Tigers make statement

October 3, 2020

When the Altoona Mountain Lions opened their season last week by thrashing traditionally-respected Cumberland Valley, most figured the crosstown rivals from Hollidaysburg arrived at Mansion Park as underdogs Friday night. Well, as Lee Corso might say, “Not so fast, my friends.’’ If the Tigers were underdogs, they didn’t get the memo, evidenced by their convincing 26-12 victory. Or maybe they did get the memo, and it stoked their motivation. “I know how it is. They beat Cumberland Valley, and that’s all anybody wanted to talk about,’’ Hollidaysburg coach Homer ...

It’s good to be a Bison these days

October 2, 2020

There might not be a school in the area happier that the PIAA went ahead with fall sports than Bedford. It’s hard to argue against the Bisons looking the most impressive in the region over the first three weeks of the high school football season with a dominating win over long-time rival Chestnut Ridge, a victory over defending District 6 Class 2A champion Richland and a 28-0 shutout of ball-control specialists Westmont Hilltop. Bedford has really hit its groove over the past couple years following a switch at quarterback from Steven Ressler to Mercury Swaim. The pair connected a ...

Scholastic ADs having a tough time

September 25, 2020

It has to be hard to be an athletic director in 2020. Last week, Tyrone learned its high school football game at Clearfield was postponed at 11 a.m. the same day the Golden Eagles were supposed to play. It was picture day at Tyrone, and I have to imagine several players were wearing their jerseys in school but never got a chance to wear them that night. In Philipsburg, head football coach Jeff Vroman didn’t find out his team wasn’t having their senior night until almost 3 p.m., just hours before the ceremony was set to begin. Both games were postponed due to a possible positive ...

Lambour raced to inclusion:

September 12, 2020

Of the countless Division I athletes Blair County has produced over the years, Tim Lambour’s experience was perhaps the most unique when it came to racial relations. Lambour was a basketball standout at Bishop Guilfoyle, helping lead the 1970 Marauders to the Pennsylvania Catholic ...

Savor your football game this weekend

September 11, 2020

You Tube Another season of high school football previews with Michael Boytim and Scott Franco of the Mirror is now on the Mirror Channel on You Tube. Check it out today. The day thousands of athletes across the area have been waiting for all summer has finally arrived, and while the circumstances certainly aren’t perfect, it’s important for everyone involved to appreciate what we do have. We have high school football. Soon, we’ll have scholastic soccer, cross country and girls volleyball. Our paper has already been running high school golf and girls tennis roundups for the past ...

Gazing into (shattered) crystal ball

September 5, 2020

This is supposed to be the most special time of the year. The calendar flips to September, summer vacation is in the rear-view mirror, the kids are back in school, the cooler fall air begins to replace the August heat. And you pack the car, hopefully with the Mirror Gameday in tow for a relaxing tailgate, and you resume your tradition of attending or watching Penn State football. Of course, we know that isn’t the case today as the last six months have painfully taught us what’s not going to be in 2020. But what was going to be? In the early days of spring preparation, ...