THE PROGRESS, Clearfield, Curwensville, Philipsburg, Moshannon Valley, Pa., Saturday, October 12, 2002 PAGE NINE

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The Progress SPORTS Week Sevensummaries — Page 10Tide leses in doubleOT — Page 10

Kennedyfinallyturns itup a notch

ToddIrwin

Gameday notes and observa-tions.

Jimmy Kennedy finallyshowed what he can do to oppos-ing offensive lines last Saturday— thanks to defensive linemateMichael Haynes.

Kennedy was definitely strongagainst Wisconsin. The Big TenDefensive Player of the Weektied Terry Killens' single gameschool record for sacks with four,posted another tackle for lossand finished with six solo tack-les.

Going into the game, Kennedyhad only 12 tackles in fourgames. That's not bad for mostdefensive tackles because ends,linebackers and, in Penn State'scase, the hero, make most of thetackles.

But Kennedy is the guy whoturned down a chance to enterthe NFL Draft after last season.There were high expectations forKennedy, who slimmed down to316 pounds on his 6-foot-5 famebefore the season started.

Kennedy made some noiseafter the Iowa loss when he crit-icized Joe Paterno. Paterno saidhe and everybody else wouldfind out who the leaders were onthe team in the week leading upto the Wisconsin game. Kennedyresponded by saying thatPaterno should know who theleaders are on the team.

Paterno said last Tuesday hedidn't talk to Kennedy personal-ly, but he really didn't have to.Kennedy probably heard andread enough during the week toget motivated and start playinglike he should.

Paterno did defend Kennedyand offer a compliment towardthe defensive line on Tuesday athis weekly get together with themedia.

"I think they're paying moreattention to (Michael) Haynes,"Paterno said. "Earlier in theyear, Kennedy and (Anthony)Adams would have been the guysto be concerned about. I thinkwhen Haynes started to come tothe front, pass protectionschemes had a to change a littlebit.

"Contrary to what I think wasan inference that maybe Jimmyhad not played as hard earlier, Idon't think that was fair toJimmy. I think Jimmy's playedevery down hard. Now, they'remore concerned about Haynesand Kennedy has a little bitmore freedom to do somethings."

Haynes, who some thoughtwould eventually play likeCourtney Brown last season, has'definitely been the most destruc-tive force on the defensive line.He leads the Big Ten in sackswith 7.5, forced fumbles withfour and is tied for the lead intackles for loss with 9.5. He alsohas 33 tackles, one fumble recov-ery and three pass breakups.

Kennedy, Haynes and Adamsare firing on all cylinders. Justthink what Penn State's defensewould be like if the linebackersand secondary were doing thesame.

They played better againstthe Badgers, but those two partsof the defense are leaking oil.

Adams turns scalperAdams, who grew up in

Detroit, needed 115 tickets fortoday's game in Ann Arbor toseat family members, friendsand church members. ByTuesday, he had gathered only 30of them.

Adams says the players usual-ly get three to four tickets agame. That means he was goingto be doing some heavy dutyscrounging to find the rest.

"I guess I have to start mak-ing threats," Adams joked.

Did Lions learn?Today's game against the

Wolverines will reveal just howgood the Lions are and if theylearned from their mistakes.

In the loss to Iowa, the Nitscame out flat, Paterno saidafterward, and paid for it. Hewould later say they didn't comeout flat. But his team didn't start

Clearfield's DaveEagle Area at the

Photo by Logan Cramer IRichards (10) breaks loose up the middle on one of his seven touchdowns during Friday night's game with BaldBison Sports Complex. Richards rushed for 363 yards on 16 carries as the Bisons blew away BEA, 49-7.

Super DaveDave Richards runs for 363 yards as Clearfield blows out Bald Eagle Area

By Chris MorelliSports Editor

HYDE — OK, let's just givethis kid a cape and get it overwith.

Clearfield senior tailbackDave Richards — who looks moreand more like Superman everyweek — had another phenomenalnight on Friday, as he rushed for363 yards on 16 carries andscored seven times as the Bisonsthrashed Bald Eagle Area, 49-7,at a wet and dreary Bison SportsComplex on Homecoming.

What made Richards' efforteven more amazing was the factthat he was running in mud. Aheavy rain began shortly beforekickoff and continued through-out the game. The field, quitesimply, was a quagmire.

"Dave was able to cut outthere, which was amazing inthese conditions," said Clearfieldhead coach Tim Janocko. "But Ihave to credit our offensive lineand receivers. They did a greatjob blocking, and that helpedDave get some of the runs thathe did."

Richards' touchdowns wentfor 1, 6, 30, 38, 40, 52 and 57yards. By halftime, Richardshad 314 yards on 12 carries. His363-yard effort broke Clearfield's

single-season rushing record,which was set by Ken Wisor in1998. That year, Wisor had 1,491yards. Richards now has 1,514yards this season — and thereare still three regular-seasongames to go. Richards now has3,638 yards in his career.

But back to the game.Richards' effort impressed

BEA head coach Curt Heverly."Wow," said Heverly. "We just

could not stop him. We knewwhat was coming and we could-n't stop it. They run that sweepand once he gets outside, he'sgone."

Clearfield (5-2) took a 7-0 leadjust 1:50 into the game. On theBisons' second play from scrim-mage, Richards broke loose for a57-yard score. BEA answered,however, when Aaron Irvinscored from 45 yards out to makeit 7-7.

"I was concerned when it was7-7. But I think our defense tookover," Janocko said.

Later in the first quarter,Richards scored his second TDof the night, rambling in from 38yards out. That made it 14-7 with3:04 left in the frame.

In the second quarter,Richards took over. He scoredfour times in the frame as

Clearfield blew the game open.He broke loose on a 40-yardscore with just two minutes leftin the half. That pushed theBison lead to 42-7 and kicked themercy rule into effect.

"We felt pretty good when itwas 7-7. But we knew Richardswould be tough and he was. He'sbig, tall and thick. It's like he'sgot an extra gear. We haven'tbeen able to tackle, and that wasa problem again tonight,"Heverly said.

Richards got his seventh TDof the night early in the thirdquarter.

"Again, the conditions didn'tallow us to throw the ball. Wehad to run. Dave and Josh(Harbold) did a real good job,"Janocko said.

Defensively, the Bisons heldBEA to just 81 yards of totaloffense. Irvin led the Eagles (1-6overall) with 62 yards on fivecarries, but 45 of those came onhis TD.

Although neither team couldthrow the football, Clearfield put.constant pressure on BEA quar-terback Mark Fisher, who wassacked three times. MichaelScoggins sacked Fisher for a20-yard loss — one of Clearfield'sbiggest defensive plays of the

night."I thought our defense did a

fantastic job on them. We'veseen them on film a couple oftimes and no one has gotten to(Fisher). We got a couple ofsacks, which I was real happy tosee. Mike had a real nice sack,"Janocko said.

Clearfield finished the gamewith 454 yards of total offense,all of those coming on theground.

The Bisons — winners of fourstraight — appear to be peakyigat the right time with the post-season just around the corner.

"I think we are. We just haveto keep our intensity up,"Janocko said. "We dominated onboth sides of the ball tonight."

GAME NOTES: Richards nowhas 168 points this season. Hebroke the Clearfield single-sea-son scoring mark, which he setlast season. He is now secondall-time behind DuBois' JustinMarshall, who had 174 points in1999. ... The teams combined forfour incomplete passes.Clearfield is at home next week,playing host to St. Marys. ... Itwas the third consecutive weekthe Bisons played in miserableconditions. "I'm sick of therain," Janocko said.

Dynamic duo: Ricotta and McDowell lead Warriors past Vikings

Continued on Page 11

By Jaclyn YinglingSports Writer

ALLPORT — It was supposedto be West Branch'sHomecoming game, not SeniorNight, but someone forgot to tellJared Ricotta.

The Warrior fullback rushedfor 156 yards on 12 carries andscored two touchdowns in WestBranch's 33-0 victory over rivalGlendale on Friday evening inthe teams' 38th annual meeting.

Not to be outdone, ZackMcDowell also took in two touch-downs, including a 30-yardreception in the first quarter.

"I am just happy for the kids,"said Warrior head coach GaryHubler. "This has been like atwo-week project for the kids tobe a better football team thanthey have been in the last coupleof weeks. And it all paid offtonight. I am happy for them.They have worked hard."

Both teams started off slowlywith the driving rainstorm thathampered the entire game.

West Branch got on the boardfirst in the second quarter, whenZack McDowell caught a 30-yardpass from Nathan Owens to givethe Warriors a 6-0 lead.

The touchdown came afterRicotta had a six-yard run calledback due to holding. After get-ting back to the 6-yard line, theWarriors were again called forholding and Owens was sackedfor a 10-yard loss, setting up afourth-and-29 situation for WB.

Owens hit Zack McDowellsquarely between the numbers,and the junior running back trot-ted in for the score.

"West Branch is pretty good,"said Glendale head coach JohnKutz. "The losses they had wereagainst some pretty qualityteams. I thought West Branchwas a good team. Our kids gaveup a couple of big plays.Obviously, when you give up atouchdown on fourth and 30 andthen they put a touchdown passon you — that can't happen."

The Warriors forced theVikings to punt and drove downthe field on their next posses-sion. McDowell and Ricotta com-

Flle Photo by Jim ButlerWest Branch's Jared Ricotta (34) sacks Northern Bedfordquarterback Jake Hall as teammate Adam Andrasko looks on ina game earlier this season. Ricotta had two touchdowns andrushed for 156 yards on 12 carries in the Warriors' 33-0 victoryover Glendale.bined for a five-play, 65-yarddrive that resulted in a Ricotta16-yard score.

The conversion pass failed,leaving WB with a 12-0 lead.

Glendale got nowhere on itsnext possession and was forcedto punt. The punt rolled towardTim Tice, who touched the ball,but failed to pick it up. TheVikings jumped on the opportu-nity and recovered the ball atthe West Branch 44.

The Vikes got off just fiveplays before Zack McDowellsnagged a Scott Laing pass andtook it down the sideline 62 yardsfor an apparent touchdown. Butthe TD was called back on aholding penalty, leaving theWarriors with the ball at theGlendale 25.

With just five seconds left, theWarriors got off one more playand Ricotta took the ball into the

end zone as time expired off theclock. Zack McDowell ran in theconversion, giving West Brancha 20-0 lead at halftime.

"We have had our share ofproblems," Coach Hubler said. "1think there are still somedoubters out there and somepeople pointing fingers. 1 am justnappy the kids could get the winand feel better about them-selves."

There was little action in thethird quarter, but one scarymoment for both the players andfans with 2:19 left in the frame.

As Zack McDowell ran back aThad Francisco punt, Glendalelinebacker Rob Reynoldsattempted to tackle McDowelland failed to see TylerPiotrowski moving in for theblock. Piotrowski hit Reynolds inthe chest with his shoulder andput Reynolds to the ground.

The senior Vike lay on theground for close to 15 minutes astrainers from both sides attend-ed him for an apparent neckinjury. Reynolds was transport-ed by ambulance to PhilipsburgArea Hospital for precautionarymeasures.

As the ambulance rolled offthe field, the Warriors lined upat the Glendale 14-yard line.

West Branch got as far the12-yard line before Owens wassacked for an 11-yard loss, mov-ing the Warriors back to theGlendale 23 as the buzzer sound-ed for the end of the quarter.

The Vikings took advantageof Owens again on the next play,sacking the sophomore for a13-yard loss. Glendale took overthe ball on downs at its own 36.

But the Warriors continued toplay good defense, especiallysophomore Eric McCracken whowas in double-digits in tackles onthe night. Two of McCracken'stackles forced Glendale to puntfrom their own 28.

"Eric sat in the hallway of thelocker room until about five min-utes before gametime becausehe had a migraine headache,"Coach Hubler said. "I felt so badfor him. But he is just improv-ing. Eric played a solid, solidgame at a very tough position."

West Branch took advantageof the good field position. TheWarriors needed just five playsfrom the Glendale 49 to score.Zack McDowell took in asix-yard run to make the score27-0.

"Once we were down 20-0, ourkids kind of hung their heads inthe second half a little bit," Kutzsaid. "Then all of the sudden ourkids started getting hurt.Obviously, we've got to get a lit-tle tougher and, hopefully, wecan accomplish that next week."

With the game out of reachlate in the fourth quarter, theyounger West Branch playerstook the field to set up a drive oftheir own.

The Warriors used a 12-play,85-yard drive to put their finalpoints up on the board when

Continued on Page 10

Mo Valleywins battleof unbeatens

Special to The ProgressEVERETT — When quarter-

back Jack Kephart rolled to hisright and broke out of the packfor a 27-yard gain with under twominutes left, it was MoshannonValley's only first down of thesecond half.

It was also the ballgame. Andit may well have kept the BlackKnights' record perfect.

Kephart's big gain on athird-and-11 from his own 4 —coming moments after agoal-line defensive stand —allowed Mo Valley to run off thefinal 1:30 and emerge with a 12-6victory over Northern Bedford ina battle of unbeaten Inter-CountyConference teams Friday nightat Everett Warriors Stadium.

"This is big," said Kephart,who also threw a touchdownpass to Steve Holencik. "This is avery, very big win for us."

"I challenged this team backin January about how great theywanted to be. I really didn't real-ize at this point in the season wecould be 7-0," Black Knightcoach Howie Camberg said. "Butthese kids just want to be good.They never give up."

Mo Valley scored twice in a1:38 period of the second quarterand was able to hold on in agame where rain and toughdefense combined to bringoffense to a premium.

Nowhere was that more evi-dent than at the end. WithNorthern Bedford at the Knight2, Mo Valley's P.J. Keith pouncedon a fourth-down fumble afterNorthern Bedford quarterbackJake Hall and his fullback collid-ed and the ball slipped loose.

The play ended a 14-play,seven-minute drive from thePanthers' own 20 after StephenDeao's 26-yard field goal waswide to the right. The marchincluded two third-down conver-sions, a fourth-down conversionand a 26-yard pass from Hall toMitch Blake.

"We were just stepping it up,"Knight co-captain Brad Espostisaid of the final stand. "We weretelling each other we've got tostick together because we are afamily, and it came out our way."

"The fourth down play wasvery decisive," Camberg said,"but maybe even a bigger playwas when we got the first down."

Kephart said it wasn't all hisdoing.

"Our line did it all," Kephartsaid. "Our line did a heck of ajob all night. They've been doingit all year."

After Mo Valley took a 12-0lead into the half on Kephart's25-yard second-quarter touch-down pass to Holencik and LarryHayward's 32-yard interceptionreturn less than two minuteslater, Northern Bedford seizedthe initiative.

Working mostly out of a powerbackfield without leading rusherBranden Detwiler, the BlackPanthers drove 60 yards on 11plays to get back into the game onShane Suter's 11-yard touchdownreception from Hall. FranciscoGatica slipped and missed on theextra point to leave Mo Valleywith a six-point cushion.

After Mo Valley outgainedNorthern Bedford 159-93, thePanthers turned the tables andended up with a 219-195 yardageadvantage.

"In the second half, we took itto them," Northern Bedfordcoach Dan Foor said. "Weemphasized to the kids on anight like this you can't turn itover. We had a receiver open (onthe fourth-and-goal). If we com-plete the pass, we're in overtimeor we win the game.

"We had some mental mistakesthe first half. The touchdownm

pass was a blown coverage.Mental mistakes cost us this win."

Mo Valley came up with fourturnovers. The biggest wasHayward's interception return,which came on the heels of13-play Knight scoring driveafter NBC turned the ball overon downs at the Mo Valley 16.

"I just read the quarterback'seyes and went over, and it wasthere," Hay ward said.

"It was very big," Cambergsaid of the two-touchdown lead!"Getting up by the two scores, wefelt somewhat comfortable. We'dhave liked to have another one."

Mo Valley had a chance latein the half, but Deao's 27-yardfield goal was wide.

With the win, the Knightsimproved to 7-0 for the first timesince 1996, when the teamadvanced to the PIAA Class AWestern final.

"It's great being 7-0," Knightco-captain Brad Esposti said"We stuck together tne way wedid the last six games."

The Knights Travel to JuniataValley on Friday.