DAVIDSVILLE — The North Star Cougars have spent much of this season putting up some points, then sitting back and cruising past the competition. Such is the life of an undefeated team that returned much of last year’s state playoff qualifying squad.
Against Conemaugh Township on Friday night, the Cougars were afforded no such luxury, having to play catch-up and then hold on for a 15-12 WestPAC win over their biggest rival.
North Star quarterback Cory Kaltenbaugh was sharp again, throwing touchdown passes to Austin Lyons and Alijah Petrilla to bring North Star from a 6-0 deficit to a 15-6 lead.
“It just feels great to come down here to Conemaugh Township and come out with the win,” Kaltenbaugh said.
Lyons caught his scoring strike on fourth-and-goal with only a second left in the first half to put the Cougars up 7-6 at the break. But just barely.
With that one second still showing on the second-quarter clock, the Cougars (7-0) kicked deep to the dangerous Seth Zaman, who broke free for a 75-yard return.
It could have been a tide turner, but North Star’s Josh Kuncher closed on Zaman and hauled him down at the North Star 10, securing the one-point halftime lead. The Cougars built on the advantage by converting a 42-yard drive that started after Matt Caola recovered a fumble. Petrilla finished it off by snaring a short Kaltenbaugh pass and taking it the rest of the way for a 20-yard touchdown with 7:01 left in the third quarter. Petrilla followed with the conversion run.
Kaltenbaugh finished 5-for-10 passing for 100 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Petrilla caught four passes for 94 yards.
North Star now prepares for fellow unbeaten Portage next week.
“It should be interesting,” Cougars coach Stacy Schmitt said. “That’s what makes the high school game so great, when you have a couple undefeated teams coming together this late in the season. I’m sure the place is going to be rocking down in Boswell.”
Conemaugh Township (4-3) got on the board first and last Friday night, converting 89-yard drives each time.
The first started with a Brett Byers interception deep in Indians territory and ended with 6:50 left in the second quarter when Zaman scored on a 12-yard run behind Derek McDowell and Luke Mitchell. They also finished the scoring when Zaman hauled in a 16-yard scoring strike from Matt Duray with 7:08 left. The Indians were forced to try for the conversion each time after an early injury to kicker Emery Mock. Both pass attempts failed.
Mike Knisely and Co. ran it out from there, grinding up yards and grinding down the clock. Knisely finished with 13 carries and 83 yards.
“Our guys put forth a great effort,” said Conemaugh Township coach Sam Zambanini, whose team plays at Berlin next week. “There were two pretty good football teams getting together, knocking heads. It’s fun to be a part of that. It’s obviously better to be on top of that, but I’m really proud of my guys in red. We played very well. Neither team played mistake-free, but we both played pretty well and the score indicates that.”
High School Sports
North Star edges rival Conemaugh Township
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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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