Published: September 05, 2008 12:09 am            

Somerset, Cambria Heights try to bounce back from big losses

After Week 1 losses, Somerset and Cambria Heights are looking to get back on track.

The Golden Eagles put 20 points on the board, but allowed 50 in a loss to Forest Hills while the Highlanders were shut out 48-0 by Bishop McCort.

“Both of us faced quality, top-notch opponents in this league. Bishop McCort and Forest Hills are the two top teams in our league,” Somerset coach Steve Costea said. “We’re bouncing back. We’re trying to see where we stand.”

Cambria Heights coach Justin Myers is in a similar position.

“We had a pretty good week of practice,” Myers said. “The kids know we left some pretty good opportunities on the field against McCort. We moved the ball against McCort but we couldn’t put the ball in the end zone. It was a learning experience for the kids. This was our best week of practice. The kids came out focused and determined to get a win this week.”

Cambria Heights’ Jeremy Priester ranked fourth in the area after rushing for 157 yards on 24 carries last week. He ran for 1,163 yards last season.

“Priester has been great for us the last two years,” Myers said. “He’s one of the premier backs in our league, if not the area. He runs hard every play. He’s a great inside runner who can run you over but he also can make you miss.

“We have a few other weapons. (Quarterback) Bryon Stanek wasn’t 100 percent last week. This week he’s ready to go.”

Somerset had some success running out of the option attack against the Rangers. Running back Chase Dykstra carried three times for 67 yards. Trevor Niemiec, one of two quarterbacks the Eagles feature, had 62 yards on seven carries. Nick Roth ran once for 56 yards. Dykstra, quarterback Adam Jones and Niemiec each rushed for a Somerset touchdown.

“You have to prepare for the quarterback, and you have to prepare for Dykstra,” Myers said. “He’s one of the better backs in the league and he’s capable of taking the ball into the end zone at any time.”

Dykstra will carry a bigger workload this week.

“We’ve got to get Dykstra more touches on the ball,” Costea said. “We made a mistake there. We’ll make sure he gets more touches.”

Somerset was a 42-14 winner last year.

Laurel Highlands

n Bishop Carroll at Bedford: The Huskies surprised crosstown rival Central Cambria 12-7 while the Bisons lost 37-23 at Johnstown.

Brendan Julock rushed for 165 yards and both Bishop Carroll touchdowns against the Red Devils.

Bedford running back Patrick Brett had a pair of first-half touchdowns, but injured his leg on the Bisons’ second possession of the third quarter and was forced to leave the field in an ambulance. He finished with 98 yards on 17 carries. Kyle Deneen rushed for the other Bedford touchdown.

The Huskies prevailed 48-14 last year.

n Westmont at Penn Cambria: The Hilltoppers lost a 24-23 overtime heartbreaker to Bishop Guilfoyle in Week 1 and the Panthers were beaten by Richland 49-20.

Josh Swick rushed for one Westmont score while Mike Valcheff caught a touchdown pass from Casey Eckenrod and T.J. Keklak (24 carries, 121 yards) caught one from Swick. Stephan Chessa added a 38-yard field goal.

Penn Cambria’s Matt Glenn scored on touchdown passes from Zak Newton and Josh Gallagher. Newton added a touchdown run.

Last year, the Hilltoppers triumphed 43-14.

n Bishop McCort at Bishop Guilfoyle: The Crushers opened with a 48-0 shutout over Cambria Heights while the Marauders survived a 24-23 overtime thriller against Westmont Hilltop.

Josh Seidel (seven carries, 112 yards) scored three touchdowns and Luke James (seven carries, 117 yards) scored twice for Bishop McCort. Earl Hewitt threw for one score to Matt Ingram while Jack Schrey hooked up with Dane Domonkos for another touchdown.

Andrew Passonetti scored on a pair of touchdown passes from Chris Brown (8 of 24, 164 yards) and Amanda James kicked a 26-yard field goal for Bishop Guilfoyle. The Blair County team got the overtime touchdown on Eugene Ehredt’s 5-yard run and the game-winner on James’ extra point.

Last season, the Crushers won 38-13.

n Richland at Central Cambria: The Rams pelted Penn Cambria 49-20 while Bishop Carroll got by the Red Devils 12-7.

Jared Curcija rushed for 111 yards on five carries and two touchdowns and John George ran for another in Richland’s victory over the Panthers. Giovanni Ramires rushed for a touchdown and threw for scores to Chris Marks and Ryan Sylvia, who also threw a scoring strike to Nate Adam.

Andrew O’Saben scored Central Cambria’s touchdown.

The Red Devils edged the Rams 24-21 in 2007.

n Johnstown at Forest Hills: The Trojans opened the season with a 37-23 victory over Bedford and the Rangers were 50-20 winners over Somerset.

Kashmir Pretlor rushed for a pair of Johnstown touchdowns against the Bisons. Quadir Christian ran for another touchdown and caught a scoring strike from John Siciliano, who also ran for a score.

Zack Glessner ran for a pair of Forest Hills touchdowns and threw for another score to Josh Paulson. Scott Mehall added two more touchdown runs while Jared Kostan and Adam Wingard each rushed for one. Patrick Donoughe kicked a 34-yard field goal.

Last year, the Trojans were 38-17 winners.

WestPAC

n Windber at Conemaugh Township: The Ramblers began the season with a 26-7 victory over Chestnut Ridge while the Indians won their opener against Blacklick Valley 17-6.

Kevin Erickson rushed for a pair of Windber touchdowns while Mike Clark and Jarid Cover added one score apiece against the Lions.

Seth Zaman rushed for both Conemaugh Township touchdowns and Emory Mock added a 21-yard field goal.

The Indians got by the Ramblers 14-13 last season.

n Shade at North Star: The Panthers fell to Conemaugh Valley 41-22 while the Cougars defeated Berlin 33-13 in Week 1.

Jacob Hetzer tallied two Shade touchdowns and Garrett Berkey added another score against the Blue Jays.

Richie Meehleib, Andrew Darr, Mike Knisley (11 carries, 124 yards) and Josh Kuncher each rushed for a North Star touchdown against Berlin. Luke Zellem also caught a scoring strike from Cory Kaltenbaugh.

The Cougars beat the Panthers 45-8 last year.

n Blacklick Valley at Portage: The Vikings fell 17-6 to Conemaugh Township and the Mustangs corralled Rockwood 42-7.

Taylor Holby rushed for Blacklick Valley’s touchdown.

Mike Sinosky, Jared Pisarchik and Tommy Burgan each rushed for a Portage touchdown. Todd Hershberger added a punt return and a kickoff return for scores for the Mustangs, who also got a Taylor Swires pass to Doug Burkett for another touchdown.

The Mustangs sailed past the Vikings 20-13 last season.

Heritage

n Northern Cambria at Homer-Center: The Colts dispatched Penns Manor 26-14 while the Wildcats shut out Saltsburg 21-0 last week.

Scott Knarr scored twice while Ryan Novella rushed for another score and caught a touchdown pass from Andrew Penska for Northern Cambria, which got 157 yards on 17 carries from Andrew Paronish.

Homer-Center scored three times, including two touchdowns by Garrett Sisak, one a 72-yard punt return. Tim Kinter scored the Wildcats’ other touchdown.

The Colts galloped over the Wildcats 27-12 last year.

n United at Ligonier Valley: The Lions fell to Laurel Valley 30-6 and the Mounties lost 21-6 at Purchase Line.

Kody Oliver scored United’s touchdown against the Rams while Russell Markosky tallied Ligonier’s score against the Red Dragons.

The Mounties won 48-8 last year.

Also

n Chestnut Ridge at Berlin: Both teams opened with Week 1 losses – the Lions fell 26-7 to Windber while North Star beat the Mountaineers 33-13.

Josh McDannell rushed for Chestnut Ridge’s touchdown against the Ramblers. Brett Hankinson ran for one Berlin touchdown and Josh Riley threw to Alex Will for the other against the Cougars.

The squads did not play last year.

        

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