LHAC Football Forecast Week Six.

I suffered an awful week going 3-3. That brings my season total to 22-8. I attended the Bishop McCort-Richland game. Richland did not put up the numbers, but showed a lot of grit and resolve in a close game. Bishop Guilfoyle sent shock waves throughout the conference by taking down the preseason favorites. Central Cambria and Bedford were able to pick up their first wins of the season. Week six is a big separation week for the league. Playoff races are starting to heat up, and every game becomes that much more important.

Bishop McCort (3-2) at Westmont (1-4) Saturday 2:00 Price Field

Gap Barbin #52

Note the time change, due to SAT's. Bishop McCort and Westmont are coming off disappointing week five losses. The Crimson Crushers controlled the clock and the tempo against a very good Richland team. They could not beat Richland if the game was played in the 30's or 40's, and McCort kept it 17-10. That can all be attributed to a good defense. Gap Barbin is perhaps the best defensive linemen in the conference and you pair him with two behemoth defensive tackles in Roman and Dorn to either side, McCort is tough to score upon. The defense has 16 total turnovers to its credit. The offense is another story. They have not been able to score points. Zaine Tomkowski leads a pretty good passing attack, but this team needs a more reliable running game. Dustin Belskey and Wyatt Jackson will need to have a big game this week against the Hilltoppers. Westmont lost a tough one to Bedford on the road last week 26-21. They will need to rally and get ready for a big rivalry showdown with the Crushers. Westmont's offense is run heavy, and Sam Curry,Lukas Kleinmeyer, and Liam Moran will need to have big games. Westmont has played in tight games the past three weeks,and they will look to keep it close with the Crushers.  Westmont's pass defense hurt them against Bedford's Luke Campbell. McCort's Jordan Spangler should look to have a big game, and I think he will. McCort has some offensive frustration they will get out. Westmont will play it close for a half.

Crimson Crushers 31 Hilltoppers 14

Forest Hills (2-3) at Central Cambria (1-4) Friday 7:00 Red Devil Stadium

Forest Hills will make the short trip to Ebensburg to try to right the ship. The Rangers have been dealing with the injury of sophomore quarterback, Joe Donoughe.  Jared Shope and Tyler Shima have been taking on the challenge of replacing him. Shawn Dell leads a good running game, but the passing game loses a thrower and a receiver when Shope plays QB. For the first time in decades the Rangers are dealing with depth issues. They need to get things together if they want a run at a AA playoff berth. Central Cambria is a struggling program themselves. The Devils were once a constant at the top of the LHAC,and for the third straight season it looks like they will miss the playoffs. Central Cambria picked up their first win on Friday, and will look to try to salvage this season. Will Seymour has been a pleasant surprise as a sophomore quarterback. He has been effective running the ball, and Tyler Gironda has run well also. The defense has been the biggest issue this season. Forest Hills still has weapons, and they still have playoff aspirations. I expect the Rangers to play like a team that is desperate for a win. 

Rangers 27 Red Devils 12

Bedford (1-4) at Johnstown (2-3) Friday 7:00 Trojan Stadium

Two playoff teams from a year ago are in serious trouble this season. Bedford was able to secure their first win of the season against Westmont. The first few games werw ugly, but the return of Aaron Henry from injury, and Luke Campbell deciding to play football has given this team a spark. Campbell was expected to be one of the best offensive players in the league, and has shown it in the two games he has played. Johnstown goes from one of the top passing games in the conference to one of the weakest ones. The quarterback situation has been jumbled, but expect Deion Moore and Wuanyai Mayo to see most of the snaps. Moore's versatility has lead him to be the Trojans' leading rusher. Terrell Jones, Jayvon Braxton, and Kareem Gibson all have big play ability. Johnstown just needs to show consistency on offense. It is taking them a little longer to get the kinks worked out. I look for Moore and Gibson to have big plays all over the field. Moore has become one of the most dangerous runners in the whole district. Johnstown should win this game heading into the city game with Bishop McCort.

Trojans 26 Bisons 14

Bishop Guilfoyle (4-1) at Bishop Carroll (0-5) Saturday 7:00 DeGol Field

Pat Irwin

Bishop Guilfoyle may be one of the most surprising 4-1 teams in the whole district. After a 1-9 2011 campaign, not a whole lot was expected in 2012. Lights out defense has changed the feeling. BG has held section one favorites, Cambria Heights, Forest Hills, and Penn Cambria to just 15 points. Brandon Chadbourn was injured last week, and his status going forward is unknwon. Pat Irwin stepped right in and led the team to a big win over Penn Cambria. Rossman and Kitt provide good running threats to this team. They still do not have a great offense, but the way this defense is playing, it does not matter. Bishop Carroll is now the only winless team in the league. They are incredibly young, and brighter days are ahead. This season's conclusion will be about gaining experience and trying to compete. The offense has had a good passing game with Davis Maruca. Marty Lessard has run the ball well. They are struggling so much on defense, that it will make it hard to win any games. BG should keep rolling....

Marauders 28 Huskies 0

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

Cambria Heights is coming off a big program win over Forest Hills, and will look to have another big win. The Highlanders find themselves in the midst of a playoff race, and a win over Penn Cambria would go a long way to reaching the postseason. Cambria Heighs' offense is based with a solid running game fronted by Tyler Crawford. Crawford has 430 yards, Donnie Contorchick has 227, and Ben Myers has contributed 158. The passing game between quarterback Nathan Bearer and receiver Andrew Brawley has been effective throughout the season. The physical play with a strong running game should match up nicely with Penn Cambria. The Panthers boast a tough, physical defense lead by Mack Behe and Devin Lawhead. The two seniors are the heart and soul of this team. They are coming off a tough loss to Bishop Guilfoyle offensively, and they wil look to get back on track. Devin Lawhead and Justin Fuller have been the key guys in the running game. Mack Behe and Nathan Keagy are two big threats in the passing game. This team needs to put more emphasis on the offense. They were shut down by Guilfoyle for the most part, and mustered one big play. Penn Cambria needs to put together more solid drives, and finish them. This will be a really good battle. Both teams have a lot to prove, and both have plenty at stake in the playoff hunt. I like the home team.

Panthers 22 Highlanders 14

GAME OF THE WEEK

Richland (5-0) at Somerset (4-1) Friday 7:00

The 2011 edition of this game was a shootout won by Richland 49-36, and the offenses are in place to make 2012 another exciting game. Somerset enters this game as one of the surprises. They were thought to be better this season, but not this good. It all starts with one guy, and that is the quarterback, Tanner Stull. Stull has been nothing short of terrific this season for the Golden Eagles offense. Stull has thrown for 696 yards and 8 scores. He has also rushed for 428 yards and 7 touchdowns. Blake Faulkner and Matt Boyer team up and compliment Stull very well in the running game. The defense has been pretty good for the most part, but will need an outstanding performance to hold down the Richland Rams. The Rams were finally held down for a game, but do not expect that to last. The injury to Kyle Flick made people realize Tanner Solarczyk is one of the best backs in the league, if not THE best. Solarczyk has 683 and four touchdowns on the season. The passing game of Matt Shaffer and Nico Pecora is still one of the bets passing games around as well. Kyle Flick may be out this game, but Luke Shertzer proved that he can take on the role as the lad receiver/defensive back. He had a great game against Bishop McCort. Richland has the talent and experience in the trenches that should carry them to victory in this game. Josh Dinniny and company are a lot to deal with up front. Team that with a great offense, and the Rams have it all. Somerset will have a big enthusiastic crowd on hand, and they will make this thing interesting. The game last year was exciting, and the core of both teams are only juniors. This could shape up to be a really nice rivalry. Stull will make plays, so will Richland. If you get the chance, check this one out.

Rams 31 Golden Eagles 24