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By Rich Rhoades & Chris Rossetti
Two touchdown passes. That is all that
separates Port Allegany’s Matt Bodamer from the Pennsylvania
career record of 118 held by Lancaster Catholic’s Kyle Smith
(2006-2009).
Bodamer enters Saturday afternoon’s game at
Sheffield (1:30 p.m.) with 116 touchdown passes. He also is just
106 yards shy of becoming the second passer in District 9
history (Brockway’s Derek Buganza is the other) and the third in
state history with 9,000 career yards. At 8.894 yards, Bodamer
ranks third in Pennsylvania history behind Buganza (9,752) and
Allentown Central Catholic’s Brendan Nosovitch (9,249).
The chances of Bodamer setting the record
Saturday are pretty decent considering he has thrown at least
two touchdown passes in 13 straight games and in 19 of his last
21 contests. Although, interestingly enough, the last team to
hold Bodamer to fewer than two scoring passes in a game was
Sheffield last year in a 19-6 Port Allegany victory. That day,
Bodamer had one of the worst statistical games of his career
going 5 of 12 for 70 yards and the one scoring throws on a
sloppy field in Port Allegany.
On the season, the senior has been up video
game numbers completing nearly 77 percent of his passes (106 of
138) for 1,897 yards, 31 touchdowns and just one interception.
In his career, he is 522 of 809 (64.5 percent) for 8,894 yards,
116 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
For comparison sake, Bodamer’s brilliant
season shows him with an NCAA passer rating of 265, which blows
away West Virginia’s Geno Smith’s NCAA FBS-leading 202.4 mark,
while his NFL passer rating of 155 tops the top mark in the
league of 108.7 held by 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
Another record could also fall in the game
for the Gators, who clinched the AML North title last week with
three weeks to play, as Tyce Miller has 29 career touchdown
catches, one shy of the District 9 record of 30 set by
Clarion-Limestone’s Brad Beggs. On the year, Miller has 34
catches for 646 yards and 11 touchdowns. Nick Conway adds 32
grabs for 663 yards and 12 scores.
Sheffield features athletic quarterback
Shaquan Wright, who was the RRR Roadhouse D9Sports.com District
9 Player of the Week two weeks ago.
Port Allegany, which is looking for its
first 7-0 start since starting 10-0 in 1988, has won 10 straight
over the Wolverines since a 35-6 Sheffield win in 2001, and 25
of the past 30.
The Gators are one of five unbeaten teams
remaining in District 9 and one of two in the AML, as two other
AML unbeatens – Curwensville and Elk County Catholic – fell last
week.
BROCKWAY AT ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC
The other AML unbeaten is 6-0 Brockway,
which plays Saturday night in St. Marys against 5-1 Elk County
Catholic, which suffered its first loss, 17-14, to Kane last
week.
The Rovers are coming off a wild 56-34 win
over Curwensville last week that saw them take a 35-0 lead only
to watch the Tide get back within seven, 35-28, early in the
second half.
Brockway may be playing for its third
straight AML South title if Curwensville gets upset by Ridgway
Friday night. If that would happen, Brockway could clinch the
South with a win over ECC Saturday. If not, the celebration
would have to wait a week even with a Rover victory over the
Crusaders. An ECC win, though, could potentially create a
three-way tie for first again in the AML South if Curwensville
beats Ridgway.
Brockway is strong both through the air and
on the ground.
Running back Chad Melillo, coming off his
RRR Roadhouse D9Sports.com District 9 Player of the Week honor
last week in the win over Curwensville, has rushed for 726 yards
and 12 touchdowns this season, while first-year starting
quarterback Alec Shaffer-Doan, a DuBois Central Catholic student
playing for the Rovers through a co-op between the schools,
having passed for 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns. Top receivers
are Jacob Perrin (39 catches, 671 yards, 9 TDs) and Anthony
Benson (22 grabs, 426 yards).
ECC (5-1) is a strong running team led by
Brock McCullough (524 yards) and Hank Cappiello (433 yards).
Three other games involving District 9
unbeatens see DuBois (5-0), coming off a bye week, hosting
former D9 League rival Brookville (5-1) in a non-conference
game, Clearfield (6-0) traveling to Tyrone (4-2) in Mountain
League action and Clarion (6-0) facing winless Redbank Valley
(0-6) in New Bethlehem.
BROOKVILLE
AT DUBOIS
The last time we saw DuBois play the
Beavers were putting up record-setting numbers in an 84-6 win at
Bradford two weeks ago.
Running back Garrett Brown leads the
highly-explosive DuBois offense, which ranks first in the state
in scoring at 53.8 points per game. Brown has rushed for 846
yards (11.8 per carry) with 14 touchdowns, which is remarkable
considering he has played in what amounts to 3 ½ games. In
addition to DuBois not playing last week, Brown also missed Week
Two after being ejected early in the second half of the Beaver’s
season opener with Mifflin County.
Brown’s not
alone. Quarterback Gabe French has completed over 65 percent of
his passes for 818 yards and eight touchdowns. His top receivers
are sophomore Bryson Paulinellie (16 catches, 303 yards, 6 TDs)
and senior Garrett Miles (21-221).
The Raiders are
coming off a 432-yard rushing game led by three 100-yard backs
in Zach Vroman, Brodie Zacherl and quarterback Cameron Yard.
Vroman, with 753 yards this year, cracked the team’s top 10
career honor roll and his 1,560 yards rank him ninth on the
list.
Zacherl (457) and
Yard (477) follow Vroman. Yard’s passing arm will likely be
needed to keep a Beavers defense off-balance. Senior linebacker
Shane Marshall leads the team with 13.2 tackles per game and
four sacks. He’s also intercepted a pass.
CLEARFIELD
AT TYRONE
Clearfield heads to Tyrone in what could be
an interesting matchup that features some standout players. For
Clearfield, junior Christian Lezzer has passed for 757 yards and
12 touchdowns while rushing for 642 yards and 10 scores. His 6 ½
sacks on defense lead the team. Tyler Stratton has rushed for
700 yards and six touchdowns while senior Trey Jordan (20-625,
11 TDs) is Lezzer’s top receiver target.
Tyrone has won four straight games scoring
48 or more points, including a 71-6 win over Huntingdon and 60-7
rout of Philipsburg-Osceola. The Golden Eagles were blanked by
Central-Martinsburg, 28-0, one week before the Bison beat
Central, 34-33.
Tyrone is led by junior running back James
Oliver, who is coming off a 343-yard, six-touchdown performance
in a 54-6 win over Bald Eagle Area last week. He’s rushed for
1,205 yards and 18 touchdowns.
CLARION AT
REDBANK VALLEY
In the 87th meeting between
county rivals, Clarion (6-0) travels to struggling Redbank
Valley (0-6) on the verge of winning another division title. The
Bobcats clinch if they beat the Bulldogs and A-C Valley loses to
Keystone. T.J. Armstrong (464 yards, 10 TDs), Damien Slike (389
yards, 5 TDs) and Camron Kirkland (323 yards, 3 TDs) make up the
running attack while quarterback John Katis has passed for 687
yards and eight touchdowns.
Jake Dougherty and Brandon Bailey led the
Bulldogs, who haven’t had season with fewer than three wins
since going 2-6-1 in 1978. Redbank Valley’s last one-win
campaign came in 1972 (1-6-2), and Redbank Valley/New Bethlehem
High haven’t had a one-win, no-tie season since going 1-9 in
1951. The combination of Redbank and New Bethlehem has never had
a winless season.
OTHER GAMES
Allegheny Mountain League
Curwensville (5-1) hosts Ridgway (1-5),
trying to rebound from its shootout loss to Brockway. The Golden
Tide have Zach Tibbens (826 yards, 12 TDs) on the verge of a
1,000-yard season. Jed Greslick (638 yards, 5 TDs) is also a key
cog to the offense. Ridgway’s Zac McKnight (639 yards, 4 TDs)
leads the Elkers offense.
Also in the AML South, Kane (3-3) hosts
Johnsonburg (2-4) in an important game for both teams as far as
their push for the playoffs go. The Wolves are coming off a big
win over Elk County Catholic. Quarterback Sean Jordan (980
yards, 11 TDs) is closing in on a 1,000-yard passing season.
Jonah Smith (622 yards) leads the ground game while Jeff
Kocjancic (384 yards, 8 TDs) and Sean Rolick (315 yards) are
Jordan’s top receivers.
The Rams, battling for one of the bottom
spots in the Class A playoffs, rely on the passing game of
quarterback Frank Kocjancic (912 yards, 9 TDs) and his top
receiver Mitchell Holmberg (624 yards, 7 TDs).
Also in the AML-North, Smethport (3-3)
travels to Coudersport (1-5) as the teams meet for the 105th
time. Smethport leads the all-time series, 58-42-4. The Hubbers
broke a nine-game losing streak to the Falcons with a win in
2010, but Coudersport won last year.
Cameron County (1-5) visits Otto-Eldred
(1-5) as both teams are coming off their first win of the year.
KSAC
Large School
Two key matchups highlight the week, and
for two different reasons. Karns City (4-2) hosts Punxsutawney
(4-2) as both teams bring 2-0 division records into the
showdown. A Chucks win on the road would go a long way in
clinching the division title since they already have a win over
2-1 Brookville. However, a Gremlins win would set up a big
showdown with Brookville in Week 9.
Quarterback Garrett Zimmerman (652 yards, 9
TDs) and running back Christian Falgout (476 yards, 5 TDs) key
the Chucks. For Karns City, quarterback Tyler Kepple and running
back Glenn Toy lead the way.
When Moniteau (1-5) travels to St. Marys
(2-4), it’s a battle survival in the Class AA playoff standings.
Dutch running back Alex Feldbauer (996 yards, 13 TDs) is ready
to go over the 1,000-yard milestone. Dustin Geagan leads
Moniteau with 483 yards rushing, but has moved to quarterback.
Junior Trevor Shaffer has become the primary running back. He’s
rushed for 206 yards.
KSAC
Small School
In a key game at the bottom of the Class A
playoff standings, A-C Valley (2-4) hosts Keysone (2-4). Falcons
quarterback Kevin Kaufman (994 yards, 8 TDs) is set to go over
the 1,000-yard milestone.
Union (5-1) hosts Clarion-Limestone (0-6)
looking to beat the Lions for the third straight time, something
that hasn’t happened since a 1978-1980 stretch. Knights
quarterback Brody Shick has passed for 676 yards and eight
touchdowns while on defense he’s intercepted a whopping seven
passes. The Lions have lost 15 straight games.
PLAYOFF WATCH
With the playoffs getting closer, it’s time
to take a glance at how things are stacking up:
Class A
Only Port Allegany and Brockway go into
Week 7 with playoff berths clinched. Clarion can get in if it
clinches the KSAC South title or the Bobcats can secure at least
an at-large berth if it wins this week and Sheffield and
Johnsonburg both lose.
Curwensville and Elk County Catholic clinch
a berth with wins this week or a loss by Smethport.
Going into the week, the top eight spots
would be: 1. Brockway, 2. Clarion, 3. Port Allegany, 4. Union,
5. Curwensville, 6. Elk County Catholic, 7. Smethport, 8.
Johnsonburg/Sheffield
Class AA
Five teams are gunning for four playoff
berths and the St. Marys-Moniteau game this week will go a long
way in figuring out which team might be left out of the mix. In
Class AA, playoff standings are determined on ranking points.
Right now, it’s Brookville (520), Karns City (470), Kane (320),
St. Marys (180) and Moniteau (80).
Class AAA
Clearfield sits atop the three-team
standings at 6-0 with 570 points. The battle will be between
Punxsutawney (4-2, 370 points) and Bradford (3-3, 350 points)
for the second and final spot. Punxsutawney’s small-school
schedule won’t help the Chucks.
Class AAAA
DuBois, at 5-0, appears to be playoff
bound. In the four-team District 6-9 sub-regional standings
where all four teams may qualify for the postseason, the Beavers
are on top of the point standings with 540 points. State College
(4-2, 480 points), Mifflin County (3-3, 330) and Central
Mountain (3-3, 260) round out the field. The Beavers don’t play
State College or Central Mountain, but beat Mifflin County in
their season-opener.
DISTRICT
TEAMS IN STATE SCORING RANKINGS
Once again, a few of the district’s teams
have shown up on the state scoring ranking lists, according to
www.epasports.com
numbers:
Points per game
1. DuBois
53.8
2. Port Allegany
52.5
11. Clarion
47.0
Points allowed per game
T18. Elk County Catholic
6.8
Point Differential
4. Port Allegany
+44.0
9. DuBois
+39.6
13. Clarion
+37.8
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