Published: November 09, 2008 11:56 pm         

CORY ISENBERG | A time for the strong

It’s a week of championships, semifinals and a subregional for the remaining eight area football teams still alive in the playoffs.

Greater Johnstown (8-3) will play for its first District 6 Class AAA championship under second-year coach Kevin Marabito.

The Trojans take on top-seeded Hollidaysburg Friday at Mansion Park in Altoona. The Trojans and the Tigers met for the title in 2006 with Hollidaysburg holding on for a 13-12 win.

The other championship game, also on Friday, is the grudge match between WestPAC powers Conemaugh Township (8-3) and Windber (8-3), tentatively set for Berlin, with the District 5 Class A crown on the line.

The Indians and Ramblers clashed in Week 2 of the regular season, a 14-0 shutout for Conemaugh Township in Davidsville.

Semifinals will be played in District 6 in Class A and AA.

In District 6-A on Friday, defending Class A champion Bellwood-Antis (10-1) squares off against reigning Class AA champion Bishop McCort at Point Stadium.

On Saturday in the other District 6-A semifinal, it’s a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal, Purchase Line at Portage, won 6-0 by the Red Dragons. This year both squads enter the contest with identical 11-0 marks.

In District 6 Class AA action on Friday, upstart Central Cambria (8-3) will head to Tyrone to face the top-seeded Golden Eagles (10-1) while on Saturday, No. 3 Central (9-2) journeys to Sidman to face second-seeded Forest Hills (10-1).

A PIAA Class AA subregional is scheduled for Saturday, featuring District 5 champion North Star (9-1) hosting District 8 champ Langley (4-6).

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Top dogs: There were some impressive individual performances last week, including Forest Hills’ Scott Mehall’s 323 yards rushing, Richland’s Gino Ramires throwing for 212 yards and Penn Cambria’s Zak Newton rushing for 201 yards on 34 carries.

The Mustangs tandem of Mike Sinosky and Tommy Burgan combined for 400 yards while Conemaugh Township’s Seth Zaman had 196 yards on 24 carries and joined the elite 1,000-yard area rushing club.

Zaman had been out with mononucleosis.

“Seth got the OK to play on Tuesday,” Indians coach Sam Zambanini said. “He was chomping at the bit. He wanted to play last week, but was in a bad way. When your backup (Brett Byers) steps in and does a great job, that makes you even more anxious to get back.”

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Postseason picking: Mike Mastovich navigated a tough week of playoff picking to go a perfect 9-0.

Matt Jordan and guest pickers Tim Burns and Dave Lynch were all 8-1 with Shawn Curtis, Hugh Conrad, Steve Johncola and I all at 7-2. Sports editor Eric Knopsnyder went 6-3.

Overall, Mastovich gained two spots on me as I cling to a one-game lead, 131-31, with him at 130-32. Lynch is at 128-34 with Johncola, Conrad and Knopsnyder all at 127-35.

Curtis is at 122-40 with Jordan and Burns both 121-41.



Cory Isenberg is a sports writer for The Tribune-Democrat.

     

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