RIDGWAY IN CONTROL OF OWN PLAYOFF DESTINY

Cameron County (3-4 overall, 3-4 AML South) at Ridgway (5-2, 5-2)

Week Eight - 7:30 p.m. Friday Oct. 18

RIDGWAY – Thanks to its 26-20 double overtime win at Curwensville last week, Ridgway controls its own playoff destiny. All the Elkers have to do is beat Cameron County by three or more points to qualify for the playoffs.

Ridgway can also qualify for the postseason if its wins, no matter by how many points, and Redbank Valley beats Keystone Friday night or if its wins, no matter, the points, and Youngsville beats Port Allegany Saturday or Otto-Eldred beats Eisenhower Friday. Heck the Elkers can still make the playoffs even if it only beats Cameron County by two or fewer points and Keystone fails to beat either Redbank Valley or Clarion by 10 or more points each. The Elkers would also qualify with a win and one more Keystone loss.

The only way the Elkers can lose their playoff spot is if they lose and either Redbank Valley or Keystone wins out or if they beat Cameron County by just one point and Keystone beats both Redbank Valley and Clarion by 10 or more points each.

So things are looking pretty good in Elk County for Ridgway, which has rebounded nicely from a 1-2 start, to make the District 9 playoffs for the first time since the 1999 season.

On the other side of the field, Cameron County has seen a promising 3-1 start turn sour thanks to a three-game losing slide that included a 7-0 loss to Johnsonburg last week.

Ridgway’s offense is led by a host of players including quarterback Andy Kelly and running backs Ryan Mitchell, Josh Mercer and Dave Bundy and receiver Justin Buchler.

Kelly is completing 58.2 percent of his passes (46-79) for 590 yards and five touchdowns to go along with six interceptions. He has also run for 200 yards and four scores.

Buchler is his favorite target with 14 grabs for 144 yards and a score, while Bundy has nine catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns. Bundy has also ran the ball 70 times for 439 yards and three scores.

Mitchell is the leading rusher with 106 carries for 551 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Mercer has toted the ball 61 times for 280 yards and four touchdowns.

Leading the Ridgway attack on the offensive line are tackles Dan Bjorkquist and Brian Reed, guards Toby Nashadka and Paul Bullers and centers Matt DiIullio and Brian Slattery. Also instrumental in the blocking scheme are Buchler and Josh Shirey.

Cameron County is led by running back Adam Kesterholt, quarterback Kyle Vogt and wide receiver Scott Aikens.

Kesterholt has rushed 76 times for 404 yards and one touchdown.

Vogt is 42-for-115 for 626 yards and four touchdowns, but interceptions have been his down fall with 10.

Aikens is the top receiver for the Red Raiders with 14 catches for 381 yards and three touchdowns.

Next week Ridgway is at Smethport while Cameron County is at Eisenhower.