CLARION-REDBANK VALLEY HIGHLIGHTS WEEK 4 GAMES

WEEK 4 PREVIEW - Sept. 23-24, 2005

It may be hard to match last week’s individual performances and interesting games as District 9 football heads into Week 4 of the season.

From Johnsonburg’s streak-ending win at Curwensville to Player of the Week Mark Malacarne’s performance in leading DuBois past Brookville, there was plenty to highlight during Week 3.

What’s in store this week? Several interesting matchups as teams try to bolster records as the season gets close to the midway point already.

The Game of the Week features Clarion (3-0 overall, 2-0 KSAC) hosting Redbank Valley (2-1, 2-0) at Clarion University Friday night at 7:30 p.m. It’s the 79^th meeting between Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference rivals.

The Bobcats and Bulldogs are two of the three remaining unbeatens in KSAC play, so this will play a big role in who wins the league title. Clarion has beaten Redbank Valley the last two years, including 13-6 last year, and five of the last six times they’ve met.

Chris McSwain (444 yards rushing, 8 TDs) is coming off a 200-yard effort in last week’s bizarre come-from-behind win over St. Marys, which owned a 20-6 lead late in third quarter only to see the Bobcats rally to win 40-20. Quarterback Sean Wolf (215 yards, 2 TDs) and receiver Manny Carpin (154 yards receiving, 2 TDs; 5 TDs overall) lead head coach Larry Wiser’s team.

Redbank Valley is coming off its first loss of the year, a non-league 14-13 setback to District 10’s West Middlesex. The Bulldogs had four turnovers and missed a would-be game-tying extra point kick in the second half.

Running back Skyler Smith (349 yards, 5 TDs), quarterback Brandon Doverspike (246 yards, 64 percent completion pct., 4 TDs) and Nick Johnston (6 catches, 159 yards, 3 TDs) lead the Bulldogs.

In other KSAC games this week, Keystone (1-2) travels to Karns City (1-2) and Moniteau (1-2) hosts Union (0-3).

In the Allegheny Mountain League, it’s a cross-over week as the North plays the South. Coudersport (3-0), the only unbeaten AML team after its shutout win at Port Allegany last week, hosts Kane (2-1). Brockway (2-1) hosts Port Allegany (2-1) in what could be an interesting game. Johnsonburg (2-1), flying high following a win at Curwensville, hosts Cameron County (1-2), Otto-Eldred (1-2) hosts Ridgway (0-3) and Curwensville (2-1) hosts Sheffield (0-3). Saturday night, Elk County Catholic (2-1) hosts Smethport (1-2).

Only one District 9 League contest is on the schedule as Brookville (1-2) travels to St. Marys (1-2).

In the Mountain Athletic Conference-Seven Mountains Division, Clearfield (3-0) has its showdown at Bellefonte (3-0), which is considered the top threat to wrest the league crown from the defending champion Bisons. In another MAC game, Indian Valley (1-2) travels to Punxsutawney (0-3).

Two non-conference games should be good games to watch. DuBois (3-0) makes a trip to Hollidaysburg (2-1) while Clarion-Limestone (3-0) hosts Bradford (1-2).

POW QUANDRY -- DuBois junior Mark Malacarne won the most contested Player of the Week honor in perhaps the web site’s history. He was among five players to rush for over 200 yards last week.

Malacarne rushed for 209 yards, caught four passes for 55 yards and scored four touchdowns for the Beavers in their 41-14 win over Brookville.

See our Player of the Week release for all of the outstanding performances from last week.

RAMS ON THE SCENE -- Break up the Johnsonburg Rams.

At the very least, the Rams are among the contenders in the Class A playoff race following their 22-16 win at Curwensville last week, stopping the Golden Tide’s 14-game regular-season winning streak.

The Rams trailed at halftime 16-8, but scored twice in the second half. The game-winning score came in the third quarter on Judd Zilcosky’s fumble return of a botched punt play by the Tide. Zilcosky also caught a TD pass.

Head coach Tom Launer’s squad is trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 1996 and first winning season since 2000. With the expanded playoff field in Class A now, the playoffs are likely.

The Rams’ have playmakers, like junior Calvin Grumley, who kicks, punts, runs and plays strong defense. Yes, he’s the same Grumley who already has gone over 1,000 points before his junior year in basketball.

Don’t count the Tide out of the picture. Turnovers cost the Tide dearly against the Rams, whom the Tide outgained, 267-145.

Next challenge for the Rams: home game with Brockway next week. The Rams haven’t beaten the Rovers since they entered the AML in 1999.

LIONS STILL ROARING -- Clarion-Limestone head coach Todd Smith has acknowledged that his 3-0 Lions aren’t as talented as some of the recent teams fielded by the traditional Class A power.

Considering how good C-L has been, Smith’s insight is still no comforting view for opposing coaches. The Lions are still dangerous and certainly a contender in D-9, as long as they have the playmakers.

Senior David "Tuffy" Brooks and junior Scott Davis are the big guns. Brooks subbed for an injured Davis at quarterback in the opening week of the season and led the Lions to a come-from-behind win over Moniteau. Last week, Davis accounted for over 90 percent of his team’s offense in an overtime win over Karns City.

Davis filling in for an injured Hayden Johnston at QB and leading C-L to the Class A title game a year ago should be proof enough of his ability to carry a team.

Brooks has an incredible 17 career interceptions and he leads the Lions in rushing (182 yards) and receiving (210 yards).

BIG SCHOOL CHALLENGE -- It’s time for 4A for the DuBois Beavers, who play their first big-school team after a 3-0 start.

DuBois, the only D-9 Class AAAA school which is trying to make it 4-0 for the first time since 1996, meets a Hollidaysburg squad that’s 2-1 and coming off a 49-7 lopsided loss to state-ranked Bishop McDevitt. The Golden Tigers, who wear blue and white uniforms, have wins over South Western of District 3 (37-20) and arch-rival Altoona (24-19).

ODDS AND ENDS -- Clearfield continues to own the longest active regular-season winning streak. It’s now at 21 games. The Bisons haven’t lost during the regular season since the second week of the 2003 season, a 14-12 loss at home to Brookville. … Curwensville junior Nick Sipes went over 2,500 career rushing yards and has rushed for 100 or more yards in 15 straight games. He last failed to reach 100 in last year’s season-opening win over Smethport. … Union’s losing streak is now 24 straight games. The Golden Knights have been outscored 134-12. … A-C Valley hasn’t scored an offensive touchdown in 20 straight quarters. The Falcons have been outscored 153-7 so far this year, but this week’s opponent, winless Conneaut Lake, has been outscored 96-28. … Cameron County ended a 16-game losing streak with a win over Otto-Eldred last week. John Malizia and Cash Grimone each rushed for over 100 yards. …Ridgway, a playoff team in 2002 and 2003, is 0-3 and has been outscored 129-13. Last year, the Elkers were 2-8 and gave up the second-most points in the district.