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By Rich Rhoades
With two weeks left in the regular season, a handful of District 9 football teams
are either trying to clinch a playoff berth, win a conference title or jockey for better playoff
position.
Fifteen games are on the docket this week, starting with Thursday night’s District
10, Region 6 Class AAA matchup between Bradford (5-3) and Cathedral Prep (4-4) in Erie. The Owls are
trying to catch St. Marys for the second and final berth for the Class AAA playoffs.
Thirteen games are on Friday’s schedule with more than one attractive game on the
list. Moniteau (8-0) will try to win its first-ever outright Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference title
when it hosts Redbank Valley (7-1). The Allegheny Mountain League-South Division title is on the line in
Kane where the Wolves (6-2) host Curwensville (7-1).
Saturday afternoon in Port Allegany, the Gators (2-6) hosts Otto-Eldred (1-7) in
what could be an important game for the Gators playoff hopes in Class A.
Moniteau has already clinched at least a share of its first-ever KSAC title thanks
to last week’s 35-34 win over Karns City. If the Warriors lose to Redbank Valley, the KSAC will end in
a three-way tie between the Gremlins, Warriors and Bulldogs.
Based on last week’s performance against the Gremlins, the Moniteau-Redbank Valley
showdown could be won on the ground. The Bulldogs are led by 3,000-yard rusher Alex Bladel while Moniteau
has junior running back James Shope, who sparked the Warriors’ 328-yard rushing effort against Karns
City with 162 yards and two touchdowns.
But Moniteau has a pretty good quarterback in senior Tyler Armagost, a 4,000-yard
career passer. Last week, he only attempted eight passes, completing four for 98 yards.
Last week’s win guaranteed the Warriors the top seed for the Class AA playoffs
while Karns City will finish second in the playoff standings. The Gremlins won’t be playing A-C Valley
this week, after the Falcons notified them that they will be forfeiting the game. The ends the
Gremlins’ regular-season at 8-1. A-C Valley finished at 0-9 and will take a 31-game losing streak into
next season.
Also in the KSAC, are a couple of toss-up matchups. Keystone (3-5) hosts
Punxsutawney (3-5). The Panthers would clinch the final spot in the Class A playoffs with a win. In
another tight matchup on paper, Clarion-Limestone (1-7) hosts Union (1-7). At Brookville, the Raiders
(4-4) host Clarion (5-3) as they try to secure a Class AA playoff berth while the Bobcats try to improve
on their current sixth seed in the Class A playoffs.
In the AML South, Kane and Curwensville will try to win the AML South. A Golden Tide
win gives them their sixth division title in nine years since joining the league. A Kane win could win
the Wolves their second straight AML South title, but only if Elk County Catholic (6-2) loses to
Johnsonburg (5-3), which is on a three-game losing streak since starting the year 5-0.
If ECC does beat Johnsonburg, a three-way 7-2 tie would occur at the top of the AML
South with ECC, Curwensville and Kane. In that case, the tiebreaker criteria of strength of schedule
rating would favor the Golden Tide since they played and beat Coudersport among its AML North teams on
their schedule.
So to sum it up, Curwensville can lose and win the AML South as long as ECC beats
Johnsonburg.
Also in the AML Friday, Johnsonburg (5-3) will try to end that three-game losing
streak when it hosts Elk County Catholic (6-2). Brockway (3-5) will try to keep its playoff hopes alive
when it travels to Ridgway (2-6). In the AML North, Cameron County (8-0) visits Smethport (2-6) and
Coudersport (6-2) hosts winless Sheffield (0-8), which is under a new coach this week after John Bonavita
resigned Monday. Assistant coach Bryan Gould takes over as the interim head man for the Wolverines.
In the Mountain Athletic Conference-Nittany Division, both St. Marys and Clearfield
have big games. The Flying Dutchmen (6-2) hosts Central-Martinsburg (7-1), which is coming off its first
loss of the season last week to the Bisons.
St. Marys, Central and Tyrone are all tied in second place in the division with 5-1
records behind unbeaten Clearfield (6-0), waiting for the Bisons to trip up and perhaps let someone else
share a title. The Bisons (7-1 overall) travel to Huntingdon (5-3).
Things will certainly get sorted out, or not, the last two weeks as St. Marys
travels to Clearfield next week while Central visits Tyrone.
In the lone non-conference game of the week, the DuBois Beavers (5-3) have the
unenviable task of visiting Strong Vincent. The 8-0 Colonels, loaded with NCAA Division I recruits, are
ranked No. 1 in the state in Class AAA by the Pennsylvania Football News.
PLAYOFF PICTURES
CLASS AAAA
The DuBois Beavers will compete in the Sub-Region 6-8-9-10 playoffs starting as
early as Week 11 (Nov. 7-8).
Up to five teams could make up the bracket — State College (8-0), DuBois (5-3),
McDowell (5-3), Central Mountain (5-3) and Altoona (2-6). All but Altoona have declared its intention to
enter the postseason.
If Altoona enters, there will be a 4th seed vs. 5th seed game
on Week 11 with the other teams getting a week off into the semifinals on Week 12 (Nov. 14-15).
Right now, DuBois and McDowell are tied for second place with 630 points using the
PIAA power rating. Central Mountain is fourth at 530 points.
With unbeaten Strong Vincent this week and 7-1 Hollidaysburg on the schedule next
week, the Beavers are in danger of slipping in the standings. McDowell plays winless Connellsville this
week and unbeaten Bishop McDevitt next week while Central Mountain meets Harrisburg this week and
finishes out with Penns Valley next week.
That all looks like likely splits at the least for McDowell and Central Mountain,
probably dropping the Beavers to No. 4 if they don’t win another game. That means a preliminary game in
Week 11 with Altoona if the Mountain Lions enter the postseason or a trip to State College in Week 12 in
the semifinals.
CLASS AAA
Clearfield has clinched one of just two playoff spots in this classification this
year. The race for the second and final spot is between St. Marys (620 points) and Bradford (580 points)
with two games remaining.
If both teams lose both, win both or split their remaining games — St. Marys hosts
Central-Martinsburg this week and visits Clearfield next week while Bradford visits Cathedral Prep and
Corry — it’s too close to call at this point because of all of the possible bonus points that each
team can get if teams they already have beaten win games.
St. Marys is guaranteed 20 more bonus points from beaten opponents and it’s
doubtful it’ll get more than that. Bradford could get some points from Olean, Warren, Meadville and
Corry (if Corry wins this week against Erie Central and the Owls beat it next week), but none are
guaranteed.
CLASS AA
Going into this week’s games, both Brookville and
Brockway are still battling for the final berth in the District 9 Class AA playoffs. Moniteau clinched
the top seed — even if the Warriors lose to Redbank Valley this week — with its win over Karns City
last week. The Gremlins will be seeded second.
Kane (6-2) clinched a playoff berth with a win over
Brockway last week, but the Wolves still haven’t clinched the third seed. Kane could clinch the third
seed with a win over Curwensville this week, but if the Wolves lose and the Raiders win their final two
games, Brookville could jump to the third seed.
Going into Friday, the Raiders
lead Brockway in PIAA Power Points, 390-320. The point system is based on the size of school of the teams
you beat along with bonus points for each win that an opponent you beat accumulates.
Here are the scenarios:
THE RAIDERS GET IN
IF
— They beat Clarion at home this week OR Punxsutawney on
the road next week OR a Brockway loss at Ridgway this week.
— They could get in without beating Clarion OR
Punxsutawney even if Brockway beats Ridgway this week. Here’s how it could happen:
1. Elk County Catholic must beat Johnsonburg this week.
2. Otto-Eldred must lose its final two games to Port Allegany and Cowanesque Valley.
3. Keystone must win its final two games at home against Punxsutawney this week and its
non-conference season finale at, of all teams, Brockway.
4. Win a coin flip against the Rovers for the playoff spot.
THE ROVERS GET IN
— There are a few more complicated scenarios for
Brockway to get in but the simplest is this: the Rovers beat Ridgway this week, Brookville loses its
final two games AND either Johnsonburg beats Elk County Catholic or Keystone loses one of its final two
games. If the Rovers win and Brookville loses but ECC and Keystone win out then there are a few different
ways Brockway gets in including one that includes a coin flip.
So even though the Rovers’ Week 10 game Keystone
doesn’t count directly for them — teams only score points themselves in their nine conference games
— a win over the Panthers would count against the Rovers.
CLASS A
Here’s a look at what’s left to decide in what could be an eight-team playoff,
although teams that may clinch the eighth and final seed — it’s Keystone in the lead right now —
may not declare its intention to go to the postseason.
Who’s in — Cameron County,
Coudersport, Redbank Valley, Clarion, Curwensville, Elk County Catholic and Johnsonburg.
Updated Friday, 3:20 p.m.
Final playoff spot —
On Friday, the District 9 committee informed D9Sports.com that
the at-large spots are based on the nine league games not all
games played by teams. Incorrect information was sent out in
September and corrected a couple of weeks ago, although
D9Sports.com didn't receive this information until late
Thursday. Currently Keystone is 3-5 and can finish no worse than
3-6. The Panthers can clinch a playoff spot with a win or losses
by Port Allegany to Otto-Eldred, Ridgway to Brockway and
Smethport to Cameron County. If one or more of those three teams
win this week and Keystone loses, it would create a tie for the
eighth and final spot. The PIAA Power Points System tiebreaker
would then come into play. By D9Sports.com's unofficial
estimates, Keystone will have 350 Power Points with a loss. The
most Power Points we believe Port Allegany can achieve is 350,
the most Ridgway can get is 390 and the most Smethport can get
it 450. A Smethport win over Cameron County could assure the
Hubbers a playoff spot if Keystone loses depending on how
Smethport's loss to Port Allegany would be view by District 9 in
a three-way tie with Port and Keystone. A Ridgway win coupled
with loses by Smethport and Keystone would most likely give the
Elkers the eighth spot, while Port Allegany might be able to tie Keystone in Power Point depending on
which games are counted toward Power Points making a coin toss necessary. Mind
you, this is all unofficial, and a clearer picture of the
playoff spot should emerge after the weekend games.
Top seed — Cameron County can earn the No. 1 seed this week
if it beats Smethport AND Elk County Catholic loses to Johnsonburg AND Kane beats Curwensville (Under
this scenario Cameron County should clinch the top Class A team out of the AML which would give it a No.
1 or No. 2 seed because Kane would win the AML South under this scenario; The Red Raiders would then be
able to go no worse than 9-1 which is a .900 winning percentage. Redbank Valley, which is the top Class A
team out of the KSAC and thus guaranteed a top two seed, can be no better than 8-1 which is a .889
winning percentage)
Home playoff game (or top four seed) — Redbank Valley has already clinched a home game and can be no worse than the No. 2 seed.
Cameron County also is guaranteed a home playoff game because it can finish no
worse than 8-2 and Coudersport and ECC can finish no better than 7-2 (See AML-South tiebreaker section as
to why ECC will not play in AML Title game).
Curwensville can claim a home playoff game with a win or by losing and having
ECC lose to Johnsonburg. A Golden Tide loss but an ECC win would actually mean Curwensville could finish
7-3 and lose a home playoff game based on playing an extra game.
Coudersport can clinch a home playoff game with a win over Sheffield or an ECC
loss to Johnsonburg
ECC can clinch a home playoff game with a win AND a Coudersport loss to
Sheffield.
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