WEEK FIVE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

Below are capsules on each of those games.

A-C Valley (1-3 overall, 1-2 KSAC ) at Redbank Valley (1-3, 1-2) 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27

NEW BETHLEHEM - Both teams are trying to move a step closer to the .500 mark when A-C Valley clashes with KSAC opponent Redbank Valley Thursday night.

A-C Valley won their first game of the year last week pounding Union 57-28. Falcons quarterback Mike Stewart earned D9Sports.com co-Player of the Week honors with his performance, going 10-for-15 passing for 221 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 128 yards and two more touchdowns on nine carries. Josh Defibaugh was Stewart’s top receiver catching nine passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns. Zach Heeter added 24 carries for 162 yards and two touchdowns for the Falcons who racked up 615 yards of total offense on the night.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs lost at home in non-conference action against Shenandoah Valley 41-16. Ron Geist led the Bulldogs with 20 carries for 98 yards and two catches for 14 yards. Quarterback Chris Merwin went 5-for-17 passing for 51 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Redbank Valley won last year's contest 24-13.

Union (0-4) at Slippery Rock (0-4) 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28

SLIPPERY ROCK - Union will play its only non-conference game on its schedule and is looking for its first win when the Golden Knights travel to Slippery Rock Friday night.

Union, after giving Clarion more than it bargained for, was thumped by A-C Valley last week 57-28. 

Quarterback Brian Lipps, running back Seth Stewart, fullback Garrett Conaway and end Vaughn Norbert lead the Golden Knights on offense.

Slippery Rock is a District 10, Class AAA squad that is winless for the season.

Karns City (4-0, 4-0) at Moniteau (2-2, 2-2) 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28

WEST SUNBURY - Karns City looks to keep its season right on track when the Gremlins roll into Moniteau in a KSAC match-up Friday.

Karns City took sole possession of first place in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference last week after pounding Clarion 41-12. Billy Graham rushed for 119 yards on 15 carries including a 24-yard touchdown run.

Junior quarterback Erik Fuhrer went 7-for-11 passing for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver and backup quarterback Ian Ferguson caught five passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns and also threw for a score.

Meanwhile, Moniteau, which has lost its last two games after starting the season with two straight wins, lost to West Shamokin 16-13 last week. Ryan Jackson ran the ball 11 times for 56 yards to lead Moniteau, while Bill Staab grabbed the opening kickoff and went 85 yards for the game’s first touchdown.

Karns City won last season's contest 61-6.

West Shamokin (2-2, 2-2) at Keystone (2-2, 2-2) 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28

KNOX - It is a battle of two vastly improved teams when the up-and-coming West Shamokin Wolves travel to Knox to play the surprising Keystone Panthers in KSAC action Friday night.

West Shamokin has shown a drastic improvement over last year in which they did not win a single game. In fact, West Shamokin could be 3-1 if not for a heartbreaking 23-20 loss to Redbank Valley in Week 1. But the Wolves got its second win of the season last week defeating Moniteau 16-13. Quarterback Trevor Henderson gave the Wolves a big lift going 9-for-16 passing for 118 yards. Bill Fulton added 97 yards rushing, blocked a punt and had a 20-yard TD reception.

For Keystone, the Panthers were one yard shy of moving to 3-1 last week but fell to Clarion-Limestone 28-27 in double overtime at C-L in what many are already calling the game of the year. C-L's Brad Beggs and Ryan Smith tackled Keystone’s Bobby Telesz a yard short of the end zone to preserve the win.

Quarterback Adam Black went 10-for-26 passing for 171 yards and two touchdowns to go along with an interception, while Chris Metcalf led the Panthers ground game with 68 yards on 22 carries.

The Panthers have shown significant improvement this season having went 3-6 last season. The Panthers not only hung tough with the Lions, one of the top teams in the KSAC, but nearly defeated them. Despite the loss, Keystone impressed many with its performance and opened the eyes of skeptics. With the performance, the Panthers asserted themselves as a team to be reckoned with in the KSAC and, if they run the table, have a legitimate chance of making the playoffs.

But Keystone has a long way to go before thinking about the playoffs and can not look past the upstart Wolves. In fact, Keystone defeated the Wolves by only three points last season 19-16.

YOUNGSVILLE – Curwensville is looking to stay at the front of the pack in the AML South title race, while Youngsville is trying to get over the .500 mark for the first time this season.

Curwensville is coming off 26-8 win over Elk County Catholic, and the Golden Tide have won two in a row since dropping their only game of the season 27-26 in overtime to Ridgway.

Ryan Bilger leads the Curwensville offense with 375 yards rushing and five touchdowns, while quarterback Jim Thompson has thrown for 267 yards and six touchdowns.

The top receiver for the Golden Tide is Mark Records who has 10 catches for 185 yards and four touchdowns. Records has also returned a punt for a score this season.

Joe Bennett adds quality backfield depth for Curwensville.

Youngsville is led by quarterback Jesse Walters and wide receiver Greg Luther.

Ridgway (1-3) at Kane (1-3) 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28

KANE – The game between Ridgway and Kane features two teams who had high hopes entering the season but have fallen on hard times.

After its exciting 27-26 overtime win against Curwensville in Week Two, Ridgway has dropped back-to-back game including a 36-13 loss to Brockway last week.

The Elkers are led by quarterback Brandon Steger and wide receiver Jesse DiPanfilis.

Kane, meanwhile, lost its first two games of the season thanks mainly to a defense that allowed 73 points in the two games combined. After coming back to beat Eisenhower 28-7 in Week Three, the Wolves lost 28-13 to Johnsonburg last week.

Quarterback Tyler Smith leads the Kane offense along with running back Justin Jefferds and tight end Mike Jamerson.

Otto-Eldred (0-4) at Coudersport (3-1) 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28

COUDERSPORT – Otto-Eldred is looking for its first win of the season when it visits Coudersport Friday night with the Falcons looking to bounce back after losing their first game of the season last week.

A week ago, Coudersport had its sights set on the AML North title, but after a 32-6 loss to Smethport, the Falcons need to concentrate on winning the rest of their games if they want to ensure at least an District 9 Class A wild card playoff spot.

Otto-Eldred, meanwhile, came up just short a week ago losing to Port Allegany 14-8. The Terrors have been outscored 116-24 in 2001.

Leading the way for Coudersport is its quarterback Ben Carey, wide receiver Steve Brink and running backs Zach Hershey and Mike Maiuro.

Otto-Eldred is led by quarterback Lucas Breese and wide receiver Josh Branish..

Elk County Catholic (1-3) at Cameron County (3-1) 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28

EMPORIUM – Elk County Catholic is looking to inch closer to .500, while Cameron County is looking to stay out at the front of the pack in the AML South race when the two teams meet up Friday night at Cameron County.

The Crusaders are coming off 26-8 loss to Curwensville and have managed to score only 14 points in their last three games after opening the season with a 34-0 win over Eisenhower.

Cameron County is coming off a 21-12 win over Sheffield Friday night.

The Red Raiders are led by quarterback Gideon Hornung and running back Scott Horning and Adam Kesterholt.

Hornung 23-for-51 passing this season for 301 yards and two touchdowns. He has also rushed for a touchdown. Scott Horning has run for 260 yards and three touchdowns, while Kesterholt has rushed for 135 yards this season.

Running backs Todd Silfies and Craig Timm lead the ECC offense.

Eisenhower (0-4) at Smethport (4-0) 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28

SMETHPORT – A tale of two different teams is what is on tap Friday night when Eisenhower visits Smethport.

The Knights are 0-4 this season and have been outscored 103-13. The Hubbers, meanwhile, are 4-0 and have outscored their opponents 136-34.

A week ago was no different for either team. Eisenhower lost 14-6 to Youngsville, while Smethport made itself the early favorite in both the AML North and District 9 Class A with a convincing 32-6 win over previously unbeaten Coudersport.

Quarterback Jeff Shostak leads Smethport along with running back Dan Mitchell.

Shostak is a threat both running and passing the football. He has rushed for 315 yards and seven touchdowns in 2001 while throwing for nearly 265 yards and three touchdowns.

Running back Tom Kibbey and quarterback Jacoby Curtis lead the way for the Knights

Sheffield (3-1) at Port Allegany (1-3) 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28

PORT ALLEGANY – Two teams seemingly headed in opposite directions meet up Saturday at Port Allegany when Sheffield visits the Gators.

The Wolverines are 3-1 and looking to make some noise in the AML North race, while last season’s AML North champion Gators have struggled all season long.

Sheffield lost its first game of the season last week 21-12 to Cameron County, while Port Allegany won its first game of the season a week ago with a 14-8 victory over Otto-Eldred.

Leading the way for the Wolverines are quarterback Nik Obenrader and running back Earl Holt.

The top players for the Gators are running back Adam Rohrer, quarterback Craig Flint and wide receiver Tony Flint.

Erie McDowell (4-0) at DuBois (3-1) 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28

DuBOIS — The DuBois Beavers take on another former Allegheny Football Conference rival this week as they host unbeaten McDowell at E.J. Mansell Stadium Friday night.

The Beavers will try to rebound from a 34-0 loss at State College last week while McDowell tries to keep its record perfect, coming off a 21-14 win over Hollidaysburg.

The Beavers are led by quarterback Chad Hilliard (28-for-50, 455 yards, 4 TDs, 1 Int) and running back Derek Marshall (62 carries, 506 yards).

DuBois lost in Erie to McDowell last year, 16-7.

BROOKVILLE — Something has to give at Brookville as the winless Raiders host winless Grove City from District 10.

The Raiders came close last week, dropping a 22-12 decision to St. Marys after leading 12-0 at halftime. Raiders quarterback Cole Cook completed 14 of 24 passes for 178 yards.

Grove City owns losses against some strong D-10 teams, including a 42-14 loss to Hickory last week. Hickory (3-1), perennial state powers Sharon (3-1) and Wilmington (4-0) and Meadville (2-2) have beaten the Eagles this year. Meadville, a future Raiders opponent beat Grove City, 26-0, in the season-opener.

Brookville beat Grove City last year, 32-15.

HYDE — The Clearfield Bisons play their second District 6 opponent in three weeks as the host the Bellefonte Red Raiders.

Clearfield dumped Punxsutawney, 35-7, last week. Dave Richards rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He leads the Bisons with 299 yards rushing.

Bellefonte lost to Tyrone, 34-18, last week. The Red Raiders lost to state-ranked Huntingdon (18-7) and own wins against Philipsburg-Osceola (62-13) and Penns Valley (49-0).

Last year, Clearfield beat Bellefonte in overtime, 23-20.

PUNXSUTAWNEY —The Punxsutawney Chucks will try to end their losing streak of eight games when they host District 6's Hollidaysburg Friday night.

The Chucks were 35-7 losers to Clearfield last week. Quarterback Joe Martin complted 5 of 14 passes for 172 yards, one of them a 94-yard TD pass to Kyle Barilar.

Hollidaysburg dropped a 21-14 decision to McDowell.

Hollidaysburg won last year's game, 28-0.

BRADFORD — The Bradford Owls will try to keep pace with the other District 9 League leaders and run their regular-season winning streak to 11 games as they host St. Marys in a District 9 League game.

Bradford is 2-0 in league play while St. Marys is 1-0 after its league-opening 22-12 win over Brookville last week.

Flying Dutchmen running back Dan Fox stole the show in the second half for St. Marys, rushing for three touchdowns. He also finished with 337 yards rushing, earning him D9sports.com co-Player of the Week honors.

The Owls are rolling along, coming off a 34-0 win over Oil City. The Owls beat St. Marys last year, 48-14.