College
Bedford looking to ride out hot streak
Bedford took its lumps during the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference season, going 3-6, but with a three-game winning streak, the Bisons have found their stride at the right time.
“The kids are showing a quiet confidence,” Bedford coach Dan Smith said. “No one’s running around screaming their head off. As a team, they’re a little bit loose. They’re relaxed. We’re playing it one game at a time and taking on what may come.”
Bedford (6-6) posted back-to-back wins over rival Chestnut Ridge – the second in the District 5 Class AA championship game – and then went to Pittsburgh for a 29-6 victory over Westinghouse. The Bisons will be closer to home tonight when they take on District 9 champion Karns City (10-2) in a PIAA first-round playoff game at 7 p.m. at Northern Bedford’s Panther Community Stadium in Loysburg.
Smith said that having the game in the Bisons’ back yard is a benefit, but that his team is road-tested.
“It’s always nice to be closer to home, but after 12 games, you’re used to doing the traveling bit,” he said. “It will be nice not to have to travel two or three hours like we did with Pittsburgh.”
Bedford will face a balanced Karns City offense that features a number of dangerous players.
Quarterback Dylan Hipple has completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,011 yards. He has 10 touchdown passes and six interceptions on the season.
The Gremlins do most of their damage on the ground. Aaron Markle leads the rushing attack with 1,214 yards and 17 touchdowns, but Karns City has four other players with at least 300 rushing yards. Jake Wagner (478, seven TDs), Craig Slomers (357, four TDs) Hipple (352, four TDs) and J.R. Yough (325, four TDs) have all been productive for Karns City.
Depending on what the Gremlins want to do, they can give a defense different looks, running from multiple formations, including the option out of the I or a double-wing set that allows them to run the jet series, with a back coming in motion having the ability to run an end around.
“They like to mix it up a little bit with three or four different other kids,” Smith said.
But Markle, a senior who is listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds, is the biggest component of the offense.
“He doesn’t have 4.2 speed, but he’s a good, hard runner,” Smith said. “He runs hard. They have a balanced offense between the quarterback, fullback and tailback.”
Brandon Collier is the top receiving threat with 381 yards and six touchdowns, but Joe Fallecker also has 284 yards and four touchdown catches.
“The big play seems to be a big part of their offense,” Smith said.
Markle and Wagner each have 76 tackles while Carrick Harp has 74 on the season.
“They run a 5-2 defense with roll-up monster, almost like a 5-3,” Smith said. “They play their positions well and fly to the ball.’
Paul Detwiler carries the load for the Bedford offense, averaging 99.8 rushing yards per game. He has 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season.
Marcus Shippey has 596 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He has also thrown for 791 yards, but has seven interceptions and just three touchdown passes.
Kyle Deneen is the top receiving threat with 509 yards and three touchdowns.
Shippey threw for 127 yards against Westinghouse and Detwiler ran for 105, marking the third consecutive game the Bisons have had a runner gain at least 100 yards.
“We were 3-6, but we put the last three or four games together and are playing nice team ball. We rely on Paul Detwiler, but everyone’s focused on the team concept,” Smith said. “Hopefully, we’ll represent District 5 and the people in the Laurel Highlands well. Hopefully, we’ll come out of it with a win.
- College
-
-
PSU shifts focus to Alabama
The game Penn State fans have circled on their calendars for years is almost here.
After manhandling FCS school Youngstown State, the level of competition increases dramatically in Week 2 for the 19th-ranked Nittany Lions with a visit to No. 1 Alabama. -
Top-ranked Tide turn to youngsters
Alabama took advantage of an opening rout to get plenty of youngsters on the field.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide’s top tackler in Saturday night’s 48-3 route of San Jose State was freshman linebacker C.J. Mosely. The leading rusher was redshirt freshman Eddie Lacy. Both the kicker and punter were freshmen.
And coach Nick Saban says he had other freshmen ready to go, including No. 3 quarterback Phillip Sims. -
Freshman QB delivers a strong start
Joe Paterno’s decision paid off.
After beating out two sophomores in a spirited preseason competition for the starting quarterback job, true freshman Rob Bolden rewarded his Hall of Fame coach’s confidence Saturday with 239 yards passing and two touchdowns in No. 19 Penn State’s 44-14 rout of FCS school Youngstown State. -
Colasanti shines in PSU debut
No. 19 Penn State’s new middle linebacker made a smashing debut.
Chris Colasanti finished with 13 tackles in the 44-14 win Saturday over Youngstown State. -
Cal wins thriller
Despite trailing by 18 in the second quarter, No. 5 California (Pa.) rallied to post a season-opening 42-41 overtime victory against No. 11 Saginaw Valley.
-
IUP stops Southern Connecticut State
Harvie Tuck rushed for 98 yards, Craig Burgess kicked three field goals and the IUP defense forced four turnovers and flirted with a shutout until midway through the fourth quarter in a 16-6 victory over Southern Connecticut State in the season opener for both teams Saturday at Miller Stadium.
-
Liberty crushes SFU
Three-time defending Big South champion Liberty kicked off its season in impressive fashion with a 52-7 victory over St. Francis University on Saturday.
Despite allowing the game’s opening touchdown on a 38-yard run by running back Kyle Harbridge of the Red Flash, Liberty (1-0) went on to score 52 unanswered points while racking up 599 yards of offense. -
Freshmen QBs grab spotlight ... Youngstown St. also starting youngster
It’s tough enough being the first true freshman quarterback to start a season opener for coach Joe Paterno at Penn State, a distinction Robert Bolden will carry into today’s game against Youngstown State.
-
Villarrial to make debut at Liberty today
The Chris Villarrial era will begin today when St. Francis travels south Virginia to face Liberty in a noon kickoff at Lynchburg Stadium.
The Flames are a full-scholarship program and are ranked nationally in Football Championship Subdivision polls. Nevertheless, Villarrial and his staff are stressing that the Red Flash can play well against Liberty. -
Sports briefs
Soccer
Mount snaps long streak
CRESSON – The Mount Aloysius men finally put an end to the nation's longest winless streak, by defeating Valley Forge Christian College, 3-2 on Friday.
The Mounties had gone 58 matchess without a win – a streak that dating to the 2006 season. - More College Headlines
-
