Published: November 10, 2008 11:56 pm         

Trojans eye 600th win, district title

Since joining District 6 eight years ago, Johnstown has been in the Class AAA playoffs six times.

The Trojans (8-3), who previously were a part of District 7, are 1-1 in District 6 title games and return to the championship contest Friday night when they face top-seeded Hollidaysburg at 7 p.m. at Mansion Park in Altoona.

“I think it’s a great honor for Johnstown to be back in the championship game,” Trojans coach Kevin Marabito said. “When you sit down in the offseason and list your goals, winning a District 6 championship was one of them.”

Johnstown will be looking for the program’s 600th win as it faces Hollidaysburg. Marabito knows his team will have to play up to its potential and be relatively mistake-free against the Golden Tigers (9-1).

Since being shut out 37-0 by State College in its season opener, Hollidaysburg has reeled off nine straight victories, including a 26-13 victory over Class AAAA DuBois on Oct. 31 in its last game.

The Tigers, who are playing in their third straight title game, are averaging 33.5 points per game while surrendering just 16.4.

As a team, Hollidaysburg, ranked eighth in this week’s Pennsylvania Football News poll, has rushed for 2,344 yards. The Tigers average 5.65 yards a carry and 234.4 yards a game.

Sophomore running back Luke Rhodes has rushed for 644 yards on 110 carries while senior quarterback Brandyn Ott has 569 yards on 95 carries.

Hollidaysburg is averaging 114.3 yards a game through the air with Ott throwing for 1,044 yards, going 82-for-113.

The top receivers are senior back Justin Gildea with 28 catches for 435 yards, senior receiver Jason Boland with 19 receptions for 284 yards and senior back Scott Hammond with 21 catches for 222 yards.

Gildea has scored 16 touchdowns while Ott and Rhodes each have 11.

“I think we have a good group of kids who work hard and a good group of seniors who have served as leaders for us,” Hollidaysburg coach John Barton said. “There’s no great teacher than experience and for our seniors who are playing in their third straight championship, they know the level of play and what needs to be done in order to win. The strength of this team is that we think like a team. There are no egos or jealousies among the players. We compete hard as a team.”

Johnstown’s last loss came in Week 7, 38-7 to rival Bishop McCort. The Trojans, who have won seven of their past eight including four straight, defeated Indian Valley 35-7 in last week’s semifinal.

The Warriors are the only mutual opponent that Johnstown and Hollidaysburg have faced. The Tigers won 49-7.

“Our kids have played hard all season and had to overcome so much adversity with injuries, and they have stayed together,” Marabito said. “With all the injuries, our staff has had a knack of plugging the right people in. It’s been a magic act all season. Our kids are battle-tested.

“It’s going to be exciting. They are a lot like us, and we don’t feel that they are invincible. We feel we are pretty evenly matched, but we have to have less mistakes. Penalties have haunted us, and we can’t put the ball on the ground. We have to keep the ball out of their hands.”

The Trojans are scoring 26.6 points a game while giving up 16.2. Johnstown is averaging 101.6 yards passing and 254.6 yards rushing per game.

Junior quarterback John Siciliano has thrown for 1,016 yards going 67-for-139. Junior back Jordan Jefferson has 25 catches for 339 yards and junior end Richard Agurs has 16 catches for 284 yards.

Senior back Quadir Christian tops the Trojans’ rushing statistics with 1,121 yards on 146 carries with Siciliano adding 779 yards on 126 carries. Christian has scored 13 touchdowns and has eight two-point conversions.

“We have to be able to handle their skill players,” Barton said. “They are a big-play team. Our kids up front have to be able to contain their speed.”

     

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.