Ligonier Valley Rams living up to billing

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September 7, 2011

Ligonier Valley Rams living up to billing

Mike Mastovich mmastovich@tribdem.com The Tribune-Democrat Wed Sep 07, 2011, 11:16 PM EDT

JOHNSTOWN — Heritage Conference opponents will have a difficult time slowing down Ligonier Valley’s stable of Rams in the backfield.

High octane? Ligonier’s got it.

Depth? Yes, that too.

Through Week 1, Ligonier has lived up to the conference coaches’ preseason poll tabbing the Rams as the team to beat.

Coach Roger Beitel’s squad can go to multiple playmakers in the wing-T offense without a drop off. The senior-heavy squad has experience, grit and an attitude that the Rams won’t be denied. That much was evident during last week’s 49-0 win over visiting Northern Cambria in which five different players scored touchdowns, including two by the capable second-teamers in the second half. First-year starting fullback Ryan Torrance had touchdown runs of 35, 6 and 10 yards.

“We run the wing-T system and in the wing-T on any given play you have four potential people who can carry the football,” Beitel said. “Everything starts up the middle and goes from your quarterback and fullback. If your quarterback and fullback are clicking, from there it spreads to the halfback and wingback. From there we can spread the field. In terms of speed it’s the fastest backfield I’ve ever had and we’ve had some fast ones.”

Beitel used a stopwatch to emphasize his point.

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Ligonier Valley Rams living up to billing

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