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ALEXANDRIA -- Opportunities were hard to come by for Juniata Valley on offense, but it made just enough of them count.
The top-seeded Green Hornets ran just 16 plays in the first half, and managed to come up with a 29-12 win over No. 8 Conemaugh Valley in the District 6 Class 1A quarterfinals at A.R. Simkins Field.
Play of the game: Juniata Valley's Jake Johnson came up with a 16-yard scoop-and-score late in the fourth quarter which ultimately put the game away.
Player of the game: Johnson came up with two critical touchdowns including a 73-yard scamper in the first half.
Unsung heroes: The Juniata Valley scout team, who attempted to replicate Logan Kent, Noah and Nick Heltzel. The Green Hornet defense managed to hold the Blue Jays to under 3 yards per carry as a unit as a result.
Most vital statistics: Conemaugh Valley put just six points on the board on offense during the first half even though they managed to run 42 plays and had the ball for almost 20 minutes.
Juniata Valley coach Bill Musser: "I have to give our second and third groups a lot of credit. This week at practice, they really challenged us. They tried to do the best they could to replicate (the speed of Conemaugh Valley). You obviously can't with the speed of Kent and the Heltzel boys. It paid off there because they didn't get into the end zone.''
Conemaugh Valley coach Matthew Kent: "Our kids busted our butts. We were smaller than them, not as many kids as them, but went out there pushed them around this field. Hats off to Juniata Valley, they're a well-coached team. I think they will do well in the playoffs.''
Notable: Both teams are currently in co-ops as Conemaugh Valley joined forces with Ferndale last year. ... Juniata Valley had only three first downs the entire first half while the Blue Jays racked up 10. ... Each team scored once off turnovers.
Records: Conemaugh Valley (6-6), Juniata Valley (9-1)
Next week: Juniata Valley will host Portage in the District 6 Class 1A semifinals. Conemaugh Valley's season is finished.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Conemaugh Valley 0 12 0 0 -- 12
Juniata Valley 7 8 6 8 -- 29
First Quarter
JV--Rodkey 83 pass from Palmer (Rodkey kick), 2:11.
Second Quarter
CV--Ni. Heltzel 3 run (run failed), 6:37.
JV--Johnson 73 run (Morningstar run), 2:24.
CV--No. Heltzel 49 interception return (run failed), :21.
Third Quarter
JV--Rand 5 run (kick failed), 7:34.
Fourth Quarter
JV--Johnson 16 fumble return (Johnson run), 7:02.
TEAM STATISTICS CV JV
First downs 11 8
Total yards 127 269
Rushes-yards 53-143 22-170
Yards passing 31 99
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 3-5-0 3-7-1
Punts-avg. 3-35.7 2-33
Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 6-73 2-20
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Conemaugh Valley, Kent 34-92, No. Heltzel 6-20, Ni. Heltzel 4-12, Moore 9-19. Juniata Valley, Rand 15-80, Palmer 3-9, McMonagle 2-11, Allison 1-(-3), Johnson 1-73.
PASSING--Conemaugh Valley, No. Heltzel 3-4-0-31, Kent 0-1-0-0. Juniata Valley, Palmer 3-7-1-99.
RECEIVING--Conemaugh Valley, Kent 2-18, Ni. Heltzel 1-13. Juniata Valley, Rodkey 1-83, Allison 1-6, Johnson 1-10.