Published: October 11, 2008 12:01 am         

North Star edges rival Conemaugh Township

DAVIDSVILLE — The North Star Cougars have spent much of this season putting up some points, then sitting back and cruising past the competition. Such is the life of an undefeated team that returned much of last year’s state playoff qualifying squad.

Against Conemaugh Township on Friday night, the Cougars were afforded no such luxury, having to play catch-up and then hold on for a 15-12 WestPAC win over their biggest rival.

North Star quarterback Cory Kaltenbaugh was sharp again, throwing touchdown passes to Austin Lyons and Alijah Petrilla to bring North Star from a 6-0 deficit to a 15-6 lead.

“It just feels great to come down here to Conemaugh Township and come out with the win,” Kaltenbaugh said.

Lyons caught his scoring strike on fourth-and-goal with only a second left in the first half to put the Cougars up 7-6 at the break. But just barely.

With that one second still showing on the second-quarter clock, the Cougars (7-0) kicked deep to the dangerous Seth Zaman, who broke free for a 75-yard return.

It could have been a tide turner, but North Star’s Josh Kuncher closed on Zaman and hauled him down at the North Star 10, securing the one-point halftime lead. The Cougars built on the advantage by converting a 42-yard drive that started after Matt Caola recovered a fumble. Petrilla finished it off by snaring a short Kaltenbaugh pass and taking it the rest of the way for a 20-yard touchdown with 7:01 left in the third quarter. Petrilla followed with the conversion run.

Kaltenbaugh finished 5-for-10 passing for 100 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Petrilla caught four passes for 94 yards.

North Star now prepares for fellow unbeaten Portage next week.

“It should be interesting,” Cougars coach Stacy Schmitt said. “That’s what makes the high school game so great, when you have a couple undefeated teams coming together this late in the season. I’m sure the place is going to be rocking down in Boswell.”

Conemaugh Township (4-3) got on the board first and last Friday night, converting 89-yard drives each time.

The first started with a Brett Byers interception deep in Indians territory and ended with 6:50 left in the second quarter when Zaman scored on a 12-yard run behind Derek McDowell and Luke Mitchell. They also finished the scoring when Zaman hauled in a 16-yard scoring strike from Matt Duray with 7:08 left. The Indians were forced to try for the conversion each time after an early injury to kicker Emery Mock. Both pass attempts failed.

Mike Knisely and Co. ran it out from there, grinding up yards and grinding down the clock. Knisely finished with 13 carries and 83 yards.

“Our guys put forth a great effort,” said Conemaugh Township coach Sam Zambanini, whose team plays at Berlin next week. “There were two pretty good football teams getting together, knocking heads. It’s fun to be a part of that. It’s obviously better to be on top of that, but I’m really proud of my guys in red. We played very well. Neither team played mistake-free, but we both played pretty well and the score indicates that.”

     

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