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By John Hartsock
jhartsock@altoonamirror.com
Northern Bedford and Windber have been familiar football opponents over the past several years, and the two schools have played for District 5 Class 1A championships in both of the past two seasons, splitting two title games.
The stakes were high in those games for the two programs, and they will be again Friday night, when the Black Panthers host the Ramblers in a game that will determine the Inter-County Conference South Division champion. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Panther Community Stadium.
Northern Bedford brings a 7-1 overall record and a 5-0 mark in the ICC South into Friday's game, while Windber is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the division.
Winning the conference section is extremely important to Northern Bedford coach Garry Black and his program.
"Everybody always looks at a district championship, but for us, a championship is harder to win in the ICC South because we're playing against some Double-A (classification) teams that are really good year in and year out,'' Black said. "To be in the spot to play for a conference section championship is very important, and, no matter what happens down the road in the district playoffs, you can still have a championship season for your team if you win a game like this one.''
Windber coach Matt Grohol said that his program's games with Northern Bedford have been rivalry matchups, and the significance of Friday's contest for the conference section title enhances that rivalry.
"It certainly does,'' Grohol said. "In the last several years, Northern Bedford has become like a rivalry for us, so, even taking away the ICC thing and the district rankings heading into the playoffs, it's a huge game.
"It's been a good rivalry for us over the last handful of years, and we're excited to go down there and see if we can pull off an upset and get the section championship.''
Northern Bedford has a potent and balanced offensive attack led by senior quarterback Vaughn Schleinkofer, who has completed 109 of 172 passes for 1,432 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
Junior back Ben Clark fronts the Panthers' running game with 706 rushing yards on 129 carries for 11 touchdowns, and he has also caught 13 passes for 169 yards and a score.
Senior wideout Aaron Bowers, who has earned all-state recognition on offense, defense and special teams over the past three seasons, has a team-leading 38 receptions for 568 yards and six touchdowns this season.
Northern Bedford graduated many key players from last season's District 5 championship team that went 12-1 and lost to eventual state champion Steelton-Highspire in the first round of the PIAA playoffs, but the Black Panthers have done an excellent job of reloading this season.
"They're impressive,'' Grohol said of the Northern Bedford team. "When you think about what they lost from last year's team and what Coach Black and his staff have been able to do with this new group of guys ... he's done a marvelous job.
"Obviously, number 30 for them (Bowers) is a super football player who stands out, but they have a plethora of other weapons as well,'' Grohol added. "Their skill guys are as good as any (team) in the conference, and it seems like their line is getting better week in and week out. If you look at them from Week 1 to Week 8, they've improved every week, and that's the sign of a well-coached team. We know that we're going to have our hands full on Friday night.''
Black said that his players knew that preseason public expectations for the team this season were not high because of the number of players from last year's squad who had moved on, but he's thrilled with the way that this year's players have embraced the challenge.
"These guys kind of had the attitude that they had something to prove, and they've done that all year and I couldn't be happier for this group of kids,'' Black said.
Windber's offense is run-oriented, with senior back R.J. Tallion leading the way with 780 rushing yards on 96 carries (an 8.1 yards-per-carry average) and four touchdowns, and senior quarterback Lucas Olexsa rushing for 440 yards on 55 carries (an 8 ypc average) and four TDs, while also completing 33 of 64 passes for 432 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior wideout Evan Brady, the team's leading receiver a year ago, has added another dimension to the Ramblers' offense after coming out for this year's team in the third week of the season. Brady has 17 catches for 166 yards and two scores.
"(Tallion) was a guy who we saw a lot of last year, and he was their main runner last year,'' Black said. "They don't throw for a lot of yards, but in their offense, their quarterback often becomes their lead blocker,'' Black said. "He's a real big, strong physical kid who also plays defensive end for them, and when he's called on to throw the football, he does a nice job.
"They have a kid, Evan Brady, who was their leading receiver last year, but who had not come out for the team at the beginning of the year,'' Black added. "Then somewhere toward the middle of this season, he came out for the team and he has helped them to open up their passing game. When that happens, then your running game can open up even more. So I think they're improving each and every week.''
The Ramblers will be missing a huge weapon again this week, as senior tailback/wingback Luke Hostetler, who rushed for 509 yards and eight touchdowns in the team's first four games this season before suffering a partially torn quadriceps tendon in his left leg during one of the team's practice sessions, will be sidelined for the fifth straight game.
Grohol is hoping that Hostetler, who did not require surgery for the injury, will be able to get clearance from his doctor to participate in the upcoming playoffs.
"He's been working hard in his rehab and he's well on the road to recovery but he's just not ready to play yet,'' Grohol said. "He's our best football player, and we really miss him.''
Northern Bedford has won five games in a row, while Windber has won three in a row, and six of its last seven.
"I think it's going to be a good football game between the two teams on Friday night,'' Black said.
Windber at Northern Bedford
Time: Friday, 7 p.m. at Panther Community Stadium.
Records: Windber (6-2 overall, 4-1 in the Inter-County Conference South Division); Northern Bedford (7-1, 5-0.) The winner of this game is the ICC South Division champion.
Coaches: Northern Bedford's Garry Black is 84-31 in 10 seasons. Windber's Matt Grohol is 99-55 in 14 seasons.
Last week: Windber defeated Berlin-Brothersvalley, 26-6 at home. Northern Bedford beat North Star, 28-7 on the road.