HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 10 PREVIEWS

Guy Cipriano

- gciprian@centredaily.com

Bald Eagle Area (2-7) at Bellefonte (1-8)

When: 7 p.m. tonight

Where: Rogers Stadium

Last year: Bald Eagle Area won 13-9

The skinny: Bald Eagle Area played its way into the District 6 Class AA playoffs by defeating Bellefonte last year. Bellefonte played its way out of the District 6 Class AAA playoffs on the same night.

Realistic 2009 playoff chatter for both sides ended last month. The teams have combined for just three wins.

But nobody expects a snoozer in Bellefonte. The annual Curtin Bowl, after all, fits any coach-speak regarding records.

“You don’t look at that,” BEA’s Jack Tobias said. “It’s something you have to put aside. This is one game you have to win, whether you have one win or you are undefeated. The history of this game means everything.”

A victory in last year’s game helped BEA earn its first district playoff spot since 1999. BEA’s roster included less turnover than Bellefonte’s. But Tobias has emphasized the Curtin Bowl’s tradition instead of dwelling on last year’s triumph this week.

BEA enters tonight with momentum. The Eagles have won two of their past four games since starting 0-5. BEA held Lewistown to 68 total yards during a 7-0 victory last week.

“We played well last week,” Tobias said. “We didn’t put up a lot of points, but we moved the ball up and down the field. I was happy with the way the kids played and we’re excited to have this opportunity to play Bellefonte.”

Bellefonte experienced a different fate against Mifflin County’s other program, losing 48-8 to Indian Valley. The Red Raiders, who received a 77-yard kickoff return from Travis Struble last week, haven’t scored an offensive touchdown since Caleb Williamson’s 1-yard run with 9:30 left in the fourth quarter against Central Mountain on Oct. 19.

Bellefonte coach Zac Wynkoop said a victory over BEA would give his program “a huge boost” entering the off-season. Bellefonte has not lost to BEA in consecutive years since 1997-98.

“It’s important to us regardless of what the record is,” Wynkoop said. “You have two teams that have struggled, but when it comes to the importance of this game none of that really matters. What matters is the Curtin Bowl. I guess that’s what’s cool about the game. The intensity and the importance of it holds by itself. You can really focus on that and let loose on some of those other things you have gone through in a season.”

Part of Bellefonte’s struggles can be linked to a small senior class. The Red Raiders only have nine seniors. The total includes veteran lineman Ernie Jenkins, whose season ended with a knee injury against DuBois.

BEA’s roster includes 16 seniors and many, including three-year starting lineman Dillon Shreffler, played critical roles in last year’s Curtin Bowl victory. The group is looking to give BEA its 31st victory over Bellefonte. The teams met for the first time in 1956.

State College (7-2) at Chambersburg (5-4)

When: 7 p.m. tonight

Where: Trojan Stadium

Last year: State College won 35-3

The skinny: There’s no shortage of motivation for State College’s Week 10 opponent.

The Trojans, who haven’t finished with a winning record since 1998, can secure a District 3 Class AAAA playoff spot with a victory. The Trojans can also squeeze in with a loss, but nobody in Franklin County wants to crunch numbers after facing the Little Lions.

“They definitely have that going for them,” Wolski said.

Wolski then quickly added State College has its own playoff motivation. The District 6-8-9-10 Class AAAA sub-regional is an open tournament, although it’s unlikely all six teams will enter. DuBois (4-5), Altoona (2-7) and Allderdice (1-8) enter this week with losing records.

The Little Lions could earn the top seed with a victory. They currently trail Erie McDowell by 20 points for the top seed. The Trojans don’t play this week, so seeds will be determined by average points.

Defeating a five-win Chambersburg team would increase State College’s per-game points average to 107. Erie McDowell’s average is 104.

“We want to get the best situation for our bracket,” said Wolski, whose team won the sub-regional last year. “A win assures a No. 1 seed.”

State College is rounding into playoff form. The Little Lions fell to Bishop McDevitt 28-17 last week, but they held a three-point third-quarter lead against a team some consider Pennsylvania’s best.

“We told the kids to put that in the past,” Wolski said. “We let them hurt for two days before going back to work Monday.”

The Little Lions’ run defense was tested against the Crusaders. It should receive another big test tonight from Chambersburg’s Derek Burkhard, a rugged 5-foot- 11, 209-pound junior.

Wolski said the Trojans like to run toss sweeps from a wing-T set. The alignment should keep State College linebackers Matt Baney, Shane Dorner, Brad Holzwarth and Jeff Moyer busy. Moyer is the lone member of the quartet who received significant playing time last season.

“They are getting better all the time,” Wolski said. “(Assistant coach) Mark Baney does a really good job of coaching those guys up. They are good kids and it’s nice to have some younger kids in there.”

State College has outscored Chambersburg 214-28 in five meetings. Tonight could be the closest State College-Chambersburg encounter.

The Trojans are the Mid-Penn’s most improved team. Chambersburg coach David Carruthers, a Penn State graduate, led two different Maryland schools to a combined six state titles. His current team owns wins over Lower Dauphin, Harrisburg, Cedar Cliff, Susquehanna Township and Carlisle.

“They have more confidence,” Wolski said. “They have a real nice running back. He’s a big, strong kid. They are just playing better. We knew the coach would eventually bring them around. It’s a big school and it’s a matter of getting kids out.”

Huntingdon (6-3) at Philipsburg-Osceola (3-6)

When: 7 p.m. tonight

Where: Memorial Stadium

Last year: Huntingdon won 42-28

The skinny: Philipsburg-Osceola’s finale could have possessed serious playoff implications. Instead, what-ifs fill the suddenly-frigid Moshannon Valley air.

The Mounties’ shot at earning one of the eight District 6 Class AA spots ended with a 14-13 loss last week at Chestnut Ridge. The loss marked another frustrating setback in a season where P-O has won just three games despite holding six opponents under 20 points.

This marks the first time in coach Jeff Vroman’s eight-year tenure the Mounties will miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

“I think there’s disappointment,” Vroman said. “There has to be. Some of the games we lost were only by a couple of points. We were in games week-in and week-out.”

The Mounties are 0-6 against teams from outside Centre County. They haven’t defeated a team from elsewhere since handling Lewistown 34-12 on Sept. 12, 2007.

P-O faces a big challenge tonight. The Bearcats, who fell at Clearfield 21-14 last week, are trying to surpass Richland for the No. 4 seed in the District 6 Class AA playoffs.

“The huge key is that we see our kids are not quitting,” Vroman said. “We have six seniors and we want to go out and try to get a win for the seniors. Some of those guys will no longer play after this game. We also want to set a little tone for next year.”

P-O’s success could hinge on its ability to control Huntingdon’s special teams. Andrew Cerrett is the district’s best punter and his right foot can quickly alter field position. Nathan Mykut, Scott Minor and Houston Riley are dangerous kick and punt returners.

Senior Zack Czap has been the key to P-O’s special teams. Czap kicked two field goals last week. He also punts and returns kicks and punts.

“We have been pretty good in our special teams,” Vroman said. “Maybe if we play well in that aspect it will give us more of an opportunity.”

Penns Valley (2-7) at Central Mountain (5-4)

When: 7 p.m. tonight

Where: Don Malinak Stadium

Last year: Central Mountain 46-19

The skinny: This marks Penns Valley’s first football trip into Clinton County this decade. When informed of this fact earlier this week, Penns Valley coach Martin Tobias neglected to turn sentimental.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” he said. “We are making sure we are doing things right on our end. We haven’t had a chance to concentrate or worry about things like that.”

The Rams will need the narrow focus. The Wildcats hold significant advantages in male enrollment (559-221 in the PIAA’s three enrollment-counting grades), size and postseason motivation. Central Mountain can secure the No. 3 seed in the District 6-8-9-10 Class AAAA playoffs with a victory. The Wildcats, who were blasted at Harrisburg 37-0 last Saturday, are one of six teams eligible for the subregional.

“They have a tough group of kids,” Tobias said. “They are a physical group of kids and they play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. They come off the ball, they have real tough running backs, they have a swarming defense and they are big up front. They aren’t a very good matchup for us.”

Running back Scott Zuback leads the Wildcats with 1,139 yards on 147 carries. Freshman Von Walker has added 527 yards on 68 carries.

Penns Valley is coming off one of its best performances. The Rams lost to Tyrone 24-6 last week, but they outrushed the Golden Eagles 170-128 on 10 fewer carries.

“The kids put together their most complete game of the season,” said Tobias, who is bidding farewell to a 24-member senior class.

Regional Games of Interest

Tyrone (8-1) at Central (8-1) — Game of the Year in the Mountain Athletic Football Conference.

Cumberland Valley (8-1) at Central Dauphin (7-2) — Football teams resemble schools’ other athletic programs: Solid.

Clearfield (6-3) at St. Marys (6-3) — Flying Dutchmen are home for the first time since Oct. 2.

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