Published: October 16, 2008 11:58 pm      

Bisons looking for second win as Rams visit

After weeks of frustration, Bedford finally knows what it feels like to sample the sweet taste of success.

The Bisons had been close to a victory several times, but finally posted their first win, 26-6, last week against Cambria Heights, snapping a nine-game losing streak dating back to last year. The Highlanders were the last team the Bisons had defeated before that streak began.

“There was such a great sense of relief for us coaches, but the kids had worked so hard every week and really deserved it,” Bedford coach Dan Smith said. “There is a whole new level of enthusiasm for the coaches and for the kids at practice this week.”

Bedford will face its next challenge at home as Richland comes to town tonight.

The Rams lost more than a football game in last week’s 13-7 setback to rival Westmont, as quarterback Gino Ramires, the top passer in the state, went down with an injury.

“Gino’s status for the game is questionable right now,” Richland coach Brandon Bailey said earlier this week, noting that a decision might not be made until today. “But, if Gino can’t play, the kids will rally around whoever is at quarterback, and we have some good athletes who can step up and make plays.”

Ramires has passed for 1,917 yards going 125-of-211. Tim Ripple has 39 catches for an area-best 764 yards while Jordan Rozich has 30 receptions for 315 yards. Jordan Curcija has rushed for 413 yards.

For the Bisons, converted lineman Cody Shippey tops the squad with 387 yards on 71 carries. Quarterback Mike Short has thrown for 419 yards, going 35-of-101. Zach Hess is the top target with 15 catches for 282 yards.

“In the Laurel Highlands, there are no weak teams,” Bailey said. “They may be 1-6, but they have big, strong, fast kids and they are a couple of turnovers from being 4-3. They run the Bedford double-slot offense and have some athletic kids. It will certainly be a challenge for us.

“No. 1 for us is we have to secure the ball and have some red-zone success. Last week against Westmont we had over 400 yards of offense, but had just seven points.”

Bailey’s team hasn’t played on grass in six weeks, so he says that will be a challenge for his squad.

“A turf field has a different feel and texture,” Smith said. “We’re used to playing on grass. We’re hoping that will be a slight advantage for us.

“We have to keep their offense off the field, take them out of rhythm and control the clock with long drives.”

Bedford and Richland have played 11 times since 1990, with Richland’s only win coming last year, a 43-0 rout.

n Forest Hills at Bishop Carroll: The Rangers (6-1) and Huskies (4-3) came back from Week 6 shutout losses to post Week 7 wins, with Forest Hills defeating Penn Cambria 28-20 and Bishop Carroll downing Somerset 42-20.

John Kmetz has six sacks and Robert Oshaben has five for Forest Hills while Jared McCombie has two interceptions. Bishop Carroll’s Derek Semetosky has 11 sacks and Robbie Maruca leads the team in tackles with 75, including 45 solos.

Since the Huskies entered the Laurel Highlands in 2001, the teams have played five times, with Forest Hills holding a 3-2 lead, but Bishop Carroll won 25-13 in 2007.

n Bishop Guilfoyle at Somerset: The Marauders (4-3) and Golden Eagles (1-6) both suffered defeats last week with Bishop Guilfoyle falling to Central Cambria 44-26 while Somerset fell to Bishop Carroll.

Kyle Kessler leads the Marauders with 91 tackles, including 52 solo stops. Richie Zelnosky has two sacks and Chris Brown has three interceptions.

Adams Jones tops the Somerset tackle totals with 54, including 47 solos. Gunnar Smith has two sacks and Josh Proctor has two fumble recoveries.

The Golden Eagles edged the Marauders 26-23 in overtime last season.

n Penn Cambria at Bishop McCort: The Panthers (4-3) lost a close game to Forest Hills and the Crimson Crushers (7-0) continued their winning ways, clobbering Greater Johnstown 38-7 last week to maintain their top spot in the District 6 Class A rankings.

Zak Newton of Penn Cambria leads the area in rushing with 1,251 yards on 158 carries and a team-high 12 touchdowns and 10 two-point conversions. Newton and quarterback Josh Gallagher have combined to pass for 492 yards, going 30-of-63.

Matt Glenn has 19 catches for 339 yards.

Bishop McCort’s trio of Isa Wadley (574 yards), Eric Lowry (526) and Josh Seidel (392) lead the Crimson Crushers’ rushing attack. Quarterback Jack Schrey has thrown for 486 yards (37-of-60) with Lowry his favorite target with 15 catches for 257 yards.

The Panthers, who lost 35-8 last year, last posted a win against Bishop McCort in 1993 and are 0-10 since then against the Crushers.

n Cambria Heights at Johnstown: Both squads are looking to bounce back from Week 7 losses, as the Highlanders (1-6) fell to Bedford while the Trojans (4-3) snapped a three-game winning streak, with a setback to Bishop McCort.

Jeremy Priester has rushed for 678 yards on 140 carries while Bryon Stanek has 20 catches for 272 yards for the Highlanders, who are still looking for their first road win this season.

Quadir Christian has scored seven touchdowns for the Trojans and has run for 655 yards on 102 carries.

Since the Trojans joined the LHAC in 2001, Cambria Heights has never beaten them, losing 49-23 in 2007.

WestPAC

n Conemaugh Township at Berlin: Both teams are coming off close losses as the Indians (4-3) fell to North Star 15-12 last week while the Mountaineers (3-4) lost 28-21 to Windber.

Seth Zaman has rushed for 689 yards on 110 carries for the Indians and leads the team in touchdowns with 10.

Ian Sayler has rushed for 552 yards on just 98 carries while Nathan Werner has five touchdowns and has kicked 10 extra points for Berlin, which is 1-3 at home.

The Indians prevailed 31-14 last year.

n Blacklick Valley at Meyersdale: The Vikings (4-3) notched their second straight victory, a 48-26 triumph over Shade in Week 7, to edge closer to a District 6 playoff berth while the Red Raiders (3-4) shut out Rockwood 28-0 to keep their District 5-A playoff dreams alive.

The Vikings were 22-14 winners over the Red Raiders in 2007.

n Portage at North Star: Both squads enter Week 8 with unbeaten 7-0 marks with the Mustangs defeating Conemaugh Valley 55-6 and the Cougars edging Conemaugh Township last week.

The Mustangs have amassed 357 points, an average of 51 per game, while giving up just 42 on defense, or six per contest.

North Star’s win over the Indians produced its lowest point total and smallest margin of victory this season.

The Mustangs, who won 21-13 last season, last lost to the Cougars in 2000, 34-28.

n Windber at Shade: The Ramblers (4-3) rebounded from a Week 6 setback to North Star with a slim victory over Berlin while the Panthers (0-6) lost to Blacklick Valley.

Windber’s Kevin Erickson has 989 yards on 153 carries.

Shade’s Garrett Berkey was 9 of 15 passing for 185 yards, with Tyler Smith catching four passes for 125 yards against the Vikings. The Panthers’ Jacob Hetzer is second in the area with 108 tackles.

The Ramblers dominated the Panthers 42-7 last year and last lost to Shade in 1997, 21-8.

Heritage

n United at Blairsville: The Lions (2-5) snapped a modest two-game win streak with a 35-6 loss to league-leading Purchase Line last week while the Bobcats rebounded from a Week 6 loss to Penns Manor with a 47-6 drubbing against Saltsburg.

United managed just seven first downs and 254 yards of total offense against the Red Dragons, with its only score a 70-yard Tyler Capitosti pass from Jared Long.

The Bobcats last loss to United in 2000 and beat the Lions 38-32 last season.

n Homer-Center at Ligonier Valley: The Wildcats (4-3) lost their second straight game last week, 7-3 to Laurel Valley while the Mounties, without the area’s leading tackler, Matt Beckman, fell to Penns Manor 33-12.

Homer-Center was limited to less than 100 yards rushing by a stingy Rams defense and had 183 yards of total offense. Russell Markosky led Ligonier Valley with 46 rushing yards with Jackson Corcoran and Will Fennell each scoring a touchdown.

The Mounties were 21-14 winners in 2007.

n Saltsburg at Northern Cambria: The Trojans (0-7), whose last victory came in Week 10 of 2007 against Union-Rimersburg, fell 47-6 to Blairsville last week, their only score coming on a 7-yard touchdown run by Eddie Cass.

The Colts (4-3) were 37-7 victors at Marion Center in last Friday’s game, their second straight victory, getting 190 yards on 12 carries and four touchdowns from Andrew Paronish and 116 yards and a touchdown from Isaac Lieb.

The Colts were 37-7 winners last year and last lost to the Trojans, 24-15, in 1996.

Also

n Northern Garrett, Md. at Chestnut Ridge: The Huskies (2-4) out of Accident, Md., are coming off a 30-0 loss to Frostburg’s Mountain Ridge last week.

The Lions (3-4), who were beaten 41-0 by Quad-A DuBois last week, have scored 96 points (13.7 per game) while giving up 161 (23 per game).

Northern Garrett, 0-2 on the road this season, has scored 102 points (17 per game) in six games while giving up 108 (18 per game). The Huskies had just 76 yards rushing and 150 overall against Mountain Ridge.

The teams last played in 1984, a 14-13 Lions victory.

n Rockwood at Hancock, Md.: The teams have played three times with the Panthers holding a 2-1 advantage although the last meeting in 2005 was won by the Rockets, 35-18.

The Somerset County squad was blanked 28-0 by Meyersdale while Hancock fell 12-0 to Ferndale, also losing its starting quarterback, Garret Wiles, to a broken ankle.