KEY KSAC CONTESTS HIGHLIGHT WEEK 4

WEEK 4 PREVIEW - Sept. 22-23, 2006
By Rich Rhoades

Six unbeaten teams, two huge games in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference and at least one intriguing Allegheny Mountain League contest highlight Week 4 of District 9 football.

In the KSAC, Redbank Valley (3-0) hosts Clarion (2-1) and Keystone (2-1) entertains Karns City (3-0) in two games that could shake up the conference standings.

In New Bethlehem, the unbeaten Bulldogs are coming off a non-conference win over Schenley. Quarterback Jake Smith and running back Alex Bladel will lead the Bulldogs against a Clarion squad that can’t afford to drop another KSAC game. The Bobcats lost two weeks ago to Keystone. Last week’s Co-Player of the Week Brad Rapp paces Clarion.

In Knox, Keystone will try to stay in contention and hand Karns City its first loss of the year. The Panthers’ 14-7 win over preseason KSAC favorite Clarion put them in the conference mix. The Gremlins haven’t been tested in conference play, opening with a 55-6 rout of Clarion-Limestone last week.

If history has any hand in things, it’ll be an uphill struggle for Keystone and Redbank Valley. Keystone hasn’t beaten Karns City since a 28-23 win in 1995. Redbank Valley is looking for its first win over Clarion since a 15-14 win in 2002.

Coming off a tough 8-6 loss to unbeaten Coudersport, Cameron County (2-1) travels to Curwensville (2-1). The Red Raiders had a chance to tie the Falcons in the second half, but failed on a two-point conversion. While the Falcons probably clinched the AML North with the win, Cameron County served notice that it’s a team to watch.

ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN LEAGUE — In other AML Friday games, 3-0 Johnsonburg heads to Otto-Eldred (1-2), Brockway (1-2) hosts Smethport (0-3) and Coudersport (3-0) hosts Elk County Catholic (2-1).

Saturday, Kane (1-2) visits Port Allegany (2-1) and Sheffield (0-3) hosts Ridgway (1-2).

KEYSTONE SHORTWAY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE — While Redbank Valley, Clarion, Keystone and Karns City battle, 3-0 Moniteau visits Union (1-2). Assuming the favored Warriors beat the Golden Knights, they may sit alone on top of the KSAC if things fall right -- Keystone and Clarion winning.

DISTRICT 9 LEAGUE — Only one game is on the league schedule as St. Marys (0-3) travels to Brookville (2-1). The Raiders are coming off their first-ever shutout of DuBois and first shutout win since 2000.

NON-CONFERENCE — It’s a KSAC reunion of sorts when West Shamokin (0-3) visits A-C Valley (0-3). West Shamokin left the KSAC for the WPIAL (District 7) following the 2003 season. It had always been a WPIAL team but was left out of the playoffs because it didn’t play in a WPIAL conference.

West Shamokin, a combination of former schools Shannock Valley and Dayton, won the last three meetings with A-C Valley before bolting, including a 38-34 victory in 2003. It had been a KSAC/Little 12 Conference member since 1972 and usually was the doormat of the league. In the last nine years as a KSAC member, West Shamokin owned a 12-73 record, including a 2-45 mark from 1996 to 2000.

Since "joining" the WPIAL, West Shamokin is 3-19 with no section wins. This year, the Wolves have been outscored 132-18. A-C Valley, similarly, has been outscored 102-12.

In other games, Punxsutawney (1-2) visits Indian Valley (1-2) and Bellefonte (1-2) visits Clearfield (2-1) in Mountain Athletic Conference contests.

Clarion-Limestone (1-2) travels to District 10 to take on North East (2-1).

The 3-0 Bradford Owls host Warren (2-1). Last year, the two hooked up for a 55-41 slugfest in their final regular-season game.

The DuBois Beavers (0-3) try to notch their first win of the season against visiting Hollidaysburg (1-2), which is playing in Class AAA this year. The Golden Tigers beat Central Mountain 8-0 in Week 2. DuBois lost to Central Mountain in its opener, 35-21.

THE UNBEATENS — Some notables on the six unbeaten teams through three weeks of the season: Coudersport, Johnsonburg, Bradford, Redbank Valley, Moniteau and Karns City.

    • Johnsonburg hasn’t been 4-0 since 2000. The Rams finished that year 5-4. They started last year 3-1. Burg also started 3-1 the last year it won a playoff game back in 1996. The Rams beat Clarion in the semifinals and lost to Smethport in the Class A final, 21-7.
    • Bradford last went 3-0 back in 2003 when it started 7-0 and eventually reached the PIAA Class AAA Western Finals. The Owls also started 6-0 in 2001, reaching the Western Semifinals.
    • Redbank Valley hasn’t been 3-0 since its unbeaten regular season in 1996 when the Bulldogs went 11-0 before losing to Wilmington in the state playoffs.
    • Moniteau started 4-0 in 2004 but finished the year at 5-5.
    • Karns City hasn’t been 3-0 since 2001 when the Gremlins started 11-0 before losing in their state playoff opener.
    • Coudersport is familiar with strong starts. Prior to this year, the Falcons started 12-0 in 2005, 8-0 in 2004 and 8-0 in 2003. The Falcons last loss before Week 9 of a season came back in 2002 when they lost to Curwensville in Week 2.

STREAKING — Here are some notable team streaks going into this weekend:

23 – Coudersport’s winning streak against AML North Division opponents. The Falcons have won 12 straight regular season games. Their last regular season loss came in the AML Title game in Week 9 of the 2004 season.

14 – Sheffield’s losing streak dating back to its last win Oct. 31, 2004 against Johnsonburg, a 29-0 shutout win.

9 – Karns City’s regular-season winning streak dating back to last year. The Gremlins’ last regular-season loss came to Clarion-Limestone, 24-16, in overtime. Karns City did lose a playoff game to Moniteau.

7 – A-C Valley’s losing streak dating back to last year when it last won against Union, 26-13, Oct. 7.

5 – DuBois’ losing streak dating back to the end of last year. The Beavers started 2005 with an 8-0 record but dropped two straight to Altoona and Cathedral Prep. Their last win came against Bradford, a 37-0 shutout.