Since joining District 6 eight years ago, Johnstown has been in the Class AAA playoffs six times.
The Trojans (8-3), who previously were a part of District 7, are 1-1 in District 6 title games and return to the championship contest Friday night when they face top-seeded Hollidaysburg at 7 p.m. at Mansion Park in Altoona.
“I think it’s a great honor for Johnstown to be back in the championship game,” Trojans coach Kevin Marabito said. “When you sit down in the offseason and list your goals, winning a District 6 championship was one of them.”
Johnstown will be looking for the program’s 600th win as it faces Hollidaysburg. Marabito knows his team will have to play up to its potential and be relatively mistake-free against the Golden Tigers (9-1).
Since being shut out 37-0 by State College in its season opener, Hollidaysburg has reeled off nine straight victories, including a 26-13 victory over Class AAAA DuBois on Oct. 31 in its last game.
The Tigers, who are playing in their third straight title game, are averaging 33.5 points per game while surrendering just 16.4.
As a team, Hollidaysburg, ranked eighth in this week’s Pennsylvania Football News poll, has rushed for 2,344 yards. The Tigers average 5.65 yards a carry and 234.4 yards a game.
Sophomore running back Luke Rhodes has rushed for 644 yards on 110 carries while senior quarterback Brandyn Ott has 569 yards on 95 carries.
Hollidaysburg is averaging 114.3 yards a game through the air with Ott throwing for 1,044 yards, going 82-for-113.
The top receivers are senior back Justin Gildea with 28 catches for 435 yards, senior receiver Jason Boland with 19 receptions for 284 yards and senior back Scott Hammond with 21 catches for 222 yards.
Gildea has scored 16 touchdowns while Ott and Rhodes each have 11.
“I think we have a good group of kids who work hard and a good group of seniors who have served as leaders for us,” Hollidaysburg coach John Barton said. “There’s no great teacher than experience and for our seniors who are playing in their third straight championship, they know the level of play and what needs to be done in order to win. The strength of this team is that we think like a team. There are no egos or jealousies among the players. We compete hard as a team.”
Johnstown’s last loss came in Week 7, 38-7 to rival Bishop McCort. The Trojans, who have won seven of their past eight including four straight, defeated Indian Valley 35-7 in last week’s semifinal.
The Warriors are the only mutual opponent that Johnstown and Hollidaysburg have faced. The Tigers won 49-7.
“Our kids have played hard all season and had to overcome so much adversity with injuries, and they have stayed together,” Marabito said. “With all the injuries, our staff has had a knack of plugging the right people in. It’s been a magic act all season. Our kids are battle-tested.
“It’s going to be exciting. They are a lot like us, and we don’t feel that they are invincible. We feel we are pretty evenly matched, but we have to have less mistakes. Penalties have haunted us, and we can’t put the ball on the ground. We have to keep the ball out of their hands.”
The Trojans are scoring 26.6 points a game while giving up 16.2. Johnstown is averaging 101.6 yards passing and 254.6 yards rushing per game.
Junior quarterback John Siciliano has thrown for 1,016 yards going 67-for-139. Junior back Jordan Jefferson has 25 catches for 339 yards and junior end Richard Agurs has 16 catches for 284 yards.
Senior back Quadir Christian tops the Trojans’ rushing statistics with 1,121 yards on 146 carries with Siciliano adding 779 yards on 126 carries. Christian has scored 13 touchdowns and has eight two-point conversions.
“We have to be able to handle their skill players,” Barton said. “They are a big-play team. Our kids up front have to be able to contain their speed.”
High School Sports
Trojans eye 600th win, district title
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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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