WEEK EIGHT FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

CLARION -- Clarion is looking to keep its very slim District 9 Class A playoff hopes alive when its entertains A-C Valley Friday night.

In order for the Bobcats to qualify for the playoffs they need to win their final two games and have Clarion-Limestone drop its final two.

A-C Valley, meanwhile, is just looking to get back on the winning track after dropping its past three games.

The Bobcats are led by their star running back Kyle Cathcart (152 rushes, 1,240 yards & 17 touchdowns) and talented quarterback Ben Bevevino (28-for-70, 504 yards & 9 touchdowns).

A-C Valley is led by its quarterback Mike Stewart (39-for-90, 460 yards & 5 TDS; missing 2 weeks from stats) and running back Zach Heeter (73 rushes, 523 yards & 5 touchdowns; missing 2 weeks from stats).

BELLEFONTE -- Bradford is looking to bounce back from its lone loss of the season (28-25 to DuBois) last week when it travels east to take on District 6's Bellefonte.

The Owls are led by running backs Jason Casey (64 rushes, 618 yards & 7 touchdowns), Jim Nuzzo (76 rushes, 457 yards & 2 touchdowns) and Elliott George (50 rushes, 426 yards & 7 touchdowns).

The Red Raiders of Bellefonte have had an up-and-down season. After winning their first two games, the Red Raiders lost four in a row before bouncing back with a 28-7 win over Lewistown last week. They are trying to avoid their first losing season since an 0-9 1998 campaign.

Bellefonte is led by senior quarterback Stewart Sampsel, who will play at NCAA Division I Buffalo next season. Sampsel has passes for 728 yards (missing one game from stats) and six touchdowns this season.

Other key players for the Red Raiders include running backs Tyler Roan (154 yards & 1 TD last week) and Zach Settle (64 yards & 1 TD last week) and wide receivers Ethan Stewart and Ross Roberts.

PUNXSUTAWNEY -- It once again time for the annual Route 36 Trophy game when Brookville travels south down Route 36 to face off against Punxsutawney.

The Blue Raiders are still looking for their first win of the season, while the Chucks are looking to continue the momentum they have built up the past two weeks with a third win in a row.

Brookville is led by quarterback Cole Cook (42-for-106, 444 yards & 2 touchdowns) and wide receiver Ben Daniels (15 catches, 234 yards & 2 touchdowns).

Punxsutawney is led by running back Dustin Guidash (118 rushes, 625 yards & 9 touchdowns), quarterback Joe Martin (40-for-76, 530 yards & 3 touchdowns) and flanker Kyle Barliar (15 catches, 275 yards & 1 touchdown).

WEST SUNBURY -- Clarion-Limestone is eyeing a shot at locking up a District 9 Class A playoff spot, a home playoff game and very possibly the No. 1 seed in the playoffs when it travels down Interstate 80 to Moniteau Friday night.

With a win the Lions will clinch a playoff spot and a home playoff berth. And if C-L wins its final game of the season against A-C Valley and Curwensville beats Smethport in the AML Title game the Lions should receive the top seed as well.

C-L is led by running back Dan Alderton (57 rushes, 460 yards & 9 touchdowns; 11 catches, 253 yards & 7 touchdowns), wide receiver Chad Conti (8 catches, 262 yards & 3 touchdowns) and quarterbacks J.J. Ferguson (18-for-40, 417 yards & 9 touchdowns) and Hayden Johnston.

ST. MARYS -- With DuBois beating Bradford last week, Clearfield sees an opportunity to become tri-champions of the D9 League for the second straight season if the Bison beat St. Marys Friday night and DuBois next week.

Clearfield is led by running backs Dave Richards (113 rushes, 759 yards & 12 touchdowns) and Matt Meckey (106 rushes, 523 yards & 7 touchdowns), receiver Todd Shaw (18 catches, 219 yards & 3 touchdowns) and quarterback Michael Sayers (44-for-83, 526 yards & 6 touchdowns)

St. Marys is led by quarterback Brandon Bennett, wide receiver Tony Kopp (16 catches, 317 yards & 7 touchdowns) and running back Dan Fox (156 rushes, 876 yards & 5 touchdowns).

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Coming off a very emotional win over Bradford (28-25) last week that put it in a position to win the D9 League title outright, DuBois is hoping to avoid a letdown when it travels to Hollidaysburg Friday night.

The Beavers are led by running back Derek Marshall (148 rushes, 1,156 yards & 9 touchdowns), the second leading rusher in District 9, and quarterback Chad Hilliard (36-for-84, 548 yards & 4 touchdowns).

RIMERSBURG -- Karns City is looking to officially wrap-up the KSAC title Friday night when it travels North on Route 68 to Rimersburg to face Union, who won its first game of the season last week 14-8 in overtime over West Shamokin.

A week ago, Karns City, ranked No. 2 in the state in Class AA by the Pa Football News, beat up on perennial state powerhouse Greenville 30-13.

The Gremlins are led by a host of players including quarterback Erik Fuhrer (44-for-89, 803 yards & 10 touchdowns), running back Billy Graham (123 rushes, 911 yards & 18 touchdowns) and wide receivers Brian Hilderbrand (20 catches, 344 yards & 7 touchdowns) and Ian Ferguson (14 catches 286 yards & 4 touchdowns).

KNOX -- Just like Clarion, Keystone needs to win its final two games and hope for C-L to lose its final two for a shot at the playoffs.

This week the Panthers host the Bulldogs of Redbank Valley.

Redbank Valley is led by running back Ron Geist (141 rushes, 835 yards & 7 touchdowns), slot back Tyson Truitt (10 catches, 233 yards & 3 touchdowns) and quarterback Chris Merwin.

Keystone and its "K-gun" offense is led by the district's top passer in quarterback Adam Black (116-for-208, 1,906 yards & 26 touchdowns) and the district's top receiver in wide receiver Bobby Telesz (42 catches, 749 yards & 13 touchdowns). Other key players for the Panthers include wide receivers Billy Colwell (20 catches, 373 yards & 5 touchdowns) and Pat Irwin (18 catches, 268 yards & 1 touchdown) and running back Chris Metcalf.

CARMICHAELS -- West Shamokin, a WPIAL (District 7) team that plays in the KSAC takes on its lone WPIAL team this season when its travels to Greene County to face off against the talented Mighty Mikes of Carmichaels.

West Shamokin, which is coming off a 14-8 loss in OT to Union last week, has lost three games in a row after starting the year 2-3.

The Wolves are led by freshman quareterback Trevor Henderson (35-for-65, 391 yards & 3 touchdowns; stats missing 2 weeks), running backs Bill Fulton & Chris Reefer and wide receiver Jon Nagy (18 catches, 205 yards & 1 touchdown).

Carmichaels, which has won six in a row following an opening week 15-13 loss to Mapletown, who is also 6-1, are coming off a 43-13 thrashing of previously unbeaten California last week.

The Mighty Mikes, who have a very good shot at the WPIAL playoffs are led by running backs Colby Giles (200 yards last week), Justin Mattei (123 yards last week) and Bobby Hathaway (117 yards rushing last week). All three backs also scored two touchdowns a piece a week ago. The Carmichaels QB is Jono Menhart.

EMPORIUM -- The Brockway Rovers hope to bounce back from last week's 27-7 loss to Curwensville as they head north to take on the Red Raiders.

Brockway, despite the loss last week, will still be probably one of only two playoff teams in Class AA along with defending champion Karns City. Running backs Jonathan Cantafio (381 yards, 3 TDs) and Jeremy Sickeri (530 yards, 3 TDs) key the Rovers attack.

The Red Raiders are looking for a win to clinch a winning season. They beat Kane, 15-10, last week. Quarterback Gideon Hornung (455 yards) and running back Scott Horning (310 yards) lead the team.

RUSSELL -- Two teams on a roll play in Russell Friday night when Coudersport, winners of three straight, visit Eisenhower, winners of two consecutive games.

Win or lose the Falcons have a District 9 Class A wild card playoff spot all but officially wrapped up thanks to the Gardner Points system. Coudy would like to win its final two games and go into the playoffs on a roll, while Eisenhower would like continue the momentum it has built the last two weeks.

CURWENSVILLE -- The Allegheny Mountain League South Division champion Curwensville Golden Tide hosts the Kane Wolves in their final regular season game before taking on Smethport in next week's AML title game.

Running backs Joe Bennett (624 yards, 8 TDs) and Ryan Bilger (578 yards, 6 TDs), quarterback Jim Thompson (472 yards, 10 TDs) and receiver Mark Records (384 yards, 7 TDs) lead the Golden Tide. Records was last week's D9sports.com's Player of the Week as he hauled in five passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the Tide's 27-7 win at Brockway.

Quarterback Tyler Smith (1,221 yards, 10 TDs), one of two 1,000-yard passers in District 9 this year, leads Kane.

YOUNGSVILLE -- Revenge could be on the minds of the undefeated Smethport Hubbers as they visit Youngsville.

Last year, Youngsville upset Smethport, 20-18, and the Hubbers missed the district playoffs.

This year, things are different. The Hubbers won the AML North Division title and will play Curwensville next week in the AML title game.

Quarterback Jeff Shostak leads Smethport. He's passed for 820 yards and 12 TDs and rushed for 483 yards and nine TDs.

SHEFFIELD -- Sheffield hosts winless Otto-Eldred in one of three Saturday afternoon games this week.

Nik Obenrader leads Sheffield, passing for 532 yards.

PORT ALLEGANY -- Ridgway tries to clinch a winning season with a trip to Port Allegany.

Quarterback Andy Kelly (368 yards) and running back Dustin Dickant (351 yards, 4 TDs) leads the Elkers. Running back Adam Roher (399 yards) is the leading rusher for Port Allegany.

ST. MARYS -- The Johnsonburg Rams hope to shake off a three-game losing streak as they travel to St. Marys to take on Elk County Catholic.

With quarterback Francis Iorfido out for the season with an injury, the Rams must depend on running back Francis Jovenitti (835 yards, 7 TDs), who needs 165 yards to reach 1,000 for the season.

The Crusaders are led by running back Craig Timm (611 yards, 9 TDs) and quarterback Robert Pearsall (431 yards).