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Colts fall at home

NORTHERN CAMBRIA– A District 6 Class 1A football playoff bid can be had by the Northern Cambria Colts. They have two weeks to earn it.

The Colts need only to finish in the top 12 to attain a first-round playoff berth. They can earn their way into the postseason with victories on Oct. 18 at Penns Manor and in a Heritage Conference-WestPAC crossover game the weekend of Oct. 25-26.

Northern Cambria’s playoff drive, according to coach Sam Shutty, began after its 42-7 loss to Heritage Conference-leading Ligonier Valley on Friday night at Duffy Daugherty Memorial Stadium.

“That’s what we’re hoping (for). We hoping to run the season,” he said. “Like I told our guys after this game was over, ‘Our playoffs begin right now.’ We basically have a shot. We have two games coming up, and I think we win them if we play the way we played tonight.”

Northern Cambria has lost six successive games. Ligonier Valley has won 36 consecutive conference games.

Player of the game: Kyrie Miller led the Rams with 118 yards on 10 rushing attempts. He scored two touchdowns and became the school’s all-time career leading rusher.

Unsung hero: Ligonier Valley quarterback Samuel Sheeder completed eight of 10 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns. His passing help keep the Colts defense honest.

Most vital statistics: Ligonier Valley outgained Northern Cambria in total yardage, 338-201. The Rams punted only once.

Ligonier Valley coach Roger Beitel, on how the Rams maintain their intensity through a succession of top-heavy victories: “It’s just our mindset; it’s our culture. We practice hard in practice, and every week they come out (with the attitude) that whoever it is we’re playing is in a playoff game or a state championship game. So we really don’t have to worry about that intensity.”

Northern Cambria coach Sam Shutty, whose team used ball control to keep the Rams offense off the field in the first half before two big plays changed the game: “They’re a good team; and it was one of those things where we really couldn’t match the depth that they had. I just told our guys to just go out, play hard, and look for positives in every play. And I think we did that.”

Ligonier Valley running back Kyrie Miller, on becoming Ligonier Valley’s all-time career leading rusher: “It’s awesome. It’s a personal achievement I set out for my freshman year, and I was able to do in two years, fortunately.”

Northern Cambria running back Adam Kopera: “They’ve got three D-I linemen. It’s kind of hard to go up against them in the conference. We just gave it our all.”

Notable: Ligonier Valley needed only 18 plays from scrimmage to attain its fourth-touchdown lead in the first half. … The last 20 minutes, and 1 seconds were played in running time.

Records: Ligonier Valley (8-0), Northern Cambria (2-6).

Next week: Ligonier Valley plays host to Blairsville, and Northern Cambria visits Penns Manor on Friday.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Ligonier Valley 7 21 7 7–42

Northern Cambria 0 0 0 7– 7

First Quarter

LV–Krieger 10 pass from Sheeder (Beard kick), 9:04

Second Quarter

LV–Kelley 2 run (Beard kick), 11:13

LV–Miller 80 run (Beard kick), 4:37

LV–Beard 67 pass from Sheeder (Beard kick),1:59

Third Quarter

LV–Miller 8 run (Beard kick), 8:01

Fourth Quarter

LV–Kelley 2 run (Beard kick), 10:49

NC–Prasko 2 run (Amsdell kick), 53.

TEAM STATISTICS LV NC

First downs 11 11

Total yards 338 201

Rushes-yards 20-157 40-128

Yards passing 181 73

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 8-11-0 8-16-0

Fumbles-lost 2-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 4-38 7-53

Punts-avg. 1-33.0 5-25.8

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Ligonier Valley, Miller 9-116, Sheeder 3-15, Kelley 3-13, Beitel 3-10, Ersik 1-3, Sireocky 1-0. Northern Cambria, Kopera 24-106, Prasko 13-18, Noll 2-10, Hoover 1-(-6).

PASSING–Ligonier Valley, Sheeder 8-10-0-181, Sierocky 0-1-0-0. Northern Cambria, Hoover 8-15-0-73, Prasko 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING–Ligonier Valley, 4-124, Miller 2-26, Krieger 2-31. Northern Cambria, Prasko 3-31, Kopera 3-11, Noll 1-23, G. Dumm 1-8.

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