Friday, November 14, 2008
No. 1 Tyrone Area (10-1) vs. No. 5 Central Cambria (8-3)
Series: Tied 1-1.
Coaches: TYRONE –John Franco(194-75-2 overall; 154-30 at Tyrone); CENTRAL CAMBRIA– Ken Bussard (134-89-1)
What’s At Stake – the winner advances to the District 6 Class AA championship game against the winner of tomorrow’s semifinal between No. 3 Central and No. 2 Forest Hills.
Game Scores: TYRONE – defeated Bellwood-Antis 27-6, Huntingdon 21-0, Central Mountain 6-3, Bald Eagle Area 41-0, St. Mary’s 44-7, Philipsburg-Osceola 35-7, Lewistown 48-7, Penns Valley 42-0, Central 38-14 and Bald Eagle Area 34-0; lost to Clearfield 35-34. CENTRAL CAMBRIA – defeated Richland 21-14, Cambria Heights 42-6, Bedford 53-22, Forest Hills 27-0, Bishop Guilfoyle 44-26, Westmont-Hilltop 28-13, Somerset 48-6 and Huntingdon 14-0; lost to Bishop Carroll 12-7, Penn Cambria 14-13 and Bishop McCort 14-13.
LAST MEETING: Tyrone made it inside Central Cambria’s 20-yard line three times in the first half and came away with just a field goal to show for it. The Red Devils, meanwhile, made big play after big play in Central Cambria’s 21-10 victory over Tyrone in the District 6 Class AA semifinals at Mansion Park on Saturday, November 18, 2007.
Central Cambria broke a pair of big plays to claim the lead following Tyrone scores. On the first, Jeff Wasilewski took a throw-back screen pass from Shane McGregor 65 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to put the Devils up 6-3.
Then, after Shayne Tate gave Tyrone a 10-6 lead in the third, McGregor connected with Adam Petrosky on another screen pass, this one going 65 yards for a touchdown that gave the Devils the lead for good.
Tyrone quarterback Levi Reihart left the game in the second half after bruising his hand, and Johnny Franco, who had missed the first 10 games of the season with an injury, was forced to take his place. He finished with 110 yards of total offense, but threw two interceptions.
PLAYERS TO WATCH – TYRONE: Mark Mingle, RB-LB, 135 carries, 855 yards, 14 TDs, 2 defensive TDs … Larry Glace, RB-LB, 181 carries, 1,314 yards, 18 TDs … Levi Reihart QB-DB, 84-for-130, 1,335 yards, 9 TDs, 2 Ints. … Eric Desch, WR-DB, 25 receptions, 567 yards, 3 TDs, 5 Ints. … Johnny Shaffer, TE-DE-K, 20 receptions, 294 yards, 3 TD, 41 XP, 4 FG, 8 TFL … Matt Murray, OL-DL, 9.5 TFL, 5 sacks … Ben Ingle, WR-DB, 20 receptions, 223 yards, 3 Ints. CENTRAL CAMRIA – Andrew O’Saben, RB-DB, 229 carries, 1,521 yards, 18 TDs, 138 yards per game … Ben Ridgeley, WR-DB, 18 receptions, 282 yards, 3 TDs, 6 Ints., 72 tackles … Tyler Davidson, WR-LB, 68 tackles, 8 sacks, 2 Ints. … Marshall Lipnic, WR-DB, 23 tackles, 6 Ints. … Jeff Wasilewski, QB-DB, 10-for-26, 105 yards, 13 carries, 5 yards, 1 TD, 35 yard average per punt … Timothy Myers, RB-LB, 72 carries, 329 yards, 6 TDs.
TYRONE – is 13-5 vs. the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference under John Franco … is 2-0 against non-Nittany Division opponents … has scored 34 or more points eight weeks straight … last home loss was in the District 6 semifinals to Bishop McCort in 2005.
CENTRAL CAMBRIA – has won 7 of its last 8 games … has allowed only two opponents to score more than two touchdowns … defense has forced 33 turnovers, including 23 interceptions … has recorded 28 sacks … offense is averaging 231 rushing yards per game.
JOHN FRANCO: We were embarrassed last year because we didn’t play the brand of football Tyrone is known for. They whooped us, and our motivation is just to show that we can play with them. It might have been nice to play an easier team, but this is a game we had to play to compete and at least show we can hold our own.”
KEN BUSSARD: They’re physical up front on both sides of the ball. I think what it boils down to is, whose line is going to win that battle? If their line sets the tone, we’re in trouble.
HIDDEN STAT: In his first game back from a 10-week rehab stint for a broken leg, Jeff Wasilewski last week passed for 96 yards and rushed for one TD.
