By Rich Rhoades

            The AML South title could be on the line this week when Kane visits Brockway Friday night.

While the Wolves (7-0), ranked ninth in the state in Class A by Pennsylvania Football News, have been at the top of the standings all season, a slip against the Rovers (5-2) could cause some problems.

Next week, a home game with Coudersport looms. So if the Wolves would lose both, the AML South title could go to the Rovers, who have lost to Elk County Catholic (47-14) and Cameron County (37-0), but only if Brockway also beats Port Allegany in Week Nine.

Obviously, a Kane win clinches the AML South and a berth into the AML Championship game in Week 10 against probably Cameron County, which could clinch the North title this week with a win.

The Wolves, who average 42.1 points per game, boast a handful of playmakers, led by quarterback Zach Anderson (1,084 yards passing, 13 TDs), running back Dustin Moran (648 yards, 13 TDs) and tight end John Bizzak (309 yards, 5 TDs).

Brockway is led by running backs Dillon Park (651 yards, 7 TDs, 243 yards receiving) and Camdon Makay (486 yards, 4 TDs), quarterback Matt Pentz (777 yards, 11 TDs).

The Rovers have struggled defensively and have given up 25.1 points per game, the most by any of the nine District 9 teams with two or less losses.

As far as playoff implications, a win by Kane keeps them on pace for a high seed in the Class A playoffs. A Brockway win would help in securing a home game in the Class AA playoffs.

For more playoff scenarios, read below.

Two other AML games will be played Friday night. Coudersport (6-1) hosts Smethport (1-6) in the teams’ 100^th meeting. Smethport leads the all-time series, 57-38-4, but Coudersport has won the last six straight games by an average margin of 21.2 points. Prior to that, the Hubbers had won 14 of 15.

Playoff hopes are still alive for both Ridgway (4-3) and Curwensville (2-5) when the two meet at Curwensville’s Riverside Stadium. The Elkers are obviously in better shape record-wise, so a win here would solidify a berth and a higher seed. The Golden Tide still have a shot, but must win. Next week, head coach Andy Evanko’s squad has a winnable game at home against Sheffield and a 4-5 record could be good enough for the postseason.

Saturday afternoon in the AML, unbeaten Cameron County (7-0) visits Sheffield (1-6). The Red Raiders are ranked No. 6 by PFN. Port Allegany (4-3) hosts Otto-Eldred (1-6) and Elk County Catholic (3-4) hosts Johnsonburg (1-6) Saturday night.

Another game to watch sounds like a District 9 League game, but it isn’t.

Clearfield (4-3) heads to St. Marys (5-2) in a non-conference matchup. However, it has plenty of Class AAA playoff implications. Read below.

Speaking of the D9 League, Bradford (5-1) makes its artificial turf debut at E.J. Mansell Stadium in DuBois against the Beavers (2-5), who have given the Owls trouble over the years.

Historically, it’s a mismatch. DuBois leads the all-time series 55-15-3 and has won six of the last 10, considering the Beavers have struggled during that time and the Owls have had very strong teams.

Throw in the fact that the Owls lost one of their top runners and defensive play caller, Taylor O’Brien, for the year with an injury, and this could be dangerous territory for head coach Steve Ackerman’s team. DuBois had a valiant effort in last week’s 7-0 loss at Selinsgrove, but need to generate more than 78 yards of offense.

In the annual Route 36 Trophy game, Brookville (4-3) travels to Punxsutawney (0-7). The Raiders have won five straight against their county rivals, nine of the last 10 and 11 of 14 since joining the D9 League in 1993.

In the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference, unbeaten Karns City (7-0, 5-0 KSAC) hosts A-C Valley (0-7, 0-5) with the Gremlins clinching at least a share of their third straight KSAC title with a victory (Karns City has won 18 straight conference game), Clarion-Limestone travels to Union in a battle of 1-6, 1-4 KSAC squads and Redbank Valley (6-1, 4-1) hosts Moniteau (5-2, 4-1) in the KSAC game to watch. A Moniteau win would clinch at least second place for the Warriors, something they have never done in KSAC (and the conferences that preceded the KSAC) since joining the conference in 1969.

Two KSAC teams have non-conference games Friday. Clarion (3-4) hosts perennial Class A state power Southern Columbia (6-1). There’s a hint that the Tigers, who have won five straight PIAA Class A titles and have appeared in nine straight and 12 of 13 Class A title games might not win their sixth straight state title with their only loss coming to District 4 rival Bloomsburg. But they are still ranked fourth in the state, behind No. 3 Bloomsburg, and No. 1 and 2 Clairton and Serra from the WPIAL. Southern Columbia has won 16 straight District 4 Class A titles and beat Clarion 35-0 last season.

Keystone (3-4) hosts Ledgemont, OH, a team it beat last year on the road, 46-12. This year, Ledgemont is 4-4.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

You asked for it (we think), so here you go, compliments of Chris Rossetti:

CLASS A

         Cameron County, Kane, Redbank Valley and Coudersport are definitely in the postseason. Keystone will qualify as the No. 2 KSAC Class A team as long as the Panthers beat A-C Valley in Week Nine.

         There is still one automatic bid left in the AML with Port Allegany controlling its own destiny for that spot. If the Gators win out, they claim that fourth automatic AML berth. They can also get the berth by going 1-1 as long as Ridgway loses to either Curwensville or Otto-Eldred and Elk County Catholic drops one of its final two AML games (Johnsonburg or Smethport). Ridgway can claim the spot with two wins and a Port Allegany loss. ECC would need a lot of help to get that spot.

         That leaves two wild card spots open. Right now, Ridgway and Clarion control their own destiny in those spots. If those teams win out, then they are in. Easier said for Ridgway than it is for Clarion, which finishes the season with three very tough games including Southern Columbia this week and then going on the road for the final two games to face Class AA contenders Moniteau and Brookville.

         If the Bobcats trip up somewhere along the line, it could open the door for Elk County Catholic or Curwensville to sneak in. ECC doesn't have an easy finishing stretch either with Elk County rival Johnsonburg this week and cross-town rival St. Marys in Week 10. Smethport is the Crusaders Week Nine game, but the problem for ECC is that if it finishes with the same record as Clarion, the Bobcats will get in based on Power Points.

         Curwensville is still lurking on the outside looking in, but the Tide will need to win out (Ridgway and Sheffield) and then hope that both Clarion and ECC falter badly down the stretch. Curwensville would need to finish a game better than ECC because the Crusaders own the head-to-head tiebreaker. Curwensville could also possibly get in if Ridgway loses its last two games and the Tide wins its last two, but once again a lot would have to happen.

         As for the seeding, Redbank Valley has locked up one of the top two spots — most likely the No. 2 spot — as the best Class A team out of the KSAC. A win by Cameron County this week will wrap up the AML North for the Raiders, who would play either Kane or Brockway in the AML Title Game. Kane can clinch the AML South with a win over Brockway this week, but a Rovers victory would open the door for the AML South title.

         Brockway, a Class AA team, would still need to beat Port Allegany in Week Nine and have Kane lose to Coudersport that week to get in. If Kane does win this week, then the winner of the AML Title game will most likely be the No. 1 seed with the loser either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed depending on what happens the rest of the way — Cameron has a better chance at No. 3 than Kane because the Raiders already own a win over Coudersport while Kane and Coudy will play in Week Nine.

         Coudersport is pretty much set in either the No. 3 or No. 4 spot, but the Falcons must win at least once more or have Ridgway lose once more to guarantee a top four spot for the two-time defending champions.

         After that, the seedings are muddled but some things should become clearer by this time next week.

CLASS AA

         It should be a four-team tournament with Karns City, Brookville, Moniteau and Brockway all qualifying (it is an open tournament but those four teams almost assuredly will enter the field).

         Karns City has all but locked up the top seed, holding a two-game lead over both Brockway and Moniteau while owning a victory over Moniteau. The Gremlins finish with two easy games and one tough one. They have A-C Valley this week and Union next week before playing District 6's Forest Hills in Week 10. Really, one Karns City win and the Gremlins are the top seed.

         Moniteau has the inside track on the No. 2 seed, but the Warriors have a tough road to hoe with Redbank Valley this week, Clarion next week and Sharon in Week 10.

         Brockway's road isn't all that much easier. The Rovers play Kane this week, Port Allegany next week and finish with either Keystone or the AML Title game.

         Brookville, meanwhile, has Punxsutawney this week, Sharpsville next week and then ends with a Clarion team that could need a win to get in.

         What it means is that after Karns City gets No. 1, the Gremlins could end up playing any of the other three as the No. 4 seed.

CLASS AAA

         One would think Bradford would be the easy pick as the top seed, but not so fast.   After a game with DuBois this week, never an easy opponent for the Owls, they have to play East Allegheny and Bishop McCort. And before anyone thinks that East Allegheny will be an easy game considering Bradford won 51-0 last season, this isn't even close to the same EA team.

         After the state’s Department of Education closed Duquesne High School, many of Duquesne's top players — and the Dukes were a Class A powerhouse — ended up at East Allegheny. The result? East Allegheny is 6-1 this season. And Bishop McCort is never an easy game either with the Crimson Crushers 6-1 going into play this week.

         While the Owls will be fighting it out down the stretch, Clearfield is lurking in the wings. The Bisons have a key game at St. Marys this week, but if they can get a win in that contest they finish with Huntingdon (2-5) and Penns Valley (6-1) and could possibly finish 7-3 while Bradford could lose two out of three and end 6-3. That would mean the Bisons would be the top seed not Bradford, and that could be huge because Class AAA is going to be a 3-team playoff this season with St. Marys in as well.

         And don't count the Dutch out of the top seed either despite a loss to Bradford. If St. Marys beats Clearfield this week, it ends the season with Youngsville (0-7) and ECC (3-4) and could easily finish 8-2 and be the top seed.

         Even a loss to Clearfield and depending on how D9 decides to seed things, the Dutch could be the No. 2 seed if they finish 7-3 and Bradford finishes 6-3 based upon a better winning percentage (in the past D9 used the D9 League standings as a basis for seeding but that would not seem possible this year considering that Clearfield isn't in the D9 League).