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