Familiarity surrounds the Heritage Conference’s lone game today as Purchase Line travels to Laurel Valley in a battle of 2-0 teams.
The Red Dragons defeated the Rams twice last season, 35-6 in the regular season and 21-0 in the District 6 Class A quarterfinals – both times at Commodore. With the Dragons returning 17 starters from last year, Laurel Valley coach Jerry Page knows what his opponents are capable of.
“We expect an aggressive football team that can run the football,” Page said. “Our goal is to stop the run. (Purchase Line) has a fine group of running backs and some size up front.
“We’re going to have to be prepared for a strong running team.”
Both teams subscribe to a run-first philosophy which, according to Purchase Line coach Dave Small, was inspired by Page.
“I learned from one of the best in Coach Page in that you do what you do well and perfect what you’re doing,” Small said.
Marcus Welshons leads the Rams on the ground with 205 yards and three scores. Speedy sophomore Bryan Saxton has also given the Rams a touch of explosiveness despite his 5-foot-5 frame.
Laurel Valley, which has not lost to Purchase Line in New Florence since 1996, downed Penns Manor 29-22 last week while Purchase Line was taken to overtime by Blairsville before pulling out a 33-27 win.
In other action today:
n Ferndale at Blacklick Valley: The Vikings (0-2) return home to welcome the 0-2 Yellow Jackets in an afternoon tilt at Nanty Glo.
Blacklick Valley fell on the road at Portage 54-7 with Taylor Holby’s 11-yard run providing the Vikings’ lone score.
Ferndale scored 19 seconds into its game last week as Hayden Stumpo found Ryan Gaunt for a 70-yard strike, but eventually fell to Rockwood 34-12.
n Conemaugh Valley at Rockwood: The seemingly undermanned, yet unbeaten, Blue Jays take to the road to battle Rockwood in a 1 p.m. clash.
Despite having only about 20 players, Conemaugh Valley boasts the area’s second-best statistical rusher in Steve Ling, who has 388 yards on 43 rushes.
Ling has also scored five touchdowns for the Blue Jays, who thrashed Meyersdale 48-7 last week.
The Rockets, who are playing in their third straight Saturday game, topped Ferndale 34-12 last week. Joe Miller ran for 227 yards in the victory.
n Richland at Bishop Carroll: The Huskies (2-0) open section play in the LHAC tonight as the Rams (1-1) hope to change their luck after a 21-14 loss at Central Cambria.
Bishop Carroll topped Bedford on the road last week and is supported on the ground by Brendan Julock’s 335 yards.
The Rams’ Giovanni Ramires leads the area in passing yardage with 464.
n Cambria Heights at Bishop Guilfoyle: The Highlanders take to the road tonight in an effort to extend their recent success in a battle of 1-1 teams at Altoona’s Mansion Park.
The Highlanders snapped a 35-game losing streak in the LHAC last week with a 26-20 double-overtime win over Somerset.
Bishop Guilfoyle fell to Bishop McCort 39-35 at Mansion Park.
High School Sports
Laurel Valley puts 2-0 mark on the line
- High School Sports
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Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
Ridge’s Dull takes second with school-record time
Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Young takes silver in state triple jump
Chestnut Ridge senior Michael Young capped six years of triple jumping with a silver medal Friday on the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.
Young had a career-best leap of 45-9¼ just behind Jared Horne of Schuylkill Valley whose winning jump was 46-9. -
Forest Hills’ Smay places fifth in Class AA long jump
Brooke Smay is moving on up.
The Forest Hills junior earned a fifth-place position in the Class AA long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 3 ½ inches Friday on the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
Bishop McCort wins District 6-A baseball crown
Bishop McCort truly won the District 6 Class A baseball championship as a team on Friday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
There were more than a few huge plays. Of course a number of individuals stepped up to secure a 3-1 victory over LHAC rival Bishop Guilfoyle. -
Somerset denied 6-AAA baseball title
Hollidaysburg pitcher Dom Viduya and his Golden Tigers teammates beat defending champion Somerset 3-1 in Thursday’s District 6 Class AAA championship game at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
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Pitcher's 'bad day' results in no-hitter
Bridgit Yothers struggled on the mound on Thursday.
But the Chestnut Ridge right-hander was able to persevere through her issues, throwing a no-hitter against Bedford in their District 5 Class AA semifinal and helping the Lions to a 5-0 victory. -
Local athletes look to shine at PIAA track and field meet
Each of the nearly 50 area athletes who will be competing at this weekend’s PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University, will be looking for his or her best performance of the season, but only the top eight finishers in each event for both boys and girls will stand on the podium in front of the crowd at Seth Grove Stadium.
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Westmont, Somerset represented at PIAA Class AA tennis tourney
The PIAA Class AA tennis tournament showcases the top players in the state, which includes three area athletes, when it begins today at the Hershey Racquet Club.
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Corridini’s hit propels Shade
Tasha Corridini had been having a tough time at the plate on Wednesday.
The Shade leftfielder had struck out twice in her prior two at-bats against Shanksville-Stonycreek pitcher Kayla Stockenus.
But in the bottom of the seventh of a scoreless game with Kaily Karl on first, Corridini clubbed a triple out to the fence, scoring Karl and giving the Panthers a walk-off 1-0 win over the Vikings in a District 5 Class A softball quarterfinal. - More High School Sports Headlines
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