Mo Valley faces daunting task with BG football team
district 6 class 1a football playoffs
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Bishop Guilfoyle Academy won the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship this season, a league that includes the District 6 Class 4A champion, the Class 3A top seed and the second and third seeds in Class 2A.
The Marauders are the top seed in the Class 1A playoffs, so on the surface it doesn't appear like the other teams in the bracket have much of a chance to overcome BG, which has played in the last two PIAA championship games.
That doesn't mean teams like Moshannon Valley -- which plays Guilfoyle tonight in Loretto at Saint Francis University at 7 p.m. -- go into the daunting matchup without hope.
"They play the game for a reason," Moshannon Valley coach Michael Keith said. "Anything can happen. They may have an off night. We may play the best football of our lives. Anything can happen. Wouldn't people be shocked when they wake up Saturday morning and say, 'holy (crap), Mo Valley beat BG.'"
With that said, Keith knows his team has a tall task in Friday's District 6 semifinal.
"Their line is outstanding," Keith said. "We have 11 games on them. Watching them, they basically run over everyone more or less. You have to attack the line of scrimmage and try to make them feel uncomfortable. If you can get them into some third and longs, you might be successful."
The Black Knights have also had their fair share of success this season, and it started with a thrilling win over Windber in their opening game.
"That was huge, especially the way it happened in double overtime," Keith said. "We played the top three teams in the (Inter-County Conference) South in Windber, Meyersdale and Berlin. We played the top three teams and beat two of them, which was huge for our confidence."
Moshannon Valley (8-3) avenged a regular-season loss to Juniata Valley in last week's quarterfinals.
Bishop Guilfoyle also recently beat a team it lost to in the regular season -- Richland. It continued a trend of great play that has the Marauders ranked as the top team in Class 1A in the state.
BG beat Northern Cambria, 53-16, in its quarterfinal game.
"I thought we played a pretty good game in all aspects," Marauders coach Justin Wheeler said. "In the playoffs, it's important that you are doing everything the best you can possibly do it. Against Richland, we were run-heavy and needed to lean on that. This week, we were able to get that balance and use two different quarterbacks and throw the ball for over 100 yards and still be able to run the ball. The kids executed really well and believe in themselves."
Wheeler's son, Jay, has had a lot to do with BG's improved offense this season. He has 1,345 yards rushing and 929 yards passing through 11 games.
"I think it's really helped our offense," Wheeler said. "Last year, Jay was smaller and a sophomore. We didn't want him to make mistakes, and we relied on Jake (Kissell). This year, we really felt that turn in the Bellwood game. He would roll out, they would drop and he would take off and run. Since then, when we do go to throw, teams will try to spy him with two guys and we'll have guys wide open in the secondary. He's able to make those throws. With his feet and his ability to throw, it's coming together for him this year. He's such a dual-threat kid, and it really puts the defense in a bind. Do you spy the kid who is averaging 150 yards rushing a game or do you sit back and let him throw the ball when he's thrown for about 1,000 yards this year?"
Moshannon Valley will counter with all-state linebacker Gavin Lovell, who has continued his strong play this season under defensive coordinator Dave Minarchick. Minarchick was part of the previous Moshannon Valley coaching staff and was kept on when Keith took over the head coaching job just before this season.
"Gavin Lovell could be the best defensive player I have ever coached," Keith said. "I have coached for 20 years. With Dave's defense, he can even question him on calls because he's such a student of the game. He knows all the adjustments and knows what Dave is going to call before he calls it. He's a very intelligent kid. Then you have kids like Mason Abernethy and Rocco Reifer. They are just playmakers. Add in J.C. Smith, who won the Juniata Valley game on a field goal. We have had kids step up all year long."
Wheeler has also seen that.
"Watching them on film, they are an impressive team," Wheeler said. "They have found ways to win. They have been in a lot of tight games and have been able to pull them out. They have a big offensive line and a back that would be good no matter what conference or team he was playing on. They are a good football team."