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WEEK NINE CLOSES REGULAR SEASON FOR MOST TEAMS |
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WEEK 9 PREVIEW - Oct. 29-30, 2004 |
| By Rich Rhoades
The quest for a playoff spot or a chance to improve playoff positioning is the main theme for the final week of the regular season in District 9 football. All of the league titles are clinched (Clarion-Limestone has clinched at least a share of the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference), so it’s a focus on the playoffs where most of the spots have been clinched. In Class A, Keystone, Otto-Eldred and Johnsonburg vie for the eighth and final seed. In Class AA and AAA, it depends on how many teams choose to enter the postseason. The Allegheny Mountain League Championship game is scheduled for Saturday night in Coudersport at 7 p.m. Both Coudersport and Curwensville head into their game with perfect 8-0 records. It’ll be the third straight year that Coudersport will play in the AML title game. The Falcons lost the last two years to Brockway (21-13 last year) and Kane (35-19 in 2002). For Curwensville, it’s the third time in the six years that the Tide have been in the AML that they have made the championship game. Curwensville won the crown in 2000 and lost to Smethport in 2001. Clearfield and Clarion-Limestone will also try to complete undefeated regular seasons Friday night. The Bisons host Punxsutawney (2-6) while Clarion-Limestone hosts Moniteau (4-4). In other games Friday, Ridgway (1-7) travels to Cameron County (0-8), Brockway (7-1) visits Otto-Eldred (3-5) and Smethport (5-3) hosts Kane (1-7) in AML games. In the KSAC, Clarion (6-2) visits A-C Valley (3-5), Karns City (4-4) hosts Union (0-8) and Redbank Valley (5-3) hosts Keystone (2-6). In non-conference games, Bradford (5-3) hosts Harbor Creek (7-1), Brookville (3-5) travels to Grove City (6-2), DuBois (5-3) visits Altoona (2-6) and St. Marys (1-6) hosts Philipsburg-Osceola (7-1). In Saturday afternoon games prior to the evening AML title game, Port Allegany (5-3) hosts Elk County Catholic (5-3) while Sheffield (2-6) hosts Johnsonburg (3-5). PLAYOFF GLANCE The Class A Playoffs could become a real mess considering some schools have either decided not to participate in the 8-team field or are still undecided. This much is known: Clarion-Limestone, Curwensville, Coudersport, Clarion, Elk County Catholic and Smethport are definitely in and have all indicated they are going to participate. Port Allegany has also qualified for the postseason, but the Gators staff has indicated they won’t participate unless they beat ECC Saturday and finish 6-3. At 5-4, they say at this point they won’t enter the playoffs. The eighth qualifying spot, if Port Allegany wins and enters, could have been a toss up between Otto-Eldred, Johnsonburg and Keystone but Otto-Eldred has decided not to enter the playoffs no matter what happens. That leaves the final spot or two (if Port Allegany does not enter) to go to Keystone and Johnsonburg. But both schools are still contemplating whether or not they want to enter the postseason. If neither enter, Ridgway, Kane, Union and/or Cameron County could, if they chose, fill the tournament in order of tiebreakers according to District 9 football chairman Bob Tonkin. Tonkin indicated that teams that play Friday have until 11 p.m. Friday to indicate their desire to enter the postseason if they space permits and teams that play Saturday have until 11 p.m. Saturday. Without trying to complicate the Class A playoff possibilities, let’s build the scenario assuming the top eight qualified teams decide to go to the playoffs. It looks like a possible bracket of less than eight teams could develop if teams opt out of the postseason. Class AA seems more clear-cut. Brockway and Redbank Valley are definitely going to the postseason while it appears at this point that both Karns City and Moniteau will enter. Brookville most likely will also enter, but there is still some deliberation at the school. Class AAA is set with Clearfield and Bradford the only teams entering. In Class AAAA, DuBois and District 9 are waiting for a word from District 10 on how the Beavers fit into a three-team format that includes McDowell (7-1) and Cathedral Prep (5-3). The Beavers may actually play the McDowell-Prep winner Nov. 12 or 13 probably in Erie. That’s the equivalent of the Beavers receiving a bye. The D-10 Committee meets this weekend to finalize their postseason setup. Now to attempt to clear up seeding questions in each division. CLASS A First, to complete the field of eight teams, it’s down to Johnsonburg and Keystone since Otto-Eldred has decided not to go.
As far as seeding goes, here’s a glance of how things could fall: Number 1 seed: Clarion-Limestone if it wins or the winner of the AML title game if the Lions lose to Moniteau Number 2 seed: C-L if it loses or the AML champion if C-L beats Moniteau. Number 3: Loser of AML title game. Number 4: Clarion Number 5: Winner of Elk County Catholic-Port Allegany game. Number 6: Smethport Number 7: ECC if it loses; Possibly Johnsonburg or Keystone or there might not be a No. 7 seed. Number 8: Johnsonburg or Keystone or possibly another team if one decided it wants to enter and no one else does. There might also not be a No. 8 seed. Now for the brackets: IN AN 8-TEAM TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS No. 8 will be at No. 1 Friday, Nov. 5 and No. 7 will be at No. 2 Friday, Nov. 5 No. 5 will be at No. 4 Saturday, Nov. 6 and No. 6 will be at No. 3 Saturday, Nov. 6 SEMIFINALS 8-1 winner will play 5-4 winner at highest seeds home field Friday, Nov. 12 7-2 winner will play 6-3 winner at highest seeds home field Saturday, Nov. 13 CHAMPIONSHIP Semifinal winners will meet at a neutral field either Nov. 19 or 20. IN A 7-TEAM TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS No. 1 will have a bye No. 7 will be at No. 2 Friday, Nov. 5 No. 6 will be at No. 3 and No. 5 will be at No. 4 Saturday, Nov. 6 SEMIFINALS 5-4 winner will be at No. 1, either Nov. 12 or 13 6-3 winner will play 7-2 winner at highest seeds home field on day opposite of 5-4-1 game CHAMPIONSHIP Semifinal winners will meet at a neutral field either Nov. 19 or 20 IN A 6-TEAM TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS No. 1 and No. 2 will have byes No. 6 will be at No. 3 most likely Friday, Nov. 5 No. 5 will be at No. 4 most likely Friday, Nov. 5 SEMIFINALS 5-4 winner will be at No. 1 Friday, Nov. 12 6-3 winner will be at No. 2 Saturday, Nov. 13 CHAMPIONSHIP Semifinal winners will meet at neutral field either Nov. 19 or 20 CLASS AA Number 1 seed: Brockway. Number 2: Redbank Valley. Number 3: Karns City. Number 4: Moniteau Number 5: Brookville (If Raiders decide to go) The brackets will set up this way: 5-TEAM TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND Brookville at Moniteau Friday, Nov. 5 SEMIFINALS Brookville-Moniteau winner at Brockway Friday, Nov. 12 Karns City at Redbank Valley Saturday, Nov. 13 CHAMPIONSHIP Semifinal winner at neutral field either Nov. 19 or 20 4-TEAM TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS Moniteau at Brockway Friday, Nov. 12 Karns City at Redbank Valley, Saturday, Nov. 13 CHAMPIONSHIP Semifinal winner at neutral field either Nov. 19 or 20 CLASS AAA Bradford will play Clearfield in the championship game Nov. 12 or 13, giving both teams a week off. WEEK 10 GAMES SCHEDULED For some teams, it’s another week of regular season games next week. At least two are scheduled from what D9Sports.Com knows. Ridgway visits St. Marys on Friday, Nov. 5 while Sheffield is scheduled to play Eisenhower at Warren High School on Saturday, Nov. 6, assuming Sheffield doesn’t go to the playoffs. ROVERS STILL A FORCE The Brockway Rovers are trying to win their third straight District 9 Class AA title and earn a fifth straight trip to the championship game. Call the Rovers the favorites to get there and win it. Head coach Ray Reckner’s squad will be the top seed for the playoffs. Considering that the Rovers are 7-1 after losing many key players to graduation is a testament to one of the best coaching staffs in District 9. The Rovers lost 87 percent of their rushing yardage to graduation from a year ago, along with 83 percent of receiving to graduation or position change and almost all of their quarterback’s passing yardage. Still, the Rovers have been one of the top teams in the AML. Only a close 14-7 loss at powerful Curwensville has kept Brockway from being perfect. The trio of Bobby Liddle, Lenny Calhoun and Ben Donlin has combined to run for 1,574 yards. Perhaps the biggest key has been Matt Foradora, who moved from his receiver position last year to quarterback where he’s passed for 829 yards and 7 touchdowns. His QB Rating of 198.14 now leads District 9, just ahead of C-L's Hayden Johnston. He’s also run for 207 yards and three touchdowns. The balanced offensive has enjoyed a fine season from its offensive line as well. KELLY CORRECTION I stand corrected on my claim that Jim Kelly did not lose a game as a starting quarterback at East Brady High School. He did lose at least one game as he started at QB his sophomore season in 1975. His Bulldogs went 9-0 and tied C-L in the Little 12 Conference Championship game in 1976 and in 1977, the Bulldogs went 9-0 and won the Little 12 title game over Brockway.
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