BROCKWAY-RIDGWAY SQUARE OFF IN AML SOUTH SHOWDOWN

Brockway (1-0 overall, 1-0 AML South) at Ridgway (1-0, 1-0)

Week Two - 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 5

By Chris Rossetti

RIDGWAY – It may only be Week Two, but there is already a big game in the AML South between two of the preseason favorites Brockway and Ridgway with the Rovers traveling to Elker country for a 7 p.m. game Friday.

The Rovers (1-0) are coming off a 43-0 whitewashing of Sheffield, while Ridgway was an easy 28-7 victor over Otto-Eldred.

Brockway used a balanced rushing attack against Sheffield last week using 11 runners to amass 239 yards on the ground. The Rovers added 47 passing yards for 286 total yards of offense.

Leading the rushing attack was senior Jeremy Sickeri, who toted the ball eight times for 67 yards and scored on runs of three yards and one yard. Seth Rhed added seven carries for 32 yards and a touchdown, while Andy Martino carried six times for 33 yards and a score. Quarterback John Himes was 4-for-9 passing for 47 yards and hooked up with Matt Foradora for a 23-yard scoring strike in the second quarter.

While the Rovers offense was running circles around Sheffield, Brockway’s defense was making sure it wouldn’t be a contest. Brockway held Sheffield to 48 total yards of offense including just 31 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Ridgway, meanwhile, also used a strong rushing attack in its win over Otto-Eldred. The Rovers amassed 309 yards rushing on 36 carries all without the service of their top returning rusher Tom Buck, who missed the game. Buck is expected back this week.

But without Buck, Tim Wright rose to the occasion rushing 11 times for 123 yards and four touchdowns. He scored on runs of three, 13, 13 and 56 yards, as Ridgway built a 6-0 halftime lead and a 28-0 lead before Otto-Eldred scored. Kevin Sarginger added five carries for 65 yards and two catches for 23 yards, while Zach Ponitious toted the ball six times for 60 yards. Beau Iorfido got into the act adding six carries for 46 yards. Quarterback Garrett Viglione, making his first varsity start, added a 5-for-7 performance for 75 yards, as the Elkers had 406 total yards of offense.

Ridgway’s defense played a bend but don’t break game allowing Otto-Eldred 216 yards on the night including 108 rushing and a 108 passing.

Last season, Brockway and Ridgway hooked up in a classic contest with the Rovers coming away with a 21-20 win in overtime. Ridgway scored first in the extra session only to miss the point after touchdown. Brockway answered with a score, and Jon Cantafio’s extra point gave the Rovers the win.