone loss was at the hands of Philipsburg-Osceola, but other than that they have been dominant.  They are an experienced group that is coming off a 13-1 season. They are battle tested and will be ready for the Trojans. Johnstown is an enjoying one of their best stretches in recent memory compiling a 19-3 record over the past two years.  The Trojans have revenge on their minds.  Johnstown has a fast moving spread offense that has multiple weapons all over the field. Gervon Simon is the guy that gets things moving. He is a senior quarterback that just wins. His 1,563 yards passing and 504 yards rushing make him as dangerous as anyone on the field. Tim Odum is a quick, shifty back that has made this offense more dynamic than in year's past. The receivers are some of the best athletes in the district. Dwight Andrews, Mark Watson, Daquan Minter, and Alkwan Williams all provide different assets, but they are all dangerous in their own right.  These guys can score, and the defense hasn't been too bad either.  The man on defense is the future Pitt Panther, Alkwan Williams.  He is one of the best linebackers in the state and will certainly be the best player on the field on Saturday.  Clearfield's running game will have a struggle on their hands with Williams opposing them.   Clearfield is an experienced team that has had its fair share of success the past few years, and Johnstown has that same thing going for them.  This game should be worth the price of admission.  The prize for the victor will be a relatively weak team from District IV, so there is plenty to play for.  I will take Johnstown because I like their offensive game.  But they better be ready after an off week.

Trojans 34 Bisons 24

BONUS GAME

District 5 "A" Championship

Windber (8-2) vs. North Star (9-1) Friday 7:00 Somerset H.S.

What the heck? Its the only other local game on tap, might as well. This game should be a very, very good game.  Both teams have some impressive stars and marquee players. The regular season meeting was decided by one point that went in favor of the Ramblers. The winner will have a tall task ahead, but the glory of the championship is on the line and thats all that matters to these teams.  If you want to talk Windber football, look no further than Colin Bryan.  He is the state's second leading rusher with 2,210 yards and he is also tied for the lead in the state for rushing touchdowns with 33. He is the Windber offense, so if you plan on stopping the Ramblers better plan on slowing this kid down.  Windber averages 37 points a game.  The game being played on turf will make these high moving offenses a little bit quicker.   North Star is not short on talent either.  They are one point away from being undefeated. Their offense isn't so dependent on one player though. The running game for the Cougars is solid as well led by Thomas Miller and quarterback Max Strasiser.  That facet of the offense isn't as well of a known commodity as their passing
game.  Max Strasiser is a gunslinger that has eclipsed the 2,000 yard mark and completes 63% of his passes.  He is one half of the best combination in the area, his younger brother Tony is the other half. The younger Strasiser has caught 48 passes for 935 yards and 9 touchdowns. Tony Strasiser is only a junior and potentially a college prospect.  This game is not short on offensive firepower, so what defense will hold its ground the most?  Last meeting was only a 21-20 score, but I am anticipating a few more points scored in this one.  It could really go either way, but I like North Star.

Cougars 42 Ramblers 35

GAME OF THE WEEK

4. Bishop McCort (7-3) at 1. Bellwood-Antis (9-1) Friday 7:00

Since the year 2004 these schools have combined for 7 District Championships.  And since McCort's drop to "A" these two programs have met in some epic battles and classic games.  In 2008, McCort edged Bellwood 24-20. In the 2009 District 6 Championship McCort won 34-20, and last year's game that was marred in controversy saw McCort winning the contest 30-29.  Anyway you look at it, when these two teams meet, its a serious battle.  Bishop McCort comes into the game after handling Marion Center. The Crushers have been opportunistic scoring defensive and special teams touchdowns all year. The Crusher defense has 30 takeaways on the season.  The offense is a balanced set led by the running of Zach Varga. He has rushed for 677 yards and 12 scores. Jesse Cooper is the senior quarterback that has 1,126 yards and 11 scores.  Jerqual Wilson and Christian Leech are two dangerous threats on the outside.  This offense has some different weapons and good speed.  They will be facing a stiff test against the hard hitting Bellwood defense. The Blue Devils are allowing just 8 points a game and have only allowed double digit scoring three times.  Bellwood also has a balanced offense led by a senior quarterback. Ryan Stuby passed for seven 100+ yard games this season, and has only thrown 5 interceptions in 124 attempts.  The running game has several capable ball carriers, most notably 

Andrew DeGol. Casey Gray is a threat in catching the ball and running the ball.  The battle up front, special teams, and field position are the keys to the game.  Both teams should be able move the ball and make plays, and both defense will get their stops. This is a very even match up. McCort has been lucky to get by this team the past few years and has been one of their stiffest challenges annually. Bellwood is having some tough luck in this series, but they certainly have been in every contest until the very end.  I think this is the year Bellwood breaks through. It will be close, but McCort won't beat these guys every year, they are too good of a program.

Blue Devils 30 Crimson Crushers 27

LHAC Football Forecast Week 11. Playoffs.

Last week I went 4-2(46-14).  Johnstown made a big statement in their biggest game of the regular season, and they finished again with an impressive 9-1 regular season mark. They will sit out this week in preparation for State Playoffs against a District 9 foe. While six teams have their seasons completed, that means six teams that have reached the playoffs in some way.   The District 6 AA playoffs features four members of the LHAC, 1 representative for A, and the Trojans have qualified for inter district play already.  Should be some interesting match ups   The LHAC is going for the third consecutive season that they have swept the District Six Championships.

5. Marion Center (7-3) at 4. Bishop McCort (6-3) Saturday 7:00 Point Stadium

Marion Center is coming off a convincing opening round victory over conference foe, Saltsburg.  The Stingers come into this game upset minded, because they have a daunting task ahead of themselves.  The Stingers have been somewhat overlooked, but they have held their own this season.  They hold a very impressive victory over #2 seed in AA, Philipsburg-Osceola, on route to a 7-3 record.  Their offensive game is centered around the run, and they have three backs that have amassed at least 400 rushing yards on the year. Nick Lamatia (629), Brodey Thompson (606), and quarterback Mike Cavazza(460) lead the solid ground game.  Cavazza can pass when need be, but he only has 672 yards on the season, so the Stingers will plan on running this week. The Stinger's defense has been impressive of late, and have held their ground.  They will need to play good swarming defense, because McCort will likely be the fastest team they have seen on the season. The Crushers have struggled with injuries this year, but got a week off to get healthy.  The injury bug has seemingly stayed clear of the skilled position players. Jesse Cooper heads the passing game, as he has thrown for 1000 yards and 11 scores. His top target is Christian Leech who has caught 25 balls, with 7 going for scores.  The passing game has been out of sync of late, which could be some good news for Marion Center. Seniors, Zach Varga and Jerqual Wilson lead a solid rushing game.  The Crusher's line has been having trouble lately on both sides of the ball, and that will be a key this week. If the Crushers can play OK up front, their speed on the second level should win them the game, but if Marion Center can control up front, it could be a close game.  I will take McCort, and here's why.  The Crushers have been down, but they have only played one other "A" team this year, their schedule prepares them for this.  McCort has speed that should take them through this game. 

Crimson Crushers 35 Stingers 14

8. Bedford (6-4) at 1. Tyrone (9-1) Friday 7:00

Bedford enters the playoffs riding high after handling their arch rivals, Chestnut Ridge.  The Bisons exploded for the most points on the season with 41. The offense has been good all year and it has been behind the solid play of Marcus Shippey. He has 936 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year. He is a big tough guy that will create some problems for Tyrone, he has the "Roethlisberger" style and appearance.  He can make plays and keep plays alive, and runs very well for a big guy.  His top playmakers are Dakota Hess and Luke Campbell. Hess runs the ball and can make some plays in the passing game, and Luke Campbell has been a top deep threat in the area with 624 yards and 11 scores.  The Bison defense has been off and on this season but have done well the past two weeks. They will have their hands full with Tyrone.  The Golden Eagles are finally looking to break through on a District 6 crown for the first time since 2004, and in that span they have had their season ended by an LHAC team every year. The Eagles seem to always have a good team with plenty of weapons, and this year is no different. The Coach's son and Akron recruit, Steve Franco is the field general for the offense. He has completed 60% of his passes while tossing  19 touchdowns. His favorite target is the speedster Nick Patton, who has caught 7 touchdowns.  Senior Running Back, Christian Getz leads the team in rushing with 1219 yards and 14 touchdowns.  This team is very well balanced, and they are the clear favorites in AA.  I will take Tyrone.  Here's why...Tyrone has a fantastic home field advantage, maybe the best setting in District 6.  They are good, and they are on a mission.  Franco is a really good quarterback, but this game features another good quarterback, Marcus Shippey will do his best to keep them hanging around.  The Bisons have done well against quality teams, but they just haven't finished. But in the end, Tyrone has too many play makers.
Golden Eagles 31 Bisons 12

6. Ligonier Valley (8-2) at 3. Richland (8-2) Saturday 7:00 Herlinger Field

Maybe a future LHAC game in the future, but for now it should be an entertaining playoff game.  Richland lost a key game to Penn Cambria a few weeks back, but in the end it did affect their standing much. I think the Richland Rams got a good draw. Richland has a powerful offense that averages over 400 yards and 35 points per game.  They have great balance, and a great player in John Rizzo. He has only had one 100 yard game in the past 5 weeks, but he is being productive in other ways, and other guys are taking away from his carries. Rozich, Solarczyk, and Shaffer have been effective as well.  Shaffer has proven to be a real solid sophomore quarterback that has led the Ram's offense all season long.  His production has been key for this team. The Richland Rams have struggled at times on defense, but they have been playing better of late, but they do have the tendency to get into some shootouts.  The Ligonier Valley Rams are a powerful rushing team that has been putting up impressive numbers all season long. This team will not pass much as they have only attempted 52 passes all season long. This team can run it, though.  They are lead by two 1,000 yard backs, Ryan Torrance and Russell Markosky. Anthony Tutino has chipped in 400 yards himself.  They can run, and its hard to say how good they really are.  The LV Rams  are 8-0 against "A" teams and they are 0-2 against schools their own size or bigger.  It should be interesting to see if they can play with Richland.  Ligonier has speed and these guys will be fine if they are in space, but I will be looking to see if they can play up front.  I think this game can be either a shootout, or a blowout in favor of Richland.  I think Ligonier can make a few plays, but in the end I like Richland's athletic ability and physicality.
Richland Rams 38 LV Rams 21

GAME OF THE WEEK

5. Forest Hills (8-2) at 4. Penn Cambria (8-2) Saturday 7:00

Well we have seen this already. Forest Hills visiting Penn  Cambria on a game of the week, and back on October 14th the Rangers shut down Penn Cambria 24-0.  From that point on, Penn Cambria reeled off three straight, including a shocker at Richland on the way to a first round bye.  The Panthers need no further motivation as they would love nothing more to revenge the earlier loss, and these seniors have never beat the Rangers.  Penn Cambria simple, yet bruising attack starts with Jordan Fuller.  The senior back has rushed for 1155 yards this year for 9 scores. He is a consistent and reliable back.  Andrew Buck is an experienced quarterback with an improved passing skill set this year, and it has opened things up a bit for Fuller.  PC is hot right now and playing with a lot of confidence.  Not many even gave them a chance against Richland and they played their style of game and won.  These guys are battle tested and have the ability to make a run here. Forest Hills is coming off a hard fought loss to Johnstown, but they are still defending a championship. That means they will have to have a short memory. Forest Hills has a battle tested offense led by a veteran senior quarterback.  Justin Gdula has been steady and has thrown for 1586 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jared Shope has come on very strong as he has accounted for 13 touchdowns and has caught 42 passes.  He is a big time play maker.  The running game has dealt with injuries, but Shawn Dell and Anthony Unger have done a very nice job in providing yardage.  The Ranger defense is always a force, and this year is no different.  They have pitched three shutouts, including one of those on Penn Cambria. This game has two good coaches, really intriguing story lines, and most importantly, two quality football teams.  I must lean in favor with the defending champs.  They have the ability to run it, or throw it very well.  Penn Cambria does not do anything wild, they are going to come right at you.  Forest Hills stopped it once, I say they stop it again.  BUT  much closer this time.
Rangers 21 Panthers 12

LHAC Football Forecast Week 10.

Last week I went 5-1(42-12).  Richland losing was my only miss, and they lost to a solid Penn Cambria team in overtime.  The official LHAC play is over.  "A" playoffs start next week. Bishop Guilfoyle is done as far as I know. They finished 1-8. Bishop McCort is in a Bye week.  Bishop Carroll and Bedford will step outside the LHAC and play some non conference games, and 4 games featuring LHAC matchups are on the docket. These games do not count for the Championship, but once again Forest Hills is the Section I winner is playing Johnstown, the section II winner for a de facto Championship game.

Bishop Carroll (1-8) at Williamsburg(0-9) Friday 7:00

Not much to say about this game. It is a game to be played just for the fun of it.  Bishop Carroll has a very disappointing LHAC season after such a successful 2010 campaign.  Williamsburg is a perennial bottom feeder out of the Inter County Conference. The Pirates have a combined 4-33 record over the past four seasons. The have a 22 man roster with a running oriented offense led by junior Alan Shanholtz. They have scored 53 points on the season.  Bishop Carroll has not had a much better season, but in their defense they play a harder schedule than Willamsburg. The Husky offense has scored 63 points this season, and its been a struggle all season long to get things going.  They are led by Senior Josh Barzdo.The Huskies have playoff experience and they play in a tougher league..  Any way you look at it BC should roll over the Pirates. Depends if they really want to be there or not. If they do....
Huskies 35 Pirates 6

Westmont (2-7) at Penn Cambria (7-2) Friday 7:00

Penn Cambria scored a huge win last week holding off Richland in overtime on the road.  Thats a playoff caliber win, over a very highly regarded team.  The Panthers made the statement that they could win some playoff games. It would take a lot for the Panthers to climb up the ranks, but with some help a 5 seed is possible but a 6 seed looks likely. The offense is led by senior running back, Jordan Fuller. Fuller has 1,005 yards and 6 touchdowns on the season.  Behe, Buck, and Lawhead are the other offensive play makers.  Fetzer has done a nice job of passing when need be. This is a Panther team that does not do anything overly impressive, but they do a lot of things right.  They have size and a power running game, with a solid defense. They are going to be a tough out.  Westmont has had a tough luck type of season, after winning week one, many thought they would continue to play solid football throughout the season.  Things did not work out that way.  Westmont has played with teams but have come up short. They are led by a solid, and underrated running back. Ryan Burnheimer is a workhorse in every sense of the word.  He has 1179 yards and seven touchdowns.  This game will likely be played on a slow surface and it actually favors what both teams like to do.  It is going to be a battle of line play and Ryan Burnheimer and Jordan Fuller.   Penn Cambria isn't the type of team that will come out and handle an opponent.  This game will be closer because of that. I think the Panthers can win the game because they know how to win.  They have more to play for as well.

Panthers 26 Hilltoppers 12

Cambria Heights(4-5) at Somerset(3-6) Friday 7:00

This game may not feature two playoff teams, but it does feature two struggling programs that have made huge strides.This may be a big game next year.  Each team has brought in new coaches, and new attitudes.  The Somerset squad is led by some solid sophomores, and the Highlanders have a great junior class. Somerset has been a pesky group that have played with some of the best teams in the league. Their defense has shown great promise.  Tanner Stull is quick shifty quarterback that has played well and led his team to some wins.  Matt Boyer has been another sophomore who can play with 8 touchdowns on the ground.  The Eagles have responded well to not winning a game last year and really changed things around. Things look promising for next year.  Cambria Heights was also coming off a tough season, and in fairness they have have had a rough decade.  But things have really turned around. They are shooting for a .500 season.  They have a really good offense, and every key skilled player is a junior.  Nathan Bearer is doing a fine job at quarterback, and Ben Myers, Donnie Contorchick, and Tyler Crawford have ran the ball really well. Brawley is an experienced and reliable pass catcher.  They have played tougher than their record indicates, and they aren't too far away from having a winning record.  I like both teams. I really think they can play serious factors next season. I really don't know who to pick, as thhey are fairly matched.  I'm going to take Cambria Heights,I like how they've been able to pass a little bit better, and Crawford is a good running back.

Highlanders 28 Golden Eagles 21

Richland (7-2) at Central Cambira (2-7) Friday 7:00

I'm curious as to see if Richland tries to get this game moved. They saw what happened to Johnstown, and after a few inches of rain and snow, this field can't be any better. Maybe outside of Johnstown and McCort, Richland is the third most dependent on their speed. They do have one thing those other teams do not have, and thats a big power back in John Rizzo.  That is what makes the Rams dangerous.  They can spread the ball out and throw it around, but also they can give the ball to Rizzo and become a running team. Rizzo leads the conference in rushing yards with 1233 and he has 14 rushing scores, with two more receiving touchdowns.  Luke Rozich and Tanner Solarczyk can add to the potent running game. Matt Shaffer is a good dual threat as he has racked up over 100 passing yards and 400 rushing yards.Zach Hanley and Kyle Flick have been the best of a stable group of Richland receivers.  The Rams are dangerous, but they have been known to play in some shootouts.I don't see that being a huge problem Friday, because the field will slow, and the Red Devils do not have a great scoring offense.  Jeremy McBreen and Scott Bellock have been the most consistent players on offense, and Stephen O'Saben is a versatile threat. They have won two of their last three, they are a much better team than they were at the start of the year. The Red Devils' hopes lie with their home field advantage.  They already pulled off a huge upset, could they do it again. Richland needs to win for seeding purposes, but they are coming off a tough loss.  How will they react to this?  Red Devils have nothing to play for, but to play spoiler, again.  I think this game will be interesting, I will take Richland, but the Red Devils can certainly hang around.

Rams 21 Red Devils 9

Chestnut Ridge (6-3) at Bedford (5-4) Friday 7:00

Well soon enough, this may be a conference contest, but for now this well remain one of the region's best non conference rivalries.  Bedford is in a tough spot.  They absolutely need to win to get into the playoffs. Chestnut Ridge is in either way.  After starting 0-3, the Lions have reeled off six straight victories.  Bedford has five losses, but a few bounces and they are a seven win team.  The story of this game is about the quarterbacks, both are seniors, and both are very good dual threats.  Bedford's Marcus Shippey has thrown for 936 yards and 14 touchdowns, while running for 244 yards and 4 scores.  Shippey's passing has improved significantly from last season, and he has not needed to run nearly as much. Bedford has used a running back by committee approach this season, and Dakota Hess, Aaron Henry, and now Josiah Koontz have emerged as all capable players.  Luke Campbell has caught 10 touchdowns and is a really reliable pass catcher.  Bedford can score, and at times their defense has proven it can be tough to score on.  They will need to play a superb game to stop Brent Hengst, who is coming off a massive game against Allegheny (MD) and has 

some very impressive season totals.  Hengst has 941 rushing yards and 16 scores on the ground, and he has passed for another 1088 yards and 9 scores.  He is a big play maker and is basically the Ridge offense. Logan Kissinger has added some good yards on the ground, and Matt Dull is the top receiver. Bedford has certainly played a superior schedule to Ridge, and they may better prepare them in this game and in the playoffs.  This game is always emotional, and it is a huge rivalry.  Bedford needs the win to get into the playoffs, and Ridge is already in.  The battle of the QB's is a great, exciting match up. Hengst and Shippey are two very special players, and two of the most valuable players in the area.  With all that said, Bedford is playing at home with a playoff berth on the line.  I like them to win, although Ridge would love nothing more to end their playoff chances.

Bisons 28 Lions 24

GAME OF THE WEEK

Johnstown (8-1) at Forest Hills (8-1) Friday 7:00

I really am not sure how the LHAC Champion was crowned. Both teams were 8-1. Either way this game does not play a factor into crowning that. Either way, the teams with the best records will be playing each other Friday night in Sidman for bragging rights at the very least.  This will be a very good contest featuring two different styles.  Johnstown proved last year that they could beat the Rangers with their speed, but the also proved this year that grass can slow them down, and again that will be a factor. G.H. Miller Field is a mud bath and the weather certainty has not helped it. Johnstown has a scary good offensive attack when they are given room to move.  Gervon Simon keys it all. He can run and spread the ball out to the many receivers.  Dwight Andrews and Mark Watson have been the most effective receivers, yet Alkwan Williams and DaQuan Minter are as good as they come also.  The lightning of Tim Odum paired with the thunder of Javon Vuckovich is a tough running back duo to stop.  Maybe with the tough weather, you will see some more Vuckovich.  The Trojan defense has been an underrated group at times, but don't forget Alkwan Williams is a divison 1 linebacker.  This guy can really, really play.  The Rangers will have a tough time stopping him.  Forest Hills is the hottest team in the conference.  They got rocked in week one, and have not looked back since.  The Rangers run a more pro style power offense suited for the tough weather conditions. Justin Gdula is a heady signal caller that has protected the ball and thrown for 1409 yards and 15 touchdowns.  He has some good targets in the conference's leading receiver, Jared Shope and DJ Burkey.  Unger and Dell are two reliable backs that can make plays. The Rangers do not possess their usual big physical offensive line, but they have some tough undersized kids.  The Ranger Defense is always good, and this year is no different. This game is pretty evenly matched. Both teams can run and pass on offense, and they have solid defenses.  Forest Hills has two advantages.  They have played all year long on grass, and do well with it, where Johnstown is at a clear disadvantage when they play on grass.  Also turnover margin.  The Rangers have a +4, and Johnstown has a -5.  These are some things to keep in mind. I think this game will be very close, and its important for both teams. Johnstown will be sitting a few weeks for a game, and Forest Hills is still fighting for position. This will be a good tune up for the Trojans before the big Clearfield game. I'm going to take Forest Hills in a close one, but I could really see Johnstown winning the game all the same.  If Johnstown holds onto the ball and adjusts to the bad field there is no reason why the can't win.

Rangers 31 Trojans 28

LHAC Football Forecast Week 9.

Last week I had an awful week going 3-3 (37-11), but a few things happened not many could have predicted.  Bedford was without their best player, quarterback Marcus Shippey.  I was unaware of that, and through it all they were scoreless at half, so Bedford did have somewhat of a chance. The weather certainly slowed down the Crushers, but it is apparent Forest Hills is just a better team, poor call on my part.  But the biggest shocker would be the Trojans losing to a 1 win Central Cambria team.  Anyway you shape it, thats a head scratcher.  Bad field aside, Johnstown is more than talented enough to put up more than 6 points.  But hats off to CC, they won the game and nobody thought they would.  This is the final week of LHAC conference play, much to play for a number of teams as playoff berths, seedings, and byes are all on the line.

Bishop Carroll (1-7) at Johnstown (7-1) Friday 7:00 Trojan Stadium

Well, for the second straight season the Trojan's perfect season comes to a screeching halt to the hands of Central Cambria.  I do not think anyone could have predicted it, let alone believed it.  The weather was obviously an issue, but Johnstown needs to put that aside and move on.  The Trojans are still the best team around.  Despite the recent struggles with turnovers, the Trojan offense is still a scary team to stop. Gervon Simon has put up 1294 yards and 14 scores in the air, and another 471 and 7 touchdowns on the ground.  He is one of the most dangerous players the league has to offer.  Tim Odum is a good, quick back that has been deadly at times, and his streak of 100 yard games was stopped Friday, at four.  The receivers of Johnstown are as athletic as they come, and Dwight Andrews highlights the group. The Trojan passing game should be back in full effect on Friday, and expect Andrews to have a big game on the Huskies.  The Johnstown defense clearly played well enough to win on Friday as they held the CC to under 100 total yards. That is not a good sign for Bishop Carroll.  The Huskies have been shut out five times this season. The offensive line has not given them a good push, and the skilled players have not exploded like they did last year.  Through it all, Josh Barzdo is still their best playmaker. And the Huskies' hopes really rely upon him having a big day rushing.  That is unlikely to happen if he is going to be running into Alkwan Williams and Brock Eisenhuth and the rest of the Trojan defense. I'm sure Johnstown wants to erase all memories of last Friday, and they want to come out and take care of business early.  Johnstown should win this game easily.  They are really good, they are playing at home, and BC can't score. Easy win for the Trojans.

Trojans 45 Huskies 3

Bishop Guilfoyle (1-7) at Westmont (1-7) Saturday 1:00 Price Field

Well this  is one of the few games that will have little playoff impact.  Everyone is almost guaranteed some points for this one, thats about it. Bishop Guilfoyle comes in having a rough, rebuilding year. They have struggled at times, yet remained competitive in others. Turnovers have been the biggest issue for the Marauders to overcome.  They are led by a promising junior quarterback in Pat Irwin.  He has led the offense all year long amid many injuries.  He will need to have a huge game for Guilfoyle to have any chance.  Westmont is better than their record would indicate. They are coming off a last second loss to Cambria Heights, just adding to a tough season already.  The Hilltoppers have some talent, most notably, Ryan Burnheimer.  He has led the team in rushing and total offense year long, and is one of the better workhorses around.  I think Westmont has a pretty underrated line and they will be able to control the line of scrimmage.  I'm taking Westmont on their home field. 

Hilltoppers 24 Marauders 12 

Forest Hills (7-1) at Somerset (3-5) Friday 7:00

Forest Hills is looking to keep pace with the other one loss teams in District Six AA.  They are coming off two solid victories over Penn Cambria and Bishop McCort.  Somerset, on the other hand, is trying to play spoiler and have their best record since 2007.  The task will be tough for the Golden Eagles, but thanks to a new coach, Somerset has shown some potential and promise.  Tanner Stull has been a solid quarterback all year, but an injury sidelined him, forcing the Eagles to go to their third option, and Brendan Urbain played very well. Either way, both players prove to be capable and effective.  The running game has been headed by Matt Boyer and Nick Darr. They have been able to move the ball well, and the defense has played better in years.  Forest Hills will have to make some stops, and that defense has been able to do just that.  They have only given up 5 points a game over their last four.  Justin Gdula has been leading a potent Ranger attack with 1322 yards and 14 touchdowns.  He likes to spread the field to seniors, Jared Shope and DJ Burkey. Shawn Dell and Anthony Unger team up to make a good running game, and they have shown balance, as they typically do.  This is a good Ranger team, that wants to climb up the standings.  They should win this game, but Somerset is improved.  Forest Hills will need to come out and take care of business, or the Golden Eagles can hang around.  I think the Rangers will be able to come out right away, and impose their will.

Rangers 35 Golden Eagles 7

Central Cambria (2-6) at Bedford (4-4) Friday 7:00

Well the Red Devils are coming off the upset of the year, to say the least.  The Red Devils have won two straight and would love nothing more to add another upset to their resume.  Bedford's stadium isn't known for having great turf, and that was a main component for the Red Devils' victory last week.   The offense has struggled all year long, but they were able to will two wins in the past two weeks.  Scott Bellock is the senior leader, who is a hard nosed quarterback.  He can run if he needs to.  McBreen leads the stable of backs and has had some big games when needed.  The defense has been playing very well the last two weeks, I mean they held Johnstown to one score, and forced a number of turnovers.  The field has been getting the most credit for last week's win, but hey these kids earned it, and nobody should take it away from them.   Bedford is in a must win situation.  They had a big opportunity last week to get a playoff clinching win, but they fell to the hands of Penn Cambria. Marcus Shippey's absence was not a helping cause last week, but he's back this week and thats huge.  Shippey may be the most valuable player to his team, than anyone else in the league.  He has thrown the ball extremely well this year.  Luke Campbell is one of the best receivers in the conference, and Dakota Hess and Aaron Henry have provided solid support on offense.  Central Cambria has improved each week, and Bedford has played steady all year long.  This game means more to Bedford, and they need to win.  Central Cambria will still play this year out, and try to play spoiler, but I like Bedford.  Both teams are used to the messy grass fields in late October.
Bisons 30 Red Devils 13

Cambria Heights (4-4) at Bishop McCort (5-3) Friday 7:00 Point Stadium

Cambria Heights is enjoying the most success they have had in years.  They have a chance at a .500 season, and even a winning season. To put things into perspective, Cambria Heights has exceeded their win total from the previous four seasons combined.  They have a good offense that is balanced and young.  Tyler Crawford is a bruising back that has been consistent all year with 736 yards and 7 touchdowns. Ben Myers and Devin Contorchick have combined for another 653 and 8 scores themselves.  Nathan Bearer has struggled at times replacing Caleb Vescovi, but last week against Westmont he engineered a comeback and had a game winning touchdown pass, and had his first 200 yard game of his career.  These aren't your typical Highlanders. They can play, and they are going to be tough to deal with next season.  Bishop McCort is certainly on upset alert. It does not happen very often that McCort has lost two games in a row, let alone three.  There is a possibility Friday night, that they could lose to Heights.  Injuries and depth have killed this team up front all year, but through it all, they still have their Division 1 Left Tackle in Zach Rugg.  He needs to provide leadership for these young guys up front.  Who knows about the revolving door up front, but the Crushers still have a deadly group of skilled players. Jesse Cooper leads the offensive attack with 998 yards and 11 scores.  He will spread the ball around, but Christian Leech is the main guy in the passing game.  Zach Varga, Jerqual Wilson, and Dustin Belskey form a good group of backs.  This team is dangerous with their speed, especially on their home turf. They average 36 points a game at home.  The Crusher defense has also forced 26 turnovers through 8 games.  I think Cambria Heights wants to get to that elusive .500 mark, and McCort really wants a first round bye.  The Crushers have been struggling of late, but at the end of the day, they are the better team in this game. They need to get their speed in space and take control of the game early.  I think Heights will come in with confidence and play a good game, but McCort has one too many playmakers.

Crimson Crushers 31 Highlanders 18

GAME OF THE WEEK

Penn Cambria (6-2) at Richland (7-1) Friday 7:00 Herlinger Field

Well, with two weeks left in the regular season, and a playoff bracket that isn't really close to being set, this game looms large for both squad.  Currently, Richland sits as the #2 ranked team, and Penn Cambria is in sixth place.  A win here for either team could be pivotal in seeding.  Penn Cambria eased the pain of a 24-0 loss to Forest Hills, by beating Bedford 24-0 last week. The Panthers run a no thrills offense based off the running of Jordan Fuller.  The big senior has piled up 876 yards and 5 scores.  The Panther offense has thrown the ball more than in year's past with mixed results.  Andrew Buck has had his ups and downs, but is capable of making throws when needed.  The Panther defense is solid and has pitched two shutouts this year.  They will have their hands full with the lights out offensive prowess of Richland.  The Rams put up 400 yards a game with 38 points. They can do it running or passing.  Matt Shaffer has been a great sophomore quarterback, but when called upon another sophomore in Nico Pecora can do the job. They have combined to throw 20 touchdowns.  John Rizzo is a beast, and is having a beast of a season.  He has 1145 yards and 14 touchdowns.  Luke Rozich, Tanner Solarcyzk, and Shaffer have all contributed to the rushing attack as well. After winning many shootouts early in the year, the Richland defense has only allowed 15 points in the past two weeks. The Rams are clicking and they are a serious contender for a District Crown.  I like Richland, and its hard to against them right now. They can beat you in so many ways.  

Rams 35 Panthers 13

The Collapse of the Big East.

The Big East is a conference that has long had a problem with membership and alignment, from the Penn State controversy in the 80's to the Miami led defections of '03, this conference has been through plenty. All along the way, Basketball has been the marquee fixture for the league, the problem being, football is the name of the game in collegiate athletics. The additions of South Florida, Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette, and DePaul created the best collection of college basketball teams ever assembled under one unified league.  It also created the worst major college football league in history as well.  The league has often put basketball as a main priority, understandably so, considering the league was formed with the notion it would be a strong basketball league, but that often placed the football schools in an awkward state. Yes, Basketball is a good, marketable, and popular product in the Northeast, yet the revenue it brings in is not even comparable to that of Football. Thus, creating a sense of division within the league.
              The Big East is still the best Basketball conference hands down, and it would remain that way as long as these teams stayed together.  The problem is that Basketball does not pay the bills for half of the teams in the conference.  We live in a football driven world of college athletics, it is what it is.  No matter how one rationalizes or shapes it, there is not one good reason that Pitt and Syracuse should have stayed in the Big  East, in fact it would have been downright foolish if they turned that opportunity down.  The revenue, and more importantly the stability in which the ACC provides is unmatched in comparison of the Big East. Pittsburgh and Syracuse, along with West Virginia had the biggest voices in the league, and they have most pull, so it appears that they should have been compelled to stay and fight for the league, much like they did in 2003.  But in a world of a college athletics' arms race, it was not possible to sustain another losing battle.  For anyone to fix the Big East at this point, it would be like putting a band aid on a growing wound, it would do no good. TCU recognized the problem before they even played one game under the Big East banner, and went from a league in which they would have competed annually for championships to a league where they will have to fight tougher battles with more powerful in-state institutions. TCU cannot be criticized, the travel of this league is going to be outrageous, especially if the moves that are rumored to be in the works, are true.  The other major conferences have made serious strides in strengthening positions and futures for their respective leagues, yet John Marinatto of the Big East has the wonderful solution of bringing in teams like SMU and Air Force to fix the problem.  The league is looking more, and more like a glorified Conference-USA. Pitt and Syracuse are going to be criticized for leaving this?  They have the chance to be playing all their games down the East Coast, and avoid trips to Texas, Colorado, and Idaho, big EAST remember?

           The problem and the root of the conference dissolving is simple.  Different agendas.  Before the raids, the conference had seventeen institutions, and by no measure were they on the same page.  The 8 Football schools knew they were playing in a league that was more concerned with basketball, than football. Any talk by the ACC, SEC, or Big Ten was more than worth listening to, and two schools heard that calling and made the move. TCU also made the jump before anything got serious with the Big East, and that was easily the best move for them.  Despite, the "commitments" by the six other teams, they will run and jump to leave the Big East, sorry John Marinatto if you believe those are sincere pledges.  The exit fee has been raised, but that still may not deter teams from leaving this sinking ship.  The 7 Basketball schools certainly had their own agenda as well.  They were going to hang on to this thing as long as they possibly could. The exposure for these teams was a great thing The thing with Big East basketball, most of the lore comes from the football playing schools.  Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Syracuse, West Virginia and Louisville have had the most success of late. The Basketball only schools have been resting their laurels with these football teams.  And Notre Dame is completely on its own page.  They get to blood suck from the league, yet keep their precious independence in football.  They have the deal of all deals in this one. To put things simple, had Notre Dame joined the Big East for football at any point, this conversation would have never be happening,period.  So in essence, this league is far from being on the same page.  Thats an issue that is not found across the country, at least among the BCS conferences.  The Big East is in its own world, and the greed by every school individually is to blame.
            I get the disappointment and anger by all the great basketball minds of the world. Andy Katz and Dick Vitale have been adamant in opposing these moves. They are more less blaming Pitt and Syracuse for all of these troubles. Its hard to point fingers, or even lay blame to them.  Why should teams have to sacrifice the well being of their football program, you know the one that brings in the money, for the sake of Providence and Seton Hall Basketball?  Its irrational and dumb to think that.  I know loyalty is a big thing people are pointing too, but without Syracuse there is no Big East at all.  And it were not for both Pittsburgh and Syracuse, the conference would have collapsed in 2003, both schools could have entered the ACC back then.  They chose to stick things out, and held the league together. Things change, they can't always be what you want them to be.  Big East Basketball the last 6-7 years have been great, and there will never be anything like it.  Big East Football the last eight years has been awful and a disgrace to the BCS system.  The Big East is collapsing, and no addition by SMU is going to stop it.