8. Penn Cambria (6-4) at 1. Richland (10-0) Friday 7:00 Herlinger Field.
This will be the only match up of the weekend that will pit two LHAC teams against each other. The two teams just met in week eight, with Richland walking away with a 30-12 win at Penn Cambria. Richland enters the playoffs as the only undefeated team in District Six. The Rams have plenty of offensive firepower. The running game by Tanner Solarczyk is among the best in the district. The quarterback, Matt Shaffer is also a valuable runner, as is sophomore, Dominic Farina. Shaffer leads a great passing game with fellow quarterback, Nico Pecora. The offense is averaging 37 points per game. The defense does not get the same type of attention, but it has led them to some important victories. Richland needed an interception return by Kyle Flick to win a hard fought game at Bellwood-Antis last weekend. Penn Cambria is coming off of a crazy month. The conference favorites lost four straight games, and Head Coach, Ernie Fetzer stepped down. The Panthers have gained momentum by winning two straight since. They bring a strong rushing attack, and a good group of seniors going into the playoffs. The Panthers simply do not have the offense to keep up with Richland. The game will be on artificial turf, and the Richland no huddle look thrives off of it. The number one seed should advance.
Rams 35 Panthers 13
6. Forest Hills (7-3) at 3.Central (8-2) Saturday 7:00
Forest Hills will have to make the trek to Roaring Spring to take on a very talented Central team. The Red Dragons have an explosive 1-2 punch that is as good as you will see in District Six. Austin Cunningham is a versatile quarterback that has accounted for 29 touchdowns this season, that have come in a variety of ways. He is just a junior, and his classmate, Bradi Moore is another impressive athlete. Moore has scored 27 touchdowns. He is a great running back, but is the leading receiver. The Dragons have an excellent defense as well. Central's only defeats are 10-0 Clearfield and 8-2 Fort Hill of Maryland. The Rangers will need an impressive defensive output to win this one. The Rangers defense only allows 11 points a contest, so they may stand a chance. Forest Hills will also need to score points to keep pace with Central. Joe Donoughe leads the offense as the quarterback, and will need to turn in a solid performance. Dolytn Snedden, Jared Shope, and Shawn Dell are all capable play makers. This will be a tough game for Forest Hills, as many view Central as the best team in the district. The Red Dragons will be able to score their points, and I think Forest Hills will keep pace for a while. In the end, Central has a few more big plays in them.
Red Dragons 38 Rangers 24
5. Cambria Heights (7-3) at 4. Tyrone (7-3) Friday 7:00 Grey Vets Memorial Field
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| Tyrone |
The past 10-15 years, you could not find two programs further apart. Tyrone has played for countless District, and even State Championships. Cambria Heights was hovering around 1-2 wins a season. Throw all of that out the window this weekend. Cambria Heights came stepped up and has become one of the better stories in the area. They have a big strong team that is not short on athletes. Tyler Crawford is the type of back that can tough the ball over 30 times a game. Donnie Contorchick is more than capable to come in and spell Crawford. Nathan Bearer has been a factor in the running game, all the while improving his passing game. Andrew Brawley is a threat receiving and in the return game. The Highlanders are coming off a disappointing loss in the Coal Bowl to rival, Northern Cambria. Tyrone comes in as a team looking to defend its title. They lost quite a bit coming into this season, but have found success despite an 0-2 start. The success starts with junior running back, James Oliver. Oliver is among the leading rushers in the state, and is the focal point of the Golden Eagle attack. A group of linemen, and some key defensive players are back from the state championship run, and they have kept things rolling in Tyrone. You could argue Tyrone is one of the hottest teams in the state, and that is something the rest of the district does not want to see. I like Tyrone with the playoff experience in this one.
Golden Eagles 28 Highlanders 14
5. Bishop Guilfoyle (8-2) at 4. Juniata Valley (9-1) Saturday 7:00
This could be a very intriguing game Saturday night. Nobody knows exactly what to expect from Juniata Valley. They are 9-1, but played very poorly against Bellwood-Antis. The Hornets have a pretty good running game that features two 1,000 yard backs. Brett Grissinger and Jesse Claar are putting up video game like numbers. They have combined for 37 rushing touchdowns. The passing game is led by junior, Caleb Taylor. Taylor has thrown very well, but has thrown 14 interceptions this season. He cannot make those kind of mistakes against a stingy BG defense. The Marauders only allow 10 points a game, and it starts with a great defensive front consisting of Nick Ceschini, Nick Little, Mike Pleva, and Jextin Pugh. The Marauder offense gets the job done without big numbers or any true stars. Pat Irwin is pretty versatile from his quarterback spot. He can make plays with his feet. Cody Rossman is the top running back, but DJ Kitt and Sam McCloskey will also see some carries. It will be contrasting styles on Saturday. Juniata Valley will want this game played in the 30-40 point range, while Guilfoyle would like it to be a low scoring game. I think BG has a distinct advantage in the trenches, and the team that can control it up front typically wins the game.
Marauders 23 Hornets 13
Somerset (5-5) vs. University Prep (5-3)
It is hard to say how this game will be. University Prep is coming from the Pittsburgh City League, and it is tough to gauge how they will fare against Somerset. University Prep played traditional power Perry tough in the City Championship in a close game. Somerset will enter the game losing three straight contests. The offense is built around the ever dangerous junior quarterback, Tanner Stull. He may not be 100%, but he is tough when he is on his game. The Golden Eagles will need him to turn in a masterful effort for the Golden Eagles to advance further in this sub region. I'll go with Somerset.
Golden Eagles 27 Panthers 20
GAME OF THE WEEK
6. Bishop McCort (7-3) at 3. Penns Manor (9-1) Saturday 7:00
Bishop McCort enters the postseason as the sixth seed, but many feel they are a legitimate title contender. The Crimson Crushers have a solid passing game headed by senior quarterback, Zaine Tomkowski. He has 1,433 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. The Crushers offense has had its ups and downs this season, but the defense has been stable all season long. McCort only surrenders 12 points per game, and it starts up front with Gap Barbin. The defense as a whole has forced 23 turnovers and have scored four touchdowns. Bishop McCort, as always, will bring a great special teams game. Jordan Spangler has made seven Field Goals, and his leg can be a difference maker in the field position game as well. Penns Manor is the defending champions, and the key to it all is back for another prime run to a championship. Danny Ferens may be more important to his team, than any other player around. Ferens has accounted for 39 touchdowns as a dangerous running quarterback. He is so important on defense as well. Ferens is a special talent. The rest of the team has stepped up after losing some key players. Cody Bytner has rushed for 700 yards himself, while Chris Henderson has chipped in 400 yards. Penns Manor only throws when need be, and they may have to a little bit on Saturday. McCort's defensive front will throw the running game off a bit. Its a matter of who has the most success on the edge. If Bishop McCort can slow Ferens outside the tackle box, they will win the game. But if Penns Manor can establish a solid option game, they should be fine. This game will be a tight contest. Both teams are evenly matched, and it could really go either way. I picked McCort because they can win games with the special teams play.
Crimson Crushers 24 Comets 21
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