Published: October 11, 2008 12:25 am      

Ligonier Valley falls short against Penns Manor

CLYMER — Ligonier Valley had its chances. But when the opportunities presented themselves, the points weren’t there.

With two early chances gone by the wayside, the Mounties were behind the eight ball after a half, and Penns Manor went on to a 33-12 Heritage Conference victory on Friday night.

“We missed opportunities in the first quarter,” Ligonier Valley coach Roger Beitel said after his team fell to 4-3. “We had two chances to get scores on our first two possessions and didn’t make plays.”

Penns Manor, meanwhile, put its own touchdowns on the board, taking a 12-0 halftime lead punctuated by a touchdown-producing hook-and-lateral play with 1:30 left in the first half.

But if Ligonier Valley was supposed to be intimidated by the play, it didn’t show, as the Mounties opened the second half by holding Penns Manor (5-2) to three-and-out and blocking the punt.

The Mounties took over at the Comets’ 25.

Shortly thereafter, it was Jackson Corcoran getting to the end zone with a 2-yard touchdown.

The blocked point-after cut the Penns Manor lead in half, 12-6.

By the time the Mounties got back on the board, the Comets were up by a bunch.

Will Fennell’s 10-yard run, set up by a 70-yard Chase Mollomo punt return, pulled Ligonier Valley within 26-12 after a failed conversion pass.

“The bottom line is, I told our guys we need kids to step up and make plays,” Beitel said. “That’s been the tale of the season so far: When an opportunity presents itself, they have to come up and make a big play. That will put us over the top.”

The Mounties also had to make do against a potent Comets offense without middle linebacker Matt Beckman, who was injured last weekend. A timetable is not set for his return.

Beckman led the area through six weeks with 113 tackles, 30 more than second-place Andy Paronish at Northern Cambria.