RIDGWAY-CLARION-LIMESTONE SET FOR D9 CLASS A PLAYOFF MATCH

D9 CLASS A PLAYOFF HOME

STRATTANVILLE – In a rematch of last year’s District 9 Class A semifinal game that ended up being the D9Sports.Com District 9 Game of the Year, Ridgway (8-1) travels south by southwest to face Clarion-Limestone (9-0), the defending District 9 champions.

Last season, C-L’s Jordan Johnston tackled Ridgway quarterback Andy Kelly on a 2-point conversion attempt with 3:54 left in the game to preserve a 21-19 C-L win. Kelly had moments earlier gotten the Elkers to within the two points on a 1-yard sneak.

Ridgway dominated the game, as the Elkers outgained C-L 260 yards to 148, but a 28-second sequence late in the second quarter proved to be the difference.

With Ridgway up 7-0, C-L’s Brendan Huwar scored on a 9-yard run with 46 seconds left to tie the game. Then Kelly fumbled the ball with Ben Brooks recovering the Lions, and moments later Hayden Johnston hit Harley Doane with an 8-yard scoring pass with just 18 seconds left before halftime giving C-L a 14-7 lead. The Lions then used another Ridgway mistake after the Elkers had gotten within a point, when Ben Brooks intercepted a Kelly pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown with 1:34 left in the third quarter to give the Lions a 21-13 lead. C-L was then able to come up with the big stop of the 2-point conversion to win the game.

"I imagine it will be another close game this year," C-L’s first-year head coach Todd Smith, who was the offensive coordinator last year, said. "Beside Bishop Carroll (who beat C-L in the second round of the PIAA playoffs), we thought Ridgway was the best team we played last year. I expect another good game. We have a lot of respect for them."

Ridgway head coach Mark Morelli believes last year’s game will have a positive impact on his team.

"A little extra motivation certainly is not going to hurt," Morelli said. "Our kids haven’t forgotten the feeling of last year’s loss. It was a game where had we limited our mistakes we could have won. But we lost to a very, very good C-L team, who represented District 9 well at the state playoffs. But if last year’s game did anything for our kids, it was to prove they are not intimidated by a team who is state ranked, has accumulated gaudy statistics and has a certain mystic about them in the KSAC. They are looking forward to the challenge."

While the two teams have players back who had key roles in last year’s game, the game was just that last year. These are two different football teams, who have gone about things in different ways this year.

Clarion-Limestone still has a high-powered offense – all one needs to do is look at the fact the Lions are averaging 32.6 ppg (3^rd best in D9) while racking up an average of 348 yards per game (2^nd best in D9).

"I think this year’s team is able to do a few more different things than last year’s," Smith said. "We have more speed, and we throw the ball better. The real key for us is to reduce the number of penalties we have been committing. We need to play smart football and stay away from the penalties."

The C-L defense has also been a strong suit with the Lions allowing an average of 9.4 ppg, which is tied with Coudersport for tops in the district.

"We aren’t real big on defense, but the guys play sound fundamental defense and get to the ball," Smith said. "We always seem to have three, four or five guys there to make the tackle, and they all have good technique. The defense has just been great all season."

Ridgway’s offense has been nearly as good as C-L’s averaging 29.2 ppg and 340.1 yards per game (6^th in District 9).

"Our offense has not missed a beat since last season," Morelli said. "A big reason for that is the emergence of Garret Viglione at quarterback. Our offensive coordinator Mickey Delhunty worked hard with Garret over the summer incorporating our offense. Garret has made all the hard work pay off with his performance."

On defense, the Elkers have had some problems at times and are allowing an average of 19.6 ppg, the worst mark among the 14 teams with winning records in District 9 this season. The defensive problems have been fairly recent with Ridgway allowing 96 points in the last three weeks after allowing just 80 in the first six weeks.

"That worries me to a certain degree," Morelli said. "It wall depends on how we have been giving up the points. At times our defense is its own worst enemy, as we tend to lose focus. There are other situations where we are out of position to make the play. Missed tackles have also been a headache. Other times it may be a special teams breakdown or our junior varsity team is in the game. Last week for example our JV’s gave up three scores in less than four minutes (in a 48-32 win over Smethport). I take full responsibility for the defense since I am also the defensive coordinator. The biggest thing is getting our kids mentally prepared and keeping their heads in the game."

Despite the Elkers numbers, Smith is still very much concerned about the Ridgway defense not to mention the Elkers’ offense.

"I see a good football team in Ridgway," Smith said. "On offense they look as good if not better than last year. On defense, I don’t see their first team giving up many points. I see them getting big leads on teams and teams scoring late. But the first team ‘D’ is not giving up the points. I think they have played well."

Both teams’ offenses are similar in the fact that they don’t have one player you can key on and are fairly balanced attacks with good athletic quarterbacks running the show.

C-L’s offense might be one of the most varied offenses in the state if not the country with over 15 different sets being used during the season.

"We have the ability to spread the ball around," Smith said. "And we need to do that to win."

The Lions offense starts with their junior quarter, Hayden Johnston.

Johnston has had another solid season for the Lions going 59-for-109 passing for 938 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. Johnston is also a threat to run the football having carried the ball 82 times for 351 yards and four touchdowns despite not even being asked to run the ball much until about two weeks ago.

"The offense all starts with Hayden," Smith said. "He is an outstanding leader who can run and throw the football. He is a very intelligent player who has shown the ability to check off at the line of scrimmage a lot this year. He does everything well, and when we need a big play I Just trust having the ball in his hands."

On the other side of the field is a pretty good quarterback as well in Viglione.

The fifth leading passer in District 9, he has gone 77-for-124 for 1,083 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. His 62.1 percent completion percentage is tops among D9 starting quarterbacks. Viglione has also shown an ability to run with the football carrying the ball 68 times for 177 yards and two scores.

"Garret makes good decisions," Morelli said. "He is like a coach on the field. He is as good as any quarterback in the area."

Both teams also have strong running games.

C-L is averaging 233.6 yards per game on the ground, the fifth best mark in District 9, while Ridgway is averaging 203.3 yards per game, the seventh best mark.

C-L’s running game starts with senior running back Brendan Huwar. A 1,000-yard rusher a year ago, Huwar is nearing that plateau this season with 183 carries for 985 yards and 15 touchdowns. He ranks fifth in the district in rushing.

Five other runners, including Johnston, have gone over 100 yards this season. Tuffy Brooks has added 22 totes for 203 yards and a touchdown. Brad Beggs has carried the ball 24 times for 168 yards and a touchdown, Neil Reynolds has lugged the pigskin 14 times for 112 yards and a score and Scott Davis has 22 carries for 108 yards and one touchdown.

"They tend to make the field smaller the way they come at you from all different angles and areas," Morelli said. "They certainly are an impressive group of athletes with speed and quickness to match."

Ridgway’s running game features two 500-yard backs and five runners, including Viglione, who have broken 100 yards on the season.

Fullback Tim Wright (6-0, 230 pounds) has bruised his way to 564 yards and 11 touchdowns on 102 carries. He ranks 22^nd in the district in rushing.

Tailback Beau Iorfido has toted the ball 99 times for 511 yards and 12 scores and ranks 25^th in the district in rushing.

Tom Buck has added 47 carries for 249 yards and four touchdowns, and Zach Pontious has 34 totes for 187 yards.

Both squads also have strong receiving threats.

For C-L that would include senior wide receiver Brad Beggs.

Beggs ranks 12^th in the district with 425 yards on 28 catches while leading all District 9 receiver with 14 touchdowns. Many of his catches have been highlight reel materials this season.

"Brad catches everything thrown at him," Smith said. "He also takes advantage of his opportunities having scored touchdowns on half his catches. A lot of his catches have been outstanding where he lays out for the ball."

Brooks (15 catches, 265 yards) and Davis (6 grabs, 143 yards) have also been key receivers for the Lions.

Ridgway has four receivers with at least 10 catches this year led by Josh Shirey with 27 grabs for 516 yards and three touchdowns. He ranks sixth in D9 in receiving yards.

Cody Florian has added 18 catches for 255 yards and three touchdowns, while Buck had 11 grabs for 143 yards. Wright has been a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield with 14 catches for 157 yards and two scores.

Smith believes the keys for C-L winning the game will be getting the Lions offense onto the field and not making mistakes when it gets there.

"Last year Ridgway came out and tried to pound the ball and keep our offense off the field," Smith said. "The key for our defense will be not to let them put together any long drives. As for offense, as I said before, we need to reduce our penalties. They have hurt us this year."

Morelli believes the key to his team winning will be to eliminate the mistakes that cost them the game last year.

"We can’t make the mistakes we made last year," Morelli said. "Limiting our mistakes is the first key. Secondly, somehow we need to slow down the C-L ‘Big Four’ of Johnston, Beggs, Huwar and Brooks. This team is very similar to the Brockway Rovers (who handed Ridgway its only loss 27-6) with their skill people. The ‘Big Four’ are going to put points on the board because no one has stopped them all year. We need to come up with a big play or two on defense at some point in the game to limit their big play capabilities."

Smith realizes this is going to be a tough game for his team despite the fact the Lions enter the game as the prohibitive favorites to win the Class A championship.

"I don’t see our guys getting wrapped up in that," Smith said. "Everyone we have played this year has wanted to beat us, and everyone has brought their best game against us. The kids have done a real nice job of shutting out what people say about them and coming to practice and working hard. Nothing has been easy. We have had some hard-fought games. Any how, if you don’t work hard, have the dedication and have the commitment it takes to win, then you won’t be successful."

For his part, Morelli says this year’s team is different than last year’s squad.

"Each year a team takes on a new identity, a new personality," Morelli said. "Our kids take a lot of pride in our winning ways here at Ridgway. We have only had two losing seasons since 1971. That is 32 years. No one in District 9 can match that. We take pride in our winning tradition."