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*** (helmets courtesy of the PA High School Helmet Project) Week 11 – District Six Quarterfinal at Richland
Getting to this “second season” is always a goal that is set for Bearcat Football. Every team now is in the same boat; win and move on, lose and go home and get ready for the winter sports schedule. This playoff matchup is very interesting and will provide an excellent challenge for Huntingdon. Richland is 8-2 and garnered the fourth seed in District 6, just ahead of the Bearcats (7-3). Richland has a field-turf playing surface which should allow the Bearcats to reveal some speed, something that we have not been able to show the last six weeks on rain soaked fields across Central PA. Kick off is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Saturday night. Directions to the stadium can be found elsewhere on this website. Richland can be very explosive on offense, averaging 33 points per game. They have dominated teams during the season with the exception of a one-point victory of AAA Johnstown and losses to Bishop McCort and Forest Hills, both undefeated squads. On offense, they will use different sets and some trickery so you have to be ready for anything when they have the ball. Senior Quarterback Gino Ramires guides an offense that is gaining more run balance as the year progresses. Ramires can throw the ball and he has a pool of talented experienced receivers. They also like to pound the ball at you if they have a lead and have some big backs to get the job done. Defensively, they operate out of a 3-5 scheme but will bounce to other looks based on the offense they see. They have some size throughout this side of the ball and can punish you if you let them. On special teams they will do some things to keep you honest. Their punter uses a rugby style at times and will run it if not covered. They will kick an on-side kick right from the huddle and fake field goals/extra points are always a possibility.
The Bearcats must continue to show balance between the run and pass. Huntingdon has not been on a fast field all year and must make the adjustment quickly to stay with the Rams. The Bearcats have averaged 19 points per game and may need to score more like 30 points, like they have in the last few weeks. The defense must also contain a solid Ram offense and be ready for anything that may be thrown their way. Bring your family out to Richland, enjoy the day in the Johnstown area and come out and support YOUR Bearcats ! ! ! Other District action has Central Cambria at Forest Hills, Penn Cambria at Central and Ligonier Valley at Tyrone. A Bearcat win will allow Huntingdon to play the winner of Central Cambria/Forest Hills.
Week 10 – Philipsburg-Osceola
The regular season finale will have the Bearcats travel to Philipsburg-Osceola (P-O) for a scheduled 7:00 pm start on Friday night. The field in Philipsburg is always interesting this time of year and any rain this week or during the game will make it more so – a situation that both teams have become accustomed to during the past six weeks. P-O (3-6) lost a tough game last week against District 5 AA power Chestnut Ridge 14-13 to bring an end to their playoff hopes. The Mounties have been inconsistent during 2009 having won three games by lopsided scores while losing six games. Senior RB/DB Zack Czap is the main weapon in all facets of the game and can turn the momentum tide very quickly. He is the punter, kicker and return man on special teams. P-O employs a rugby style punt scheme and if left unattended, Czap can take off and run with the ball. He is equally as dangerous on offense and defense. He is not big but he is fast. The Mounties operate out of the Wing-T offense that the Bearcats have seen from several teams this season. However, they are not afraid to alter a few plays here and there to keep your defense honest. P-O can score points and if they get a lead can be very hard to come back on. Defensively, P-O uses either a four or five man front depending upon the opponent. We may see more of a five-man front against our two tight end set. They have given up points against good teams so our offense will get tested but can be effective. The quality of the special teams this week may be closer than any other week this season. Both teams can provide long kicks and kick returns. Next week the District Six AA playoffs begin. Huntingdon may be the #5 seed traveling to #4 Richland. The remaining field may be set but seeding is up for grabs. A very interesting battle occurs Friday night when Tyrone travels to Central. Clearfield comes to War Vets Field this week for Junior Varsity (Monday) and Junior High (Thursday).
Week 9 – Clearfield
Clearfield
is more
dangerous
than their
5-3 record
would
indicate.
They score
points and
can turn a
game around
in a
heartbeat. This
squad is
younger than
in years
past but
they
continue to
improve
every
week. Sophmore Curtis
Frye is the
Bison QB and
he manages
the spread
offense very well. He has
completed
about 50% of
his passes
and Senior
Trey Campman
is his
favorite
target. Frye
also has the
ability to
tuck it and
run or hand
off to
a very
capable corp
of running
backs. Week 8 – Bald Eagle Area
The Bearcats find themselves at 5-2 and continuing their surge to the Class AA playoffs. Currently we are the 5th seed out of eight teams. Last week’s victory over Lewistown reminds the team that they still have a lot of work to do. Bald Eagle Area visits War Vets Field for a scheduled 7:00 pm start on Friday. The Eagles are 1-6, having lost last week to undefeated Central. Their lone win was an impressive victory at Clearfield. Offensively, they will throw many different formations at you and seem to prefer the run but are not afraid to pass and have done so with success. On Defense, they operate out a base 4-4 look and will distribute linebackers as needed depending upon the offensive set they face. The linebackers, especially the middle two are very active and they will blitz on almost every play, sometimes both of them together. Huntingdon must continue to improve the running game and have made great strides in bad weather the last few weeks. Special teams must also continue to dominate and Bald Eagle will be a good test as they have decent special teams play. As always, we look for anything crazy from Bald Eagle. Come out Friday and support your Bearcats for Senior Night as they continue their march.
Week 7 – Lewistown
The Lewistown Panthers travel to War Vets Field on Friday with a 2-4 record seeking an upset over the 4-2 Bearcats. The Cats must not overlook these Panthers as they have done some good things this year. They are not your older brother’s or even your Dad’s Lewistown Panthers. New Head Coach, Steve Guthoff, has been around Central PA in different coaching capacities, most recently at Tyrone. He has a group of younger players that have made an impact and promise to get better as the year goes on. Look for improvement, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Panthers have beaten Philipsburg-Osceola (19-16) and Penns Valley (13-7 OT) while losing to Juniata, Saint Marys Clearfield and Central last week. They will use several sets to move their offense but have not gained consistency in the ground or passing game. They have been shut out in three of their games. Defensively, the Panthers operate out of a 3 down linemen scheme and will move to a 4 man front on occasion. The position of the linebackers and defensive backs will be determined by the offensive set they face. You may even get a 6/1 look from time to time. They like to blitz. The Bearcats must continue to find consistency in their offense and the emergence of sophomore running backs, Houston Riley and Dylan Gutshall, should compliment senior Scott Minor. The weather during the last two weeks has not allowed us to see what kind of passing game we have so if the weather cooperates’ look for more aerial assault as well. This should be a good week for fans to come out and support YOUR team. If you missed the 100th victory for Coach Zauzig, come out and see the quest for 101. Next week it won’t get any easier as Lewistown entertains Tyrone while Huntingdon entertains Bald Eagle (with a recent upset over Clearfield). This week the Junior Varsity will travel to Mitchell Field to play Indian Valley and return on Monday, 10/19, to see Lewistown. The Junior High squads visit Indian Valley on Thursday 10/15 (IV Middle School) and Lewistown on Thursday 10/22 (Mitchell Field???)
Week 6 – Indian Valley
Wow, what a game last Friday as the Bearcats took on defending District Champion, Central on the road and lost 7-3 in the closing seconds of the game. It was 0-0 on the rain soaked field for most of the game. With that said, let’s look at the reality the Huntingdon squad faces now in the second half of the regular season. The team stands at 3-2 and in sixth place in the AA field that takes eight teams. We have faced very good competition in Central and Tyrone and lost two close games. Games that could have been won with more consistent offense. The defense, for the most part has been stellar. We beat a good Saint Marys team. We must get better on offense and continue great play on defense and special teams. Indian Valley will make the trip on Friday for a scheduled 7:00 pm kickoff at War Vets Field. The Warriors (1-4) have struggled this season having only one win, against West Perry (35-14) in Week 1. They have given up a lot of points in their losses to Central (7-28), Clearfield (33-48), DuBois (21-38) and last week to Hollidaysburg (7-42). The Bearcats must take advantage of this situation and score points and maintain long drives that lead to scores. Defensively, the Warriors run a three-man front that will look like a 3/5, 3/4 or 5/3 depending on the offensive scheme they see. Offensively, Indian Valley will run several sets at the Bearcat defense and have a very good mix of run and pass. They are not afraid to throw the ball. At times they look very good on offense and the problem we share is consistency. The road to the playoffs begins this week for the Bearcats. Take one game at a time. Fans……enjoy. These Bearcats will get it together and score points. They need your support. Next week, an improved Lewistown team (2-3) will visit Huntingdon. Indian Valley will entertain Saint Marys (4-1). The Junior Varsity team (5-0) will travel to Indian Valley on Monday, 10/12 while the Junior High teams (9th Grade 3-1, 8th Grade 4-0) will visit Mitchell Field on Thursday 10/15.
Week 5 – Central
The Bearcats (3-1), fresh off a mild upset win at home over Saint Marys, travel to Roaring Spring to face the undefeated Scarlet Dragons of Central. Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7:00 pm and directions to the Roaring Spring football field can be found on this website. Central is the defending District 6 AA Champion and have hopes of repeating and going further in the state playoffs as they lost a state quarterfinal contest, 21-19, to the eventual state champion, Wilmington. The hunger to get back can be very important, just ask the 1998 Bearcat squad that sought revenge and did so against Rod Rutherford and Perry Traditional Academy in the state quarterfinals. Central comes into the game averaging 38 points per game with wins over Penns Valley (31-9), Indian Valley (28-7), Bellefonte (54-14) and Philipsburg-Osceola last week (42-7). They run a high powered offense led by Junior RB Lucas Runk. He has been running the “wildcat” offensive scheme since week one when the starting QB was injured at Penns Valley. He is not the only weapon as they have a talented group of receivers and running backs. Like Saint Marys, they will come right at you. Defensively, they operate out of a 4-4 scheme and walk up the outside backers to give more of a 6-2 look. They will be aggressive and usually blitz someone on every down. The Bearcats will need to polish up the game at all aspects to beat Central. The running game must improve and receivers will need to take advantage of opportunities when they become available. Special teams must also continue to be a factor as they have during the first four weeks for the Cats. Come out and see the Cats take on the Scarlet Dragons. They need your support going into this game. Goooooooooooo Bearcats !!!!!!!!! Next week, Central will travel to Lewistown to play an improved Panther team while Huntingdon will entertain Indian Valley. Central will also visit War Vets field for Junior Varsity action on Monday (10/6) and Junior High on Thursday (10/9).
Week Four – Saint Marys
The Saint Marys Flying Dutchmen bring their undefeated varsity squad to War Vets Field for a scheduled 7:00 pm kickoff on Friday. This will be the first away game for the Dutch as they have beaten Bellefonte (51-12), Lewistown (25-0) and Bald Eagle (20-14) all at the friendly confines of Dutch Country Stadium.
The Dutchmen run a Wing T Offense and make no mistake about telling you that they want to run the ball right down your throat. Their schemes are basic but they perfect the misdirection and get you out of position. RB Kevin Hoy is the main ball carrier running for 127 yards on 27 carries last week vs Bald Eagle. If the run isn’t working, they are not afraid to pass and have been effective, scoring when the need arises.
On defense, they operate out of a 3-5 scheme and want to be very aggressive with their linebackers. LB Sean Sadosky is the main force on defense and gave the Bearcats fits all night last year at Saint Marys.
The Bearcats are still a work in progress and came alive emotionally after halftime at Penns Valley last week, outscoring the Rams 21-7 to win 21-15. Look for continued improvement in the running game and a return to consistency with the passing game. Defensively, the Bearcats have bent but not broken during the first three weeks and must continue to progress in this phase of the game as well.
Next week, the Bearcats will travel to undefeated Central while the Dutchmen will return home to entertain Penns Valley.
The Junior Varsity and Junior High programs travel to Saint Marys on Monday, 9/28 and Saturday, 10/3 respectively. The Junior Varsity game vs Penns Valley on Monday, 9/21 has been cancelled while the Junior High will host Penns Valley on Thursday, 9/24.
Week Three – Penns Valley
This week the Bearcats must regroup after a frustrating loss to Tyrone, 14-6. The offense struggled the entire game. The defense kept the Cats in the game but struggled as well, giving up long plays at crucial times. Special Teams proved to be a Huntingdon advantage but you can’t win consistently just on special teams. Huntingdon will visit Penns Valley for a scheduled 7:00 start on Friday. Directions are available on this site. This Ram squad (1-1) is not the same one we faced last year in a 24-2 victory. They are bigger and stronger and playing better football in every phase of the game. They opened with a 31-9 loss to a heavily favored Central Dragon squad and recovered last week with a 25-22 overtime victory at Bald Eagle. Offensively, the Rams use multiple sets and have relied mostly on the rushing game. They have been successful when passing out of double-slot as well. On defense, they operate out of a 4-3 system, walking up linebackers and defensive backs as situations merit. Once again the Huntingdon special teams should be an advantage. The team must find a way to bring it together after a tough loss and prepare for the remainder of the season. Penns Valley will visit Huntingdon for the Junior Varsity game at 6:00 on Monday, September 21 and the Junior High will be in town on Thursday, September 24 for a 4:00 start (9th grade) and 5:30 (8th grade).
Week 2 – Tyrone
Once again, the Bearcats begin the season with a win and look forward to facing perennial power Tyrone. The past five seasons have not very kind to the Bearcats in week two as Tyrone has won every time. The Golden Eagles have not lost a regular season game at Gray Memorial Field since 2003 when the Bearcats were the last team to beat them. Could this be the year that the Cats travel to Gray Memorial and end the streak. Time will tell, so pack your seat cushion, put a few bucks in your pocket, gas in the car and make the short drive to Tyrone to see the kickoff scheduled for 7:00 pm. Huntingdon moved the ball well in the first half against Mount Union but had only a 3-3 tie to show for it. The Bearcats took control in the second half following a Josh Coffman interception and never looked back, winning 22-3. Tyrone travelled to Bellwood for their version of The Backyard Brawl and Bellwood came out on top 31-16. The game was close early but Bellwood pulled away in the second half. Tyrone uses a 4-4 or 5-3 look on defense and the linebackers are very involved in the system. Tyrone always has good athletes and this year should be no different. They may lack the size and experience of years past, but will be looking to get back on the winning track. Quarterback Levi Reihart will be leading the team and is beginning his third year behind center. Tyrone will use multiple offensive sets and have a good balance of run and pass. Special teams may once again be the difference and the Bearcats hope to have the advantage. It’s time to once again be a Bearcat fan and support this team. Fill those stands and make lots of noise.
Week 1 – Mount Union
Preseason Week 2 – Scrimmage at Hollidaysburg
Passing
League |
The Prowl - 2009
*** (helmets courtesy of the PA High School Helmet Project)