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.

LHAC Football Forecast Week 8.

I went 5-1 last week, bringing me to 34-8 on the year.  Not surprised, but I was wrong in saying Penn Cambria would beat Forest Hills.  The Rangers took care of business.  Johnstown and Bishop McCort put on a great display of athletes, with the Trojans reigning supreme in the "City Championship."  With each passing week, the playoff races get tighter and tighter.  This week has some very important games for a few teams.

Richland (6-1) at Bishop Guilfoyle (1-6) Friday 7:00 Mansion Park

Richland is took care of crosstown rival Westmont last week, and still sit among one of the five 1 loss teams in D6 AA race.  The Rams are certainly hoping that this will not be their only trip to Mansion Park this season.  They have as good of a a chance as anyone, and it starts with a high powered offense that is averaging nearly 40 points per game.  John Rizzo leads the attack with 1079 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, and is aided by Luke Rozich(306), Matt Shaffer (309), and now Tanner Solarczyk who rushed for 107 yards last week.  This is the best Richland rushing attack in recent memory.  The passing game is still pretty good too.  Matt Shaffer has 877 yards and 13 touchdowns to just 3 picks.  He has a number of targets at his disposal, including deep threat,  Kyle Flick.  The Rams offense is clicking, and got a solid defensive performance last week.  If they can play better team defense to go along with one of the best offense in District Six, they will be very, very hard to beat.  That is not the greatest news for the home team.  Bishop Guilfoyle is a young team with a lot of promise, but they are still not quite there yet.  The Marauders are led by Pat Irwin. He has thrown for 490 yards this season and rushed 312 more. He anchors the offense and Bishop Guilfoyle is very reliant on his play making ability. Injuries have riddled this team all year long, but it has allowed for younger guys to get bigger roles earlier than expected.  BG is going to have a tough go at it Friday.  Richland is solid and diverse and on a mission to keep pace with the other one loss teams.  I'm taking Richland in this one.  They are really clicking right now.

Rams 45 Marauders 7

Johnstown (7-0) at Central Cambria (1-6) Friday 7:00

The Trojans enter this game as the league's only unbeaten, coming off beating their biggest rival so that makes for a potential let down, Right?.....Wrong.  The Trojans have won 16 of  17 regular season games dating back to last season, the lone blemish is at the hands of the Red Devils.  Johnstown certainly hasn't forgotten either. The Trojans offense is high powered and loaded at just about everywhere.  Gervon Simon is the key to it all. Despite the turnovers, Simon still anchors the offense with his arm and his legs.  He has thrown for 1241 yards, and rushed for 446 more, accounting for 20 scores.  He has plenty of weapons around him, most notably, 6-6 Wide receiver Dwight Andrews.  He is the hardest matchup for any opposing team in the league. Alkwan Williams, Mark Watson, and Daquan Minter aren't exactly easy to cover either, and don't forget about Tim Odum with the running game either.  The Trojans will be playing on grass, and after seeing last week and how muddy it was, that may be the Red Devils' only hope to slowing down Johnstown.  Central Cambria Head Coach, Sam Shutty picked up his first win last week, and his team has progressively gotten better over the course of the season. Central Cambria's philosophy should be easy, try to run the ball and keep the ball out of Johnstown's hands.  Scott Bellock only attempted three passes last week, and I can't imagine they will try much more on Friday.  McBreen, Papuga, O'Saben, and Bellock will all have to contribute with their running game for there to be any chance at repeating the upset. The key will be how the Red Devils play on the line. They will have a whale of a task trying to block Alkwan Williams.  The Trojans defense has been underrated all year long, and last week they scored two touchdowns.  They are explosive whichever side of the ball they are on.  Johnstown may struggle to score 40 some points, but they should still win no problem.

Trojans 34 Red Devils 3

Somerset (2-5) at Bishop Carroll (1-6) Friday DeGol Field 7:00 Saint Francis University

This game is a tough one to call.  Bishop Carroll has struggled all year, but showed they are capable of playing good football, even it was for only one game.  The Huskies have an offense led senior quarterback turned running back, Josh Barzdo.  He has rolled up 539 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground.  He is their best player, and if he can get loose their chances of winning only grow.  Ryan Laurer is now the quarterback and threw for over 100 yards last week.  He is a shifty player that runs the option pretty well.  The Huskies need these two to make plays for them to have a chance of winning.  The offense has gotten better recently, but the defense still remains an issue.  They need to control two young sophomores that can really play. Tanner Stull has grown up on the fly, and has done a very nice job.  He has thrown for 585 yards and rushed for another 192 yards. He is small and shifty, and can make plays.   Matt Boyer is a big physical sophomore back that also has had an up and down ride, but is gaining experience as a player.  After a winless season last year, Somerset has tallied two already this season, and also they put pressure on the league's two best teams.   This is an upstart team that will compete next year.   Somerset is the better team in this game.  Carroll has had a disappointing follow up to such a good season last year.  They have talent to compete, but for one reason or another, things have not worked out that way.  I'm taking Somerset. I like Stull's ability, and they have really played well together as a team, they are gelling well.  Great job so far by Coach Miller.

Golden Eagles 27 Huskies 17  

Westmont (1-6) at Cambria Heights (3-4) Friday 7:00

Plenty would have to happen, but Cambria Heights enters week 8 still with slight playoff hopes, and at that, some winnable games left, starting Friday. The Highlanders come into this game off a convincing win over Bishop Carroll. The offense has been pretty solid this year, as it made the transformation from a passing attack, to a power running game.  Tyler Crawford fronts the multiple back look with 718 yards and 7 Touchdowns.  Ben Myers and Donnie Contorchick have been productive in secondary roles to Crawford.  Many people thought the loss of Vescovi would slow the team down, but the strong junior class has made it a seamless transition, and even an improvment. The defense has been better in years past, and thats a huge step forward.  Westmont has had a tough year, but they have been more competitive then their record indicates. They played well in almost every game and put themselves in a position to win a few of them as well. The Hilltopper's attack is reliant upon the running game of Ryan Burnheimer. He is averaging 126 yards per contest, and is asked to carry the ball quite a bit.  Joe Glennon has had some bright spots at quarterback, but this is primarily a running team.  The Hilltoppers have had some tough luck, and it could change Friday.  They need to play some better defense, and maybe fine one more threat on offense outside of Burnheimer.  If they can do that, Cambria Heights needs to watch out.  The Highlanders will combat with a good running game of their own.  This will be a competitive contest, but I like Heights.  They are having their best season in years, and they are setting up nicely for a big year next season.

Highlanders 27 Hilltoppers 17

Bishop McCort (5-2) at Forest Hills (6-1) G.H. Miller Field Friday 7:00

Well you may be able to also call this game of the week, also.  Many folks would.  These are the two most consistent programs in the Laurel Highlands, and even District 6 the past decade.  Since the year 2001, these two schools have won 9 District Championships combined.  They often split the LHAC, and they churn out good team after good team each year.  This game also has big stakes on the line.  Currently, Forest Hills does not have home field advantage in the first round, despite the 6-1 record.  McCort is in contention for a first round bye, and they need a win on Friday to make that hope a reality.  So plenty to play for on each side.  Forest Hills has been rolling since the week 1 setback, and they look poised to defense their District 6 Championship. As always, the defense is outstanding.  They are allowing 6 points a game since the week one loss, and they have pitched two shutouts in that span.  The offense does not have the usual power running back, but the group by committee has done a nice job. Dell and Unger get most of the carries, and they have done pretty well.  Senior quarterback, Justin Gdula is having another big season. He is completing nearly 60% of his passes, and has tossed 11 scores.  Jared Shope (29-602-5) and DJ Burkey (19-380-3) form a deadly duo at receiver, and they are really tough to cover. Bishop McCort will have their hands full stopping this offense. But they have a pretty good offense of their own.  Jesse Cooper has thrown for 918 yards and 10 scores.  He has some pretty reliable targets on the outside, highlighted by Christian Leech, who has hauled in 6 of those scores.  The running game is led by Zach Varga and Dustin Belskey, and Jerqual Wilson can do it all. He is the wild card in this game, because he can turn any play into a score.  Bishop McCort's defense has been pretty good this year, and they have forced a very impressive 26 turnovers through 7 contests.  The teams match up well with speed and backs, and senior quarterbacks.  They also share a similar "weakness" or concern, and that is the line.  With these team's great recent history, they have had big, physical lines.  That is not the case this year.  Physcial? Yes.  Big?  No.  Bishop McCort is anchored by D1 recruit, Zach Rugg, but injuries and depth issues have put the rest of the line in a shuffle. Foest Hills has some good ones, but outside Fyock, they aren't the typical huge Forest Hills kids. So this game will come down to what team's line takes control and opens up things for their offense, or what team is able to use their speed in space.  Jerqual Wilson is the difference maker in this game.  His speed in the return game and on offense make him dangerous, and his 5 interceptions makes him a factor at every point in the game.  I'm taking Bishop McCort, BUTTTT I could really see Forest Hills taking this one.  The Ranger faithful seem concerned with this line, so we will see how it all plays out.

Crimson Crushers 34 Rangers 28

GAME OF THE WEEK

Bedford (4-3) at Penn Cambria (5-2) Friday 7:00

If you look at this game on the field, it puts two solid teams that share similar characteristics against each other.  That alone makes this for an easy game of the week choice, but if you throw in the fact that these two teams are 7th and 9th in District 6 rankings, and are separated by only 90 points.....Well that makes this a very easy choice for game of the week. Bedford is currently on the outside looking in, but luckily they have direct control if they get in.  They play two teams that are barely ahead of them in the standings.  Bedford has been a tough luck team, that is not far away from being 6-1.  Marcus Shippey is a tough, hard nosed football player, and he happens to be a really good quarterback.  His improved passing skills are evident with his 836 yards and 13 score, and his ever consistent running threat is still there.  Luke Campbell is definitely flying under the radar as a playmaker and a receiver in this league.  He has 10 touchdowns through the air, and is a real threat in the return game.  The Bisons defense is anchored by none other than their quarterback, Marcus Shippey, who doubles as the Middle Linebacker.  The defense has done a good job this year, but their biggest issue seems to be the big play, and I'm not so sure Penn Cambria has that threat.  Penn Cambria is coming off a tough loss to Forest Hills, and by virtue of that loss, they join the mess at the bottom of the District 6 playoff race.  A game at Richland next week looms, making this game even more important.  Jordan Fuller leads the Panthers offense with 788 rushing yards.  He is the consistent force in the offense, and Andrew Buck provides some versatility at quarterback. Buck has opened things up a lot, by throwing more, and he still provides a tough running sense for a quarterback. Both teams will do things differently, but both teams have similar caliber athletes with strong lines.  This should be a really good game, especially with a lot at stake for both teams.  Penn Cambria cannot really afford another loss in a row, and Bedford needs to put some wins together down the stretch.  I think this game will be an absolute battle, and I think Bedford has a few more playmakers that will open things up.  This game could go either way, but I like Bedford.

Bisons 28 Panthers 22

LHAC Football Forecast Week 7.

Week 7 already....Man time is flying....I went 5-1 last week(29-7), missing the BC game.  The Huskies let me down, again.  I need to stop falling for that.  McCort and Penn Cambria played close games as I expected, and Johnstown struggled for a quarter than poured it on Bedford.   Its the last week of Sectional play, so they saved up some big games for this week...

Cambria Heights (2-4) at Bishop Carroll (1-5) Friday 7:00 DeGol Field Saint Francis

Cambria Heights gave Penn Cambria all they wanted last week, and nearly pulled off the upset.  The Highlanders have two wins already, and have a realistic chance of getting to .500 this season.  That would be very big news, especially because this group is getting most of their contributions from juniors.  Can you even imagine Cambria Heights in the playoffs? It would be unbelievable.  Tyler Crawford is having a very successful season as being the catalyst for the the Highlander offense.  He has 630 yards and 4 touchdowns. Crawford, along with Myers, Brawley and Contorchick give the offense plenty of weapons.     The defense has done better than in year's past, and that is not a good sign for a struggling Bishop Carroll offense.  The Huskies handled Central Cambria, and there was hope they might win a few games, until Guilfoyle put that to a screeching halt.  Carroll has been shutout in four of their six games.  The offense has not found any sort of consistency.  They still rotate many players at different positions.  Josh Barzdo is their best player, and for the Huskies to have any sort of chance, he needs to go off.  Bishop Carroll's season just never got going in the right direction, and Cambria Heights is showing much more promise than they ever have in recent memory.  These are two programs going in opposite directions.   I will take Heights because they are a better all around team, but I think Carroll will play better this week.  

Highlanders 31 Huskies 17   

Bishop Guilfoyle (1-5) at Central Cambria (0-6) Friday 7:00 

Bishop Guilfoyle got their mark in the win column, and Central Cambria is still looking for that first win.  The Marauders beat a Bishop Carroll team that beat Central Cambira the previous week.   BG has played alright in recent games, but injuries and youth have held this team back from having any real success this year.  Pat Irwin has been the BG offense all year, until junior running back Cody Rossman put up a 100 yard performance on Saturday.  The Marauders will be a run driven team, but Pat Irwin can make a few throws.  Turnovers have been this team's biggest issue, and if they take care of the ball they have just enough weapons to pick up win number two.  Central Cambria has gotten better lately, and Coach Shutty is on the verge of his first victory.  Scott Bellock has done a better job at quarterback recently, and had one of his best games of the year against the tough Forest Hills defense.  If he controls the ball, and makes some throws and uses his legs, the Devils should be alright.  Papuga and O'Saben need to make plays for the offense, as they are some of the few big play threats the Red Devils have.  I think this game will be close, and I think its time Central Cambria gets that first win.  They have progressively gotten better, and Guilfoyle is still a young team.  

Red Devils 26 Marauders 16 

Richland (5-1) at Westmont (1-5) Saturday 1:00 Price Field

Richland is rolling right now, on offense. The offense's minimum performance this season has been 27, and that was the only game they lost.  When this team scores at least 35 points, they win the game.  The offense is led by the Laurel Highland's leading rusher, John Rizzo.  He is averaging 160 yards per contest through 6 weeks, and has lit up the scoreboard 12 times already. Matt Shaffer has had a very effective season as a sophomore quarterback.  He has thrown 12 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions, and has also shown the ability to make a few plays with his feet.  His favorite target is fellow sophomore, Kyle Flick who has 5 scores on the year.  The offense has many weapons and different sets that cause problems for the opposition.  Scoring is not the Rams issue, its keeping the other team from scoring that has been a cause for concern.  In the past four weeks, they have allowed 33 points per game. This team has been winning with shootouts, and in order for them to avoid a shootout they will need to stop Ryan Burnheimer. He leads the Westmont offense with 740 yards and is second in the Laurel Highlands.   He will be used heavily in order for Westmont to try to contain Richland's tempo.   Joe Glennon, the senior playcaller, is coming off of perhaps his best game in his career.  He threw for 100 yards, threw his first touchdown of the season, and made some impressive plays with his feet.  Having him play well would be a huge bonus for the Hilltoppers.  This game comes down to a few things, Will Richland take care of business from start to end?  Or, Will Westmont be able to score some points and keep things close?  Westmont is used to the Saturday afternoon game, so perhaps an advantage lies there. But the way Rizzo is running the ball, and the way the whole Richland offense is clicking, it is really hard to go against the Rams.  My call is that Richland's defense will stand up and play better, but Westmont will still get some points on the board in the process.
Rams 35 Hilltoppers 14

Bedford (3-3) at Somerset (2-4) Friday 7:00 

Bedford enters this game in a must win situation, seeding and playoff spots are hard to come by at the moment, and the Bisons find themselves in the shuffle for the last few spots. They have exceeded expectations of most, and turned out to be a pretty good football team.  Their offense has been great, and it has a lot to do with the emergence of the passing game of Marcus Shippey. He is at 687 yards and 11 scores on the year.  His main target has been junior, Luke Campbell who has 20 catches for 415 yards and 8 scores.  The Bisons aerial assault is aided by a running game that uses many different ball carriers.  Bedford is very much in the playoff picture and I think they know what will be at stake in this game.  The struggling Somerset offense exploded last week against Richland, and for the second straight week, Somerset put a scare on one of  the league's better teams.  The Somerset offense is led by a sensational sophomore quarterback, Tanner Stull. He is a very elusive runner, and is gaining experience as a passer.  He will be tough for Bedford to defend.  Somerset had leads over Johnstown and Richland, this team is certainly better than they were at the beginning of the season, and will certainly be a force next year.  I think Bedford will struggle with this team, and Somerset's offense will take another step forward.  I have to go with Bedford's experience in this game, but very quietly, this is a big game.
Bisons 27 Golden Eagles 14

Bishop McCort (5-1) at Johnstown (6-0) Friday 7:00 Trojan Stadium

The City Rivalry.  Big game in the Greater Johnstown area. My favorite part would have to be the McCort team will walk to and from the game, thats how close the schools are. McCort and Johnstown regularly turn out most of the Division 1 talent in the area, and this year's game potentially features 5 Division 1 players.    For the game itself, since returning to the LHAC, McCort has an 8-2 edge over the nearby Trojans, but despite the previous success the Crushers know they have a daunting task ahead on Friday.McCort  will be facing a team that is bigger, stronger, and faster.  The Trojans are loaded, there is no way around it.  It all starts with the dual threat senior, Gervon Simon. He makes Johnstown go, and is their most valuable player.  His passing total is at 1088 yards with 13 touchdowns, and another 377 with 5 touchdowns on the ground.  He is the key to what the Trojans are doing, but they are not short on playmakers either.  Tim Odum has been phenomenal on the ground, with 637 yards and 8 scores.  Dwight Andrews, Alkwan Williams, Daquan Minter and Mark Watson form the most lethal receiving cores in the area.  This team can score at will, and they have a good defense as well. Alkwan Williams is the league's best player, and leads a solid linebacking core for the Trojans.  He will need to have a big game to help slow down the Crushers.  McCort does have an offense that has some firepower, too.  They are led by senior quarterback, Jesse Cooper.  He has thrown for 879 yards and 10 touchdowns.  McCort uses a three man attack on the ground led by Zach Varga's 454 yards and 6 touchdowns, Belskey and Wilson will carry the ball as well. McCort's receiving core isn't too bad either, Christian Leech has hauled in 20 catches for just shy of 500 yards so far, Jerqual Wilson is a big play waiting to happen, and Jordan Spangler is a reliable third receiver.  Both teams have great skilled players, and great speed, but the difference is the line.  Johnstown has an underrated line, but they also have a big line, led by senior, Brock Eisenhuth.   McCort's line features UConn recruit, Zach Rugg, and a lot of undersized guys.  Johnstown should be able to use the size up front to win the game.  I think McCort can keep up for a while, but certain matchups just do not add up well for them.  The one being the size differential on the line, and how will they guard 6-6 Dwight Andrews?  Johnstown used the fade route last year over the short McCort secondary, and you can bet they will try that again.  Its a rivalry game, so you never know what will happen.  But Johnstown is the better, and deeper team. They should win, and I believe they will win.

Trojans 42 Crimson Crushers 28

GAME OF THE WEEK

Forest Hills (5-1) at Penn Cambria (5-1) Friday 7:00

Not only does this game determine the Secion I crown, but it is a huge game in terms of the District XI AA race.  The two teams are separated by just 10 points entering week seven, with Penn Cambria just slightly ahead.  This marks the first of three big games in a row for Penn Cambria.  They will face Bedford and Richland in the coming weeks, and they know this is a big game.  In order for Penn Cambria to win this game, they will stick with the same plan that has been in place all year.  Play good team defense and create turnovers, and give the ball to Jordan Fuller.  And so far, its been working, Fuller is third in the league is rushing, and has been a steady force for the Panthers.  He has 711 yards through six contests.   Andrew Buck has done a nice job as the quarterback for Penn Cambria, as he helps take some of the pressure away from Fuller.  In the midst of the Panther's four game winning streak, Penn Cambria has only been allowing 8 points a contest.  The game should be a good low scoring affair, unless the Ranger offense gets loose again.  The Rangers have been rolling lately since their week one defeat to Richland. The offense is led by senior QB, Justin Gdula.  He has 1040 yards and 9 scores so far.  The running game has been handled by Shawn Dell and he has responded with 385 yards and 8 touchdowns to date. The Shope and Burkey tandem have been solid targets for Gdula.  The offense is clicking lately, and the Ranger Defense is back on track.  They have only surrendered 7.8 points per game in the five game winning streak.  So the game features two teams with great defenses, and two contrasting styles on offense, yet both feature balance.  Forest Hills will pass a little bit more, and Penn Cambria will run a little more.  The game is about the battle up front, both teams have solid line play. It should be a good game, and I think Forest Hills is the favorite in this game, and I'm going to have to take the underdogs though.  I like the way Fuller runs, and I like the physical style both teams bring.  This game will be come down to a few key plays,  I see low scoring and close.

Panthers 20 Rangers 14

Couch Potato's Guide October 8-10.

10. Pitt at Rutgers Saturday 3:30 Saturday ESPNU
High Octane offense?  Yeah i can't believe its actually kinda working either. Ray Graham is really good, I mean really good.  All of my bias aside, he's one of the top 3-4 backs in the country.  He does lead the nation in the rushing department.  Pitt and Rutgers may be meeting in the Big East for one of the last times, but who knows  conference shuffling is not nearly done yet.  This soon may be an ACC game.  But whatever you do, watch Ray Graham.





9. Iowa at Penn State Saturday 3:30 ABC

Well you cannot talk Penn State, Iowa Football unless you bring up the famed 6-4 game. Can we see another barn burner?  Hopefully.  Actually I'm not so sure how good either of these teams are, Penn State is 4-1 and they haven't exactly looked impressive.  Bolden?  McGloin?  Nobody knows.  Its actually not even close, McGloin leads Bolden in every stat.  So why is there a controversy?  I guess we will see.  The soap opera continues in Happy Valley....




8. Texas A&M at Texas Tech Saturday 8:00 FX
I'm not gonna lie, this is a slow week. A few big games, but not many. Well this game is alright I suppose.  Texas Tech is undefeated, and A&M was a preseason top ten team with two losses already. So both teams will be playing all out, and its a rivalry game. This one isn't doing a lot for me, either.


7. Ohio State at Nebraska Saturday 8:00 ABC

In theory when ABC made this their big game of the week it wasn't a bad choice.  But uhh Ohio State fell a lot harder than anyone could have imagined.  They do not have a quarterback. They really don't have much of anything. The countdown to next season has already begun in Columbus.  Nebraska is still a very good team, with a lot to play for.  They were simply outclassed by a really good Wisconsin team.  No shame in that.  They should get back on track and contend for a Big Ten Title.  It will be another Sea of Red in Nebraska.  Always an awesome scene in Lincoln.



6. Miami at Virginia Tech Saturday 3:30 ESPN

Thing have not gone according to plan for the Hurricanes, yet they are still a very formidable team that can win a few big games down the stretch. Va Tech lost a tough one to a surprisingly good Clemson team.  The Hokies are still planning on winning the Coastal Division for the ACC.  This game has produced some very talented players, and some very good teams.  The rivalry dates back to the Big East, and has caried over to the ACC.  Should be a good game with plenty of emotions.


5. Florida at LSU Saturday 3:30 CBS

This game would be much higher had Alabama not destroyed the Gators.  LSU should handle these guys, but in the SEC there are few sure things when teams of this caliber meet.  Florida still has the athletes to pull off in upset, but the game being in Baton Rouge really hurts their chances.   LSU has a defense that resembles some NFL defenses, and actually may have more raw talent than some defenses that play on Sundays. Tyrann Mathieu is just a straight gamer, and just seems to be everywhere.  Definitely worth watching this guy play.

4. Auburn at Arkansas Saturday 7:00 ESPN
The token SEC Game of the week.  There always is one, and it always involves ranked teams. Auburn has done pretty well, considering they lost nearly everyone from last season.  They just find ways to gut out victories. They will be looking to do the same.  Arkansas is coming off a huge comeback over Texas A&M, do they still have the will to get up for a second straight week?   Yeah, revenge is on their minds.  They gave up 65 freaking points to Auburn last year, I can bet they want to right the ship so to speak.

3. Packers at Falcons Sunday 8:20 NBC
Green Bay and Atlanta, teo very good QB's.  Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers are two of the best the league has to offer.  Both teams have offensive playmakers that can produce.  Julio Jones is looking like he may be the league's next great receiver.  He's well on his way.  This could be an NFC Championship game preview as well.   NBC is doing a killing with their Sunday Night schedule so far.  Definitely one upping, Monday Night Football.

2.  Oklahoma vs. Texas  Dallas Saturday 12:00 ABC
Ah the Red River Rivalry.  Always a fun one to watch.  Texas has a quarterback named McCoy, and receiver names Shipley, sound familiar?  The hopes lie with the younger brothers going up against the better and more experienced Sooners.  You never know in rivalry games, but Oklahoma is really good. They should win the game, and maybe should win it convincingly, but the two little brothers from Texas may have some magic up their sleeve.

1. Bears at Lions Monday 8:30 ESPN

Are you ready for some Football? Well I guess you'll never know because Hank Williams Jr. will not be asking you before the game.  What a tragedy.  But hey, the DETROIT LIONS are on Monday Night Football.  I kid you not.  I am having a hard time comprehending it. I don't know the last time it happened.  But the boys in blue are 4-0, and looking to keep it going, How can you not root for them?

LHAC Football Forecast Week 6.

Hard to believe we are already in week 6 of the football season.  Last week I went 4-2 (24-6 on the year), and missed out on two games I thought would be close.  BC let out some frustration on their rivals across the hill, Richland made a statement with 21 unanswered second half points to defeat the undefeated Crushers.  Johnstown may have been looking ahead to bigger better things, and Penn Cambria and Forest Hills are setting up nicely for a big Section I battle.

Somerset (2-3) at Richland (4-1) Friday 7:00 Herlinger Field 

Richland faced a 2 touchdown deficit to a pretty good McCort team at the half and reeled off 3 scores to overtake the Crushers.  This team has come up big and defeated two formidable teams in McCort and Forest Hills, and gave Johnstown just about everything they wanted.  This team is legitimate and they could make a serious push at Tyrone for the AA crown.  Rizzo is coming off his second 200 yard game of the season, and his season total is at 894 yards and 9 touchdowns.  He is a beast, and is having a best of a year.  Matt Shaffer has assumed the role as the primary quarterback for the team, and I think that was something they needed to clear up before the playoffs.  The two man system worked for a while, but the team needs one guy it can point to for the rest of this season, and moving forward.  The move is paying off, he had a huge game aginst McCort and has a current streak of  four straight 100 plus yard games.  The Rams offense is solid, but still the defense will remain a question.  They lost in a shootout to Johnstown, and gave up 28 points to McCort in the loss. Although they did hold McCort scoreless in the second half, a promising sign for the Rams.  Somerset was leading the conference favorites at the half last week, very unsuspectingly. Somerset is either getting better, or Johnstown wasn't interested. Either way, it shows Somerset was up for the game and ready to play. Coach Miller is doing a fantastic job with this group. Tanner Stull has 408 passing yards and 123 rushing yards through 5 games. He is a quick, young quarterback that will be one of the top players in the league next year.  He is still searching for his first touchdown, but he is gaining valuable experience.  Matt Boyer is another sophomore who has impressed, and he put forth a 76 yard, one touchdown performance against Johnstown on only eleven carries.  The defense, with the exception of one game, has been very good. Bad weather or not, the Eagles still held a potent Johnstown offense in check for most of the game, and only allowed 21 points.  Richland is atop the District standings right now, and I'm sure they will do everything in their power to remain there.  Although the Rams got their three biggest games off the schedule, they still have plenty to play for, in terms of seeding.  Somerset is getting better, its evident, but Richland's offense is just a machine right now.  Hard to go against the Rams.

Rams 42 Golden Eagles 14 

Westmont (1-4) at Bishop McCort (4-1) Friday 7:00 Point Stadium

Bishop McCort is coming off two tough loses Friday night, the 35-28 loss to Richland and the loss of key linemen Gap Barbin.  It will be interesting to see how the Crushers replace the hard nosed junior.  Bishop McCort still has the offensive firepower that many would envy.  The Crushers stalled in the second half, but put up 4 touchdowns in the first half, thanks in large part to senior quarterback, Jesse Cooper.  He raised his passing total 716 yards and 8 touchdowns for the year.  Christian Leech hauled in another score giving him five, and Jerqual Wilson grabbed three interceptions and had caught a touchdown last week.  The Crushers have the passing game, and the good ground game with Varga and Belskey , but with a hobbled line how good will it be?  Westmont has not played well, and they are riding a four game losing streak, BUT they are very capable in winning this game.  McCort has shown that their lack of size on defense is an issue, and an attacking point for other teams.  The physical play of Marcus Shippey and Rizzo will ultimately point to a heavy dosage of Ryan Burnheimer.  He hasbeen asked to carry  Westmont all year long, and has responded with 658 yards on the ground and 5 scores.  He is in the physical mode of Rizzo and will be coming right at you, top that with a pretty good offensive line led by Josh Duplin, I put the Crushers on upset alert.  The Hilltoppers played well in their losses, and some of their losses aren't as bad as the score indicates.  I will still take McCort because they have more speed, and play making ability, but if Westmont gets the ground game going, and McCort's offense sputters, don't be shocked to see Westmont take advantage. I still think McCort will put up points, and with Westmont being a one man show, the game could go on as an easy McCort win.  McCort has Johnstown and Forest Hills in the coming weeks, but the game at hand is the one they should watch out for.

Crimson Crushers 34 Hilltoppers 16

Johnstown (5-0) at Bedford (3-2) Friday 7:00

I said it for the Crushers, I'm also saying it for the Trojans.....Upset Alert. For one reason or another, Johnstown only came up with 21 points against a young Somerset team.  The weather was bad, but Richland and McCort were able to combine for 63 points only a few miles down the road, so I really am not sure. Also the weather will contribute to the field in Bedford, and it will be tough to play on.  I think this game will be really close.  Johnstown is led by the do everything, Gervon Simon. He is having another impressive season, but last year to this point he only had two interceptions, and he is already at nine.  The mistakes have been a problem for the Trojans, but they have not let it cost them a game to date.  Tim Odum's emergence on the ground has been quite impressive, he is averaging 10 yards a pop, and Dwight Andrews is just hard to stop on the outside.  The Trojans offense is fast on turf, but how will it be Friday, especially in less than ideal conditions?  We shall see.  Bedford is a little more built to grind out games. Shippey has thrown for 682 yards this year, but he is not just a one man team anymore.  Dakota Hess, Luke Campbell and Aaron Henry are all tough playmakers and give Bedford plenty of dimensions.  This game will be close. On top of all of my concerns with Johnstown playing on the road, this Bedford team is only a play or two away from being undefeated.  The explosive play seems to bother Bedford, and Johnstown certainly possesses those capabilities.  I still think Johnstown's offense will struggle at times, and Bedford will be pesky all night.  Johnstown is the better team, but home field advantage will keep Bedford around.

Trojans 27 Bisons 16 

Bishop Carroll (1-4) at Bishop Guilfoyle (0-5) Saturday 7:00 Mansion Park

Bishop Carroll finally ended the frustration with a ten point victory over Central Cambria.  Josh Barzdo, the explosive player from a year ago, finally resembled the player he was last year.  Coming into last Friday, he only came up with 102 yards in four games, and against Central Cambria he rolled out 230 yards and 2 touchdowns, and also added a 99 yard kick return.  Not a bad game at all.  The Huskies still have had a forgettable year, but with another winless team on the plate, they can gain come momentum, and maybe roll out to 4 wins.  Bishop Guilfoyle has not had an ideal inaugural season for coach Justin Wheeler.  Injuries, inconsistency, and youth have all played factors into why the team has not won a game yet.  Pat Irwin has been the team's lone bright spot, as he leads them in passing and rushing.  Basically as he goes, the Marauders go.  I think Carroll had to figure some things out, and they really had no excuses as to why they were losing as bad as they did. They are a capable group, and Josh Barzdo is a capable player.  I am taking the Huskies. The have the speed on the perimeter, and the big playmaker to carry them. Expect Barzdo to keep it rolling....

Huskies 28 Marauders 12 

Central Cambria (0-5) at Forest Hills (4-1) Friday 7:00 G.H. Miller Field

Well this one might get ugly.  Central Cambria is really having a tough season, maybe one of their worst ever.  They are being outscored 155-51 on the year.  The offense is having trouble find any consistency.  McBreen, Bellock, Papuga, O'Saben have rotated around to try and make plays, but  the line is not getting the push the Red Devils usually get.  I don't see them being able to move the ball well against Forest Hills, and I'm not sure how they are going to slow the Rangers down either. Justin Gdula is coming off a big 224 yard performance last week. He will be looking to keep the Rangers on the right path.  Shawn Dell has also been a key part to the success of the Rangers so far, and he will continue to see the majority of the carries.  The Ranger defense has only surrendered 30 points during their four game winning streak, and that is just not very good news for Central Cambria.  Rangers, BIG.
Rangers 49 Red Devils 7

GAME OF THE WEEK

Penn Cambria (4-1) at Cambria Heights (2-3) Friday 7:00

Cambria Heights in the game of the week?  Sure, Why not?  The Highlanders are playing well the past two years, and having two wins is a big deal.  They have some pretty good offensive weapons that make them tough to defend.  Tyler Crawford does not get the credit as a Rizzo or Burnheimer gets, but he is another physical runner that gets the tough yardage. The certainly miss the passing threat Vescovi brought, and Nate Bearer needs to do a better job of giving them some more passing looks. Brawley and Myers are two guys that will go and catch it, they just need a few chances.  This offense can move the ball, as they have other ball carriers besides Crawford. They can control the clock and generate some scoring. Penn Cambria is a good team, and a better team than Penn Cambria. There is very little argument there, but an issue that always plagues this team is their inability to put teams they should beat away.  The best Penn Cambria teams do not ever have the style points a Forest Hills or Johnstown, but they get results with ugly wins.  They are quietly one of the better programs in the whole league.  Jordan Fuller is a force at running back, he is coming off a 219 yard output last week and is another physical back this league has to offer. The Panthers have a rough passing game, but Andrew Buck still completes some passes to at least make you honor it.  Fuller is their bread and butter, and the defense makes plays.  For a team that has won many close games, the defense has to be involved, and they are. In their four wins, the defense has only given up 29 points.  They start slow, they keep it close, and they win. That has been the method for the Panthers, and they will certainly stick to it.  Both teams have good backs that will get plenty of touches. This is a big game for both teams.  I'll take Penn Cambria.

Panthers 22 Highlanders 16