WEEK SEVEN FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

Below are capsules on each of those games.

FOXBURG -- Keystone looks to keep its slim playoff hopes alive when it travels down Pa. Route 338 for a KSAC match-up with rival A-C Valley.

The Panthers, who need to win out and hope for losses from Curwensville or Coudersport to have a shot at the District 9 Class A playoffs, employ the K-gun offense led by senior quarterback Adam Black and junior wideout Bobby Telesz.

The duo has become the top thrower-catcher combination in District 9. Black is the district's top passer going 91-for-167 (54%) for 1,520 yards and 21 touchdowns while throwing only two interceptions. Telesz is the district's top pass catcher with 33 grabs for 628 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Other key receivers for the Panthers, who are averaging 30.7 points per game, include Billy Colwell (13-273 & 3 TDs) and Pat Irwin (15-223 & 1 TD).

Keystone doesn’t employ much of a running game, although running back Chris Metcalf got his first 100-yard game of the season in a 49-6 win over East Juniata last week. He had exactly 100 yards on nine carries.

A-C Valley is just trying to gain some momentum for next season while getting a win over the Panthers at the same time

The Falcons, who are coming off a 50-6 loss to Karns City last week, are led by quarterback Mike Stewart. Stewart is 28-64 passing (All ACV stats missing two weeks) for 386 yards and five touchdowns. Josh Defibaugh is the Falcons top pass catcher with 15 receptions for 265 yards and five touchdowns. Zach Heeter leads the A-C Valley ground game with 55 totes for 322 yards and three touchdowns.

NEW WILMINGTON -- Brookville faces an uphill battle Friday night when the Blue Raiders travel west on I-80 to face the always powerful Wilmington Greyhounds.

The Greyhounds, who went 12-2 last season and made it to the PIAA Class AAA semifinals, are headed in the same direction this season with a 6-0 record and a couple of statewide rankings. Wilmington is No. 3 in Class AAA in the Pennsylvania Football News (PFN) and No. 4 in Class AAA by the Harrisburg Patriot-News (HPN).

Brookville, meanwhile, is still in search of its first win in a season that has seen the Blue Raiders take their lumps while being outscored 219-31.

Wilmington is coming of a 40-3 win over Mount Pleasant last week, while Brookville lost 52-6 to Bradford.

The Greyhounds are led by running back Brandon Whitling who has 60 carries for 711 yards and nine touchdowns in 2001. Wilmington seems to be using a two-quarterback system with Tim Hughes leading the way going 16-for-23 passing for 391 yards and six touchdowns, while Nick Sheehan has thrown for 165 yards and one touchdown.

The leading receiver for the Greyhounds is Brian Baer with 13 catches for 259 yards and four scores.

Brookville is led by quarterback Cole Cook who is 36-for-88 for 366 yards and one touchdown with most of the yards coming since he replaced the injured Ben Miello.

The Blue Raiders top receiver is Keith Richards with 20 catches for 232 yards and one score.

WEST SUNBURY -- Clarion is in a similar position as Keystone, as the Bobcats need to keep winning and then get some help in order to make the District 9 Class A playoffs.

Friday night's game at Moniteau won't be an easy one, as the Warriors are only a 1/2 game behind the Bobcats in the KSAC standings after a 20-15 win at Redbank Valley last week. Clarion, meanwhile, broke a two-game slid with a 48-6 triumph over West Shamokin a week ago.

A big part of this game for Moniteau is whether or not running back Bill Staab plays. Staab, who missed last week's game with an injury, is the Warrior's leading rusher with 94 carries for 533 yards and seven touchdowns. Even with missing a week of action he has gained the 11^th most yards in District 9 this season.

If Staab can't go, Moniteau will likely turn to Ryan Rumbaugh who carried the ball 25 times for 78 yards and one touchdown.

The Warriors quarterback is Heath Schreffler who took over from Pat Rumbaugh three weeks ago.

Clarion made a change in its offense philosophy last week and began running a lot more option plays with quarterback Ben Bevevino. The option opened up running room for Kyle Cathcart, who is the District's top rusher with 1,094 yards on 131 carries and has scored 15 touchdowns. Last week he rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns, while Bevevino rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns and also threw for 88 yards and a touchdown.

WINGATE -- Clearfield looks to extend its five-game winning streak Friday night when it travels east to play Bald Eagle Area.

The Bison are coming off a 56-21 win over Philipsburg-Osceola last week, while Bald Eagle was defeated by Huntingdon 50-6 and has lost five in a row since an opening week win.

Clearfield is led by quarterback Michael Sayers (40-for-79, 420 yards & 4 TDs), running backs Dave Richards (96 carries for 612 yards & 10 TDs) and Joe Meckey (94-459 & 5 TDs) and tight end Todd Shaw (16 catches for 181 yards & 3 TDs).

ST. MARYS -- Punxsutawney is trying to build off its 28-20 win over Grove City last week when it travels to St. Marys to take on the Dutchmen, who have lost two in a row including a 28-7 set back to DuBois a week ago.

The Chucks are led by quarterback Joe Martin (35-for-67 for 416 yards & 2 TDs), running back Dustin Guidash (104 rushes for 516 yards & 6 TDs) and wide receiver Kyle Barilar (14 catches for 257 yards & 1 TD).

St. Marys is led by wide receiver Tony Kopp (12 catches for 262 yards & 5 TDs), running back Dan Fox (133 rushes for 743 yards & 5 TDs) and quarterback Brandon Bennett (17-for-37 for 278 yards & 5 TDs)

NuMine -- After not winning a game in its first year of existence, West Shamokin has shown marked improvement in 2001. The Wolves are looking for their third win of the year in seven games when they play host to the winless Union Knights Friday night.

The big question mark for West Shamokin is the status of freshman quarterback Trevor Henderson who sat out a 48-6 loss to Clarion last week with an injury. Henderson has had a stellar rookie campaign going 30-for-51 (Missing 2 weeks from all W. Shamokin stats) for 58 yards and two touchdowns. If Henderson can't go then Craig Kaplon who threw for 41 yards last week while get the nod.

In the running game, the Wolves are led by Bill Fulton (29-168 & 3 TDs), while Jonathan Nagy (15-142 & 1 TD) is the top receiver.

Union is led by running back Set Stewart.

KANE -- Two teams who entered the season with high hopes are looking to get things back on track when Cameron County travels north to Kane Friday night.

The Red Raiders stared the year 3-1 but have lost two games in a row including a 36-6 setback at Curwensville last week. Kane, meanwhile, thought it had a great chance at returning to the District 9 Class A playoffs this season but have been hard-luck losers losing three games by a combined total of 14 points including a 24-21 loss to Elk County Catholic last week.

Cameron County is led by running back Scott Horning (47 carries for 300 yards & 3 TDs) and quarterback Gideon Hornug (28-for-68 for 321 yards & 2 TDs).

Kane runs a passing attack that is triggered by quarterback Tyler Smith, the second leading passer in District 9. Smith is 82-for-127 (64%) passing for 1,092 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with one interception.

Smith's top receivers are Justin Jeffords (15-304 & 4 TDs), Mike Jamerson (17-261 & 3 TDs) and Hugh Rich (25-239 & 2 TDs). Jeffords is also the leading rusher for the Wolves with 56 carries for 263 yards and three scores.

CLARION TWP. -- Redbank Valley saw its hopes at a District 9 Class A playoff spot fall from view when Moniteau stopped a fourth-and-goal from inside the 10-yard line in a 20-15 Bulldog loss last week.

Clarion-Limestone, meanwhile, controls its own destiny in a playoff run. All the Lions have to do to gain the KSAC's automatic bid in the Class A playoffs along with a home playoff game is go 2-1 in their final three games.

Redbank Valley is led by running back Ron Geist, the third leading rusher in District 9 with 129 carries for 803 yards and seven touchdowns.

Chris Merwin triggers the Bulldog passing attack going 30-for-83 for 309 yards and four touchdowns but he has also thrown eight interceptions.

Redbank's leading receiver is Tyson Truitt with eight catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns.

Head coach Clyde Conti's Lions, meanwhile, rely on a very balanced attack that features a two-quarterback attack to go along with a host of skill players.

The quarterbacks are senior J.J. Ferguson (17-for-37 for 394 yards & 8 TDs) and freshman Hayden Johnston (12-for-37 for 230 yards and 3 TDs and 32 rushes for 159 yards & 3 TDs).

The skill players are led by running back/wide receiver Dan Alderton (47 carries for 289 yards & 6 TDs and 10 catches for 230 yards & 6 TDs) and wide receiver Chad Conti (8 catches for 262 yards & 3 TDs).

COUDERSPORT -- Sheffield and Coudersport both need to win this game in order to stay in their respective playoff hunts.

The Wolverines of Sheffield are bidding for a berth in the District 10 Class AA playoffs, while Coudersport is looking for one in the District 9 Class A playoffs knowing that all it has to do is win out and it is in.

Sheffield is led by sophomore quarterback Nic Obenrader (22-for-64 for 532 yards & 3 touchdowns *All Sheffield stats missing two weeks*) and running back Earl Holt (33-380 & 5 TDs).

Coudersport is led by quarterback Ben Cary.

DUKE CENTER -- Eisenhower picked up its first win of the season 20-0 over Port Allegany last week, while Otto-Eldred is still in search of its first victory since the 1999 season.

The Eisenhower Knights are led by quarterback Jacoby Curtis (35-for-77 for 454 yards & 2 TDs).

RIDGWAY -- In a battle of two teams riding a roller coaster, Elk County Catholic visits Ridgway Friday night.

ECC started the season 1-3 but has won two straight including a 24-21 win over Kane last week. Ridgway started the year at 1-3 as well but has also won two straight including a 29-27 thriller over Johnsonburg a week ago.

The Crusaders are led by running backs Craig Timm (83 carries for 555 yards and 8 TDs) and Todd Silifies (64-322 & 2 TDs). Quarterback Robert Pearsall is 35-62 passing for 348 yards and one touchdown but he has also thrown seven interceptions.

Ridgway is led by running back Dustin Dickant (64 carries for 291 yards and three touchdowns), wide receiver Jesse DePanfillis (18 catches for 301 yards & 2 TDs) and quarterback Andy Kelly (20-for-42 for 2999 yards & 2 TDs)

SMETHPORT -- Two weeks ago this looked like a game that would hold a lot of playoff implications with Smethport at 4-0 and Johnsonburg at 3-1 at that point.

The Rams, however, have lost two straight including a heartbreaking 29-27 loss to Ridgway last week that has knocked them out of the playoff race.

Smethport, meanwhile, continued to looks like the team to beat in Class A following a 49-20 dismantling of Sheffield a week ago.

Johnsonburg relies on the quarterback-running back duo of QB Francis Iordio (26-for-71 for 399 yards & 5 TDs and 68 rushes for 272 yards & 2 TDs) and RB Francis Jovenitti (112 carries for 735 yards & 11 TDs).

Smethport has a host of skill players led by quarterback Jeff Shostak (34-for-67 for 645 yards & 10 TDs and 71 rushes for 464 yards & 8 TDs), running back Dan Mitchell (40 rushes for 281 yards & 5 TDs) and wide receiver Steve Bartas, the district's second leading receiver with 19 catches for 358 yards and five touchdowns.

PORT ALLEGANY -- Youngsville, a 32-0 loser to Coudersport last week, looks to get back on the winning track when it travels to Port Allegany, a 20-0 loser to Eisenhower, in the lone Saturday game this week.