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WINDBER -- Defeating the defending district champion and clinching the Inter-County Conference South Division crown in one night gave Windber a great feeling, but the Ramblers knew there was still much left on the table for this season.
The Ramblers are still aiming to regain District 5 supremacy and took another step toward it Friday night, defeating conference foe Juniata Valley, 42-7, at Windber Stadium.
"Coming off last week, getting a huge win over Northern Bedford and getting a section championship, what you don't want to have is a trap game," Windber coach Matt Grohal said. "We preached that all week. There's still plenty to play for. That top seed means a lot.
"We have a veteran ball club, a lot of senior leadership, that didn't let that happen."
Windber (8-2) will head into the District 5 playoffs as the No. 1 seed in Class 1A. The Ramblers will host No. 4 Conemaugh Township in the semifinal round next Friday.
The Ramblers now have the opportunity to claim their second district crown in three years.
Player of the game: Windber senior running back RJ Tallion compiled 146 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries.
After recording 65 yards in the first half, Tallion ran the ball for eight consecutive plays and compiled 81 yards on the opening drive of the third quarter.
"The line blocked amazing for us tonight," Tallion said. "They always do a great job getting us opportunities on the ground. I wouldn't be where I am and getting the things I get without them."
Tallion scored the game's opening touchdown on a 15-yard run at 10:06 of the first quarter. He then scored on a 14-yard carry in the second quarter before tallying the Ramblers' final touchdown late in the third.
"Sometimes he gets overshadowed, but he is a tremendous football player," Grohal said.
Most vital statistic: After turning the ball over on each of its first two drives, Juniata Valley fell behind 21-0 just six minutes into the game.
Windber's Ethan Brady intercepted Damian Williams before the Ramblers recovered a fumble on a Green Hornets' fake punt.
"We came out early and got a little shell-shocked," JV coach Bill Musser said. "We got down by 21 points very early and we were never able to get back in. We just have to come out and be a little more consistent. Our young team has to realize that things just won't happen, we have to make things happen."
Notable: Juniata Valley is in the District 6 Class 1A playoffs as the No. 8 seed. The Green Hornets will travel to No. 1 Bishop Guilfoyle to begin the postseason next week.
"Playoffs are playoffs," Musser said. "These boys have to understand how fun, exciting and enjoyable playoffs can be. The motivation should be there. We just have to go out and give it our all."
Records: Juniata Valley (4-6); Windber (8-2).
Next week: Juniata Valley travels to Bishop Guilfoyle; Windber hosts Conemaugh Township.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Juniata Valley 0 0 7 0 -- 7
Windber 21 14 7 0 -- 42
First Quarter
W--Tallion 15 run (Krause kick), 10:03.
W--Brady 40 pass from Oleksa (Krause kick), 9:04.
W--Chicarell 13 run (Krause kick), 6:09.
Second Quarter
W--Tallion 14 run (Kick failed), 7:33.
W--Brady 7 pass from Oleksa (Tallion rush), 2:25.
Third Quarter
W--Tallion 4 run (Krause kick), 2:45.
JV--Rand 59 run (Rodkey kick), 0:16.
TEAM STATISTICS JV W
First Downs 6 17
Total Yards 205 381
Rushes-Yards 29-108 33-249
Yards Passing 97 132
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 11-20-1 7-11-0
Punts-Avg. 3-28.3 1-35
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 2-1
Penalties-Yards 3-15 4-40
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing--Juniata Valley, Clark 8-9, Rand 2-57, Williams 1-(-6), V. Hoover 7-20, Weirich 4-8, Hess 6-20. Windber, Chicarell 3-14, Mash 3-26, Oleksa 3-25, Tallion 16-146, Benitez-Taylor 3-13, Marx 4-22, Oyler 1-0.
Passing--Juniata Valley, Williams 9-17-73-1, Rand 1-2-9-0, Rodkey 1-1-15-0. Windber, Oleksa 7-11-132-0.
Receiving--Juniata Valley, B. Hoover 4-27, Brantner 1-1, V. Hoover 2-23, Dick 1-3, Smith 1-17, Neri 1-11, Weirich 1-15. Windber, Brady 6-114, Chicarell 1-18.