JOHNSTOWN —
This 19th edition of The Tribune-Democrat All-Area Football Team brings a close to the 2010 high school campaign.
There were numerous outstanding individual performances throughout the season as well as a pair of teams – Bishop Carroll and Forest Hills – that advanced to the PIAA semifinal round.
Berlin was unbeaten in the regular season and won the WestPAC title while Forest Hills claimed the Laurel Highlands crown and Penns Manor won the Heritage Conference championship.
In the battle at districts, 15 of the
26 schools in the newspaper’s coverage area advanced to postseason play.
Johnstown claimed its second straight District 6 Class AAA championship, and the Huskies won the Class A crown. The Rangers prevailed for the District 5/6 Class AA title while North Star was the surprise winner in District 5 Class A.
The consolidation of Ligonier Valley and Laurel Valley had players from both squads adjusting to those changes. Teams that advanced deep into the state playoffs adapted to the longer season.
Individually, 13 area running backs topped the 1,000-yard mark this season with two – Bishop Carroll’s Ryan Woo and Forest Hills’ Nick Dudukovich – both going over the 2,000-yard milestone. Three area quarterbacks – Cambria Heights’ Caleb Vescovi, Johnstown’s Gervon Simon and North Star’s Max Strasiser – threw for over 2,000 yards and another six players topped 1,000 yards passing. Just one receiver, the Highlanders’ Bryce Brawley, exceeded the 1,000-yard receiving plateau.
Co-Coaches of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards were selected from the many outstanding candidates from the area. A list of first-team, second team and honorable mention selections also was compiled.
The majority of the 24 players selected to the first team are seniors, but there are also five juniors and two sophomores in the mix.
There are also seven players who were underclassmen on last year’s team who are members of this year’s first or second team.
Offensive Player of the Year: One of the area’s most prolific runners, Forest Hills’ running back Nick Dudukovich was a gem for the Rangers offense throughout the season, helping to propel them to a 13-2 record.
The 6-foot, 210-pound Dudukovich rushed for 2,103 yards on 253 carries and scored an area-high 160 points, including
26 touchdowns.
Defensive Player of the Year: Bishop Carroll senior stand-up defensive end Josh Chumrik was a terror on the gridiron, especially among quarterbacks.
The 6-1, 211-pound outside linebacker finished with an area-high 21 sacks as well as 132 tackles with 79 solo stops.
Coach of the Year: This category is actually Co-Coaches of the Year as selected by the staff with input from area coaches. Bishop Carroll and Forest Hills each advanced to the PIAA Final Four in their respective divisions – the Huskies in Class A and the Rangers in Class AA – thus Carroll coach Craig Sponsky and Forest Hills’ venerable Don Bailey have been tapped for the honor this season. It is the fourth time that there have been co-coaches.
It is the second time that Bailey has been selected as a co-coach - he also shared the distinction with Jerry Page in 1993 – and the fourth time overall, having also been tapped in 1994 and the last time in 2005.
This is the first time that Sponsky has been a co-coach, but he has received the nod in 1999, 2002 and the last time in 2003.
Other coaches who were considered included Portage’s Gary Gouse, North Star’s Stacy Schmitt, Berlin’s Doug Paul, Ligonier Valley’s Roger Beitel and Johnstown’s Tony Penna Jr.
Sports
Capping a successful season
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Pirates pick up fourth straight victory
There were times earlier in his career when James McDonald would run into trouble and innings would slow to a crawl. Even worse, runners would disappear, and not in a good way.
Too much thinking. Not enough attacking. -
AAABA League will open after busy offseason
The AAABA League opens on Tuesday at Point Stadium with two new, but familiar managers, a new but familiar sponsor, an expanded interleague schedule and two new franchises committed to the 2013 season.
A lot of activity took place during the offseason, including the AAABA national committee’s vote to expand the age limit to 21 years old beginning in 2013. -
AAABA League Preview
A look at this season's Johnstown AAABA League:
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2012 AAABA League schedule
A look at this season's schedule:
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2011 AAABA in Review
A look back at the 2011 AAABA season:
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Sympathetic Pirates add to Cubs’ slide
Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates can relate to what the Chicago Cubs are going through.
Perhaps more than anyone, they know what it feels like to be on an extended losing streak
– 12 in a row, in the Cubs’ case. -
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. -
Hit batsman lifts Pirates over Cubs
Matt Hague was hit by a pitch from Rafael Dolis with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 11th straight loss with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Hague took a 96 mph fastball from Dolis (2-4) in the back near the shoulder blade, scoring Jose Tabata and eliciting an incredulous look to the sky by the Cubs reliever. -
Generals return to defeat Sting
It’s been a dramatic month for the Johnstown Generals.
There were two postponed games that left the immediate and long-term future of the franchise in serious doubt just two weeks ago. - More Sports Headlines
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