JOHNSONBURG-BROCKWAY IS A KEY AML SOUTH TITLE RACE GAME

Johnsonburg at Brockway 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28

By Chris Rossetti

BROCKWAY – Two 3-1 teams with dreams of winning the AML South title and playing in the AML Title game go ahead-to-ahead at 7:30 p.m. Friday night when Johnsonburg visits Brockway.

While both teams are sitting at 3-1, not everyone expected this game to have the meaning that it does. It comes of little surprise that Brockway is in the hunt for the AML South title since the Rovers had been in the hunt in their first two years in the conference. Johnsonburg, on the other hand, was coming off a 5-4 season last year and many thought that the AML South would produce three or four teams that would give the Rams a tough time again this season. The Rams have not been in the District 9 Class A playoffs since 1996 when they beat Clarion 10-7 before losing to Smethport 21-7 in the title game. The Rams last won a District 9 title in 1987 when they beat Clarion 20-6.

But no matter how each team got to this point, the game still has big implications, more so for Johnsonburg. Win or lose, Brockway is almost assured of a spot in the District 9 Class AA playoffs, but the playoffs are not such a sure thing for the Rams. A win would be the first big step for Johnsonburg’s playoff quest, but a loss would mean the Rams would have to win out and then hope for a little help to get into the District 9 Class A playoffs.

Visiting Johnsonburg started the season 2-0 with convincing wins over Port Allegany and Cameron County before losing 24-14 to Curwensville in their only road game of the season so far.

Last week the Rams came back and beat Kane 28-13.

Brockway, meanwhile, lost 21-6 in the season opener against Smethport but has come back to win three in a row beating Kane, Elk County Catholic and Ridgway.

Last week the Rovers handled Ridgway 36-13.

The Rams are led by talented running back Francis Jovenetti and their equally talented quarterback Francis Iorfido.

Jovenetti has rushed for 567 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He has also caught a touchdown pass in 2001. Last week against Kane he rushed for 251 yards and two touchdowns.

Iorfido, meanwhile, is a threat with both his arm and legs. He has rushed for 217 yards and four touchdowns in the Rams first four games while going 18-for-46 passing for 229 more yards and three touchdowns. He has also thrown two interceptions.

Brockway is led by three key players including running backs Jeremy Sickeri and Jon Cantafio and quarterback John Himes.

Sickeri, who is the fourth in a line of four star players for the Rovers, has rushed for 412 yards and one touchdown in 2001. Cantafio, the younger brother of former Brockway standout Aaron Cantafio, has rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns this season. Since being converted to running back from quarterback after Week one, he has rushed 276 of the yards and scored two touchdowns. Cantafio has also caught one touchdown.

Himes has provided a little bit of a passing game for the usually run-dominated Rover offense. He is 11-19 passing for 151 yards and four touchdowns. Since becoming the starter in Week Two he is 11-16 for 151 yards and all four of the scores.

Trenton Marnati has proved to be a valuable third-down back for the Rovers scoring three rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in the first four games.

Last season Brockway defeated Johnsonburg 37-31 in a game in which the Rams led 16-13 at halftime.