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