REDBANK VALLEY GETS FIRST PLAYOFF WIN SINCE 1996

NOV. 13, 2004 - District 9 Class AA Semifinals

The Bulldogs (7-3) now faces upstart Brookville (5-6) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium. It will be the second meeting between the teams this season. Redbank Valley toppled Brookville 34-7 Sept. 30 at Redbank Valley.

Redbank Valley needed a big second half to knock off Karns City, a team it had beaten on the road 51-7 earlier in the season. The Bulldogs outscored Karns City 19-7 in the second half, including 12-0 in the fourth quarter, after holding a slim 15-7 halftime lead and a 22-14 lead at the end of the three quarters.

Skyler Smith was the key to the second half for Redbank Valley scoring all three of his touchdowns in the second half while accumulating 138 yards on 24 carries on the night.

Redbank Valley led 7-0 until midway through the second quarter when running back Josh Fiscus hit quarterback Stephen Black with a 3-yard halfback option touchdown pass with 6:12 left in the first half.

The Gremlins then looked like they might be able to take the lead going into halftime driving to the Redbank Valley 24-yard line, but Fiscus fumbled the ball and Redbank Valley’s Brock Reed covered it up at the 24.

On the next play, Redbank Valley went from possibly being down 14-7 at halftime to going up 15-7 at the break when Bryce Miller scored on a 76-yard touchdown run from his wing position. Jason Smith added the two-point run.

Then in the third quarter Skyler Smith scored on a 1-yard run to make it 22-7 before Fiscus, who rushed for 96 yards to lead Karns City, scored on a 10-yard tote to make it 22-14 with 6:20 left in the third quarter.

Redbank Valley, though, broke the Gremlins back with a 12-play, 70-yard drive the cumulated in a Skyler Smith touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter making it 28-14. Smith then added a final touchdown run to close out the scoring.

NOTES – Redbank Valley beat Port Allegany 7-0 to win the 1996 Class AA title … That year marked the third straight District 9 Class AA championship appearance for the Bulldogs who lost to Brookville 7-6 in 1995 and 14-0 in 1994 … Redbank Valley beat Brookville 34-8 to win the 1992 title … The playoff win was the first for Redbank Valley in the postseason since the 1996 title game. It was the Bulldogs first playoff appearance since 1999.