There aren’t many names on the Conemaugh Valley roster, but Steve Ling still would stand out even if 50 players were listed on the sheet.

The 6-foot, 175-pound senior running back leads The Tribune-Democrat coverage area with 835 rushing yards on 90 carries.

That translates into a 9.3 yards per carry average.

Ling also has an area-high 11 touchdowns for 66 points with 3-1 Conemaugh Valley.

Not bad considering that Ling and his teammates often face a challenge simply to hold a practice. The Blue Jays have 21 players on the roster when everyone is healthy.

The small numbers have made the Jays a tight-knit group that won its first three games before falling to Blacklick Valley on Saturday. Coach Tom Marshall’s team will face Windber on Friday at Windber Stadium.

“We’re very close. We’re like a family out there every time,” Ling said. “Everyone is looking to help each other all the time. Everyone has each other’s backs.”

Lining up at practice with only 21 players poses some problems, considering that 22 players are needed to hold a true intra-squad scrimmage. But that doesn’t mean the Blue Jays go through the motions during workouts.

“All practice we do all the fundamentals right. All of our guys up front are working hard every single day and it’s producing,” Ling said.

Ling’s numbers are impressive enough to earn him recognition. But the back deflected the credit to those guys who block for him.

“We’re not very large on the line, but everyone has the technique,” Ling said. “Everyone does everything right. Our line is really quick too. The technique is one of the biggest things you can have. If you have a big guy across from you, but you have the technique, it’s going to work out.”

If the line makes a hole, Ling typically will hit it.

“He’s obviously a very gifted, fast runner,” Marshall said. “He’s a hard worker. He never missed a day in the weight room the last couple of years. He’s a determined young fellow. He’s got speed, he’s got strength and he’s got toughness. We call him White Lightning, because he’s so fast.”

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Parity parade: The LHAC has been balanced through four weeks, from top to bottom.

It’s easy to look at the undefeated teams (Bishop McCort and Forest Hills) and the one-loss squad (Penn Cambria) for proof of the quality in the 12-team league.

Five teams are 2-2.

Even those at the lower end of the standings have had their moments.

Cambria Heights (1-3) beat Somerset (1-3) in overtime in Week 2. Westmont (1-3) upset Johnstown (2-2) the next weekend. Then, Somerset defeated Westmont in OT in Week 4, and Johnstown halted a two-game skid with an important win at Richland.

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Tough points: Johnstown’s defense has held its past two opponents to six points (a 17-6 win at Richland and a 6-0 loss to Westmont).

The Trojans also limited a formidable Forest Hills offense to 21 points in regulation before falling 26-21 in overtime during Week 2.

Johnstown’s offense took steps to turn a corner in last week’s win over the Rams.

Now, the Trojans are looking for a quicker start at Somerset.

In what might be labeled a hidden stat, the Trojans haven’t scored a first-half touchdown since a Week 1 win over Bedford (37-23). Johnstown trailed Forest Hills 21-0 at halftime before rallying, and the Trojans failed to score against Westmont on a rainy Week 3 Friday night.

Jon Maurizio’s field goal provided the only first-half points at Richland until his teammates put two in the end zone in the second half of a character-building win last week.

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Tackle-oriented: Ligonier’s Matt Beckman averages a whopping 20.8 tackles a game, with 83 stops (59 solo) in four contests for the 2-2 Mounties.



Mike Mastovich is a sports writer for The Tribune-Democrat.