TRIBUNE-REVIEW • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 • 33
Two-time conference, District 6 champions using preseason snub as motivation for another title run THE FAVORITE
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HERITAGE CONFERENCE
Ligonier Valley coach Roger
Beitel said he doesn’t knowwhat
two Heritage Conference coaches
didn’t pick his team to finish
first in a preseason poll.
He just told his players to
assume all the coaches picked
against them.
The two-time reigning Heritage
Conference, Appalachian
Bowl and District 6 Class 2A
champion Rams are ready to go
for a three-peat in 2018.
They did receive eight of the
10 first-place votes and two second
place votes in the preseason
coaches’ poll.NorthernCambria
received the other two votes.
“We’ll just use it as motivation,”
Beitel said. “It is nice that
the majority of the coaches did
recognize what we’ve done the
past few seasons.”
While the Rams graduated
a lot of talent and experience
from the 2017 team that outscored
opponents 453-26 in the
conference, the well isn’t dry. In
fact, theRamscouldmatchthose
numbers.
“We’ve played 29 games the
past two seasons, and a lot of
players got extra work,” Beitel
said. “That’s going to benefit
us.”
Offensively, the Rams will
be led by senior wide receiver
Aaron Tutino and senior
quarterback John Caldwell.
Tutino caught 55 passes for
1,030 yards, rushed for 317 yards
and scored 24 touchdowns. Caldwell
became the fulltime starter
in Week 5 after sophomore Sam
Sheeder was lost for the season
with a knee injury.
Sheeder is back, but he’ll be
used in a similar fashion as
Jackson Daugherty was a year
ago. He’ll line up in the Wildcat,
at running back and will split
out wide at receiver.
Beitel said he expects the
defense to be strong again and
his secondary will be strong.
Northern Cambria returns a
backfield that rushed for more
than 2,000 yards in 2017. The
Colts return eight starters on
both sides of the ball.
Quarterback Mark Marino,
who rushed for 719 yards, will
have a choice to give the ball to
Ben Vasil (830 yards) or Logan
Onskt (537). Marino also threw
for 479 yards and seven touchdowns.
Northern Cambria coachSam
Shutty said he expects to challenge
Ligonier Valley for the
conference title.
“I think we’ll be a contender,”
Shutty said at Heritage/West-
PAC Media Day.
West Shamokin, which like
Ligonier Valley is in Class 2A,
was picked third and will rely
on quarterback Ty Lightner and
running back Dan Goldstrohm
to lead the way.
Homer-Center finished second
to the Rams in 2017, but
it was hit hard by graduation.
Veteran coach Greg Page lost his
top two running backs in Jesse
Lee and Mike McCracken, who
combined to rush for more than
2,500 yards.
Sophomore quarterback Ben
Schmidt, who helped lead the
Wildcats to the District 6 Class
A title and a trip to the state
championship game, will lead
the squad.
United returns six offensive
starters and five defensive starters.
The Lions will count heavily
on junior quarterbackKyle Silk,
who passed for 492 yards and five
touchdowns and rushed for 914
yards and 12 scores.
If teams key on Silk, sophomore
runningback HunterCameron,
who rushed for 772 yards
and 10 scores, can carry the load.
Blairsville ended the season
with a win in theWestPACcrossover
game. The Bobcats return
senior quarterback Devin
Burkhart and two receivers
— junior Garrett Henigin and
Adam Ratkus.
Burkhart completed 95 of 214
passes for 1,569 yards and 15
touchdowns. He also had 12 interceptions.
Henigin caught 23 passes for
241 yards, Ratkus had 14 catches
for 313 yards.
Penns Manor, Marion Center,
Saltsburg and Purchase Line
also are looking to improve on
last season.
by PAUL SCHOFIELD
1. Ligonier Valley (14-1)
The Rams have won consecutive
Heritage Conference and District 6
Class 2A titles. While the Rams have
lost some great offensive talent over
the past two seasons, the team is
bigger and faster.
Preseason rankings
2. Northern Cambria (7-4)
3. West Shamokin (5-6)
4. Homer-Center (13-2)
5. United (4-7)
* RECORDS FROM 2017
THE STARS
MARK MARINO
Northern Cambria, sr., QB
This dual-threat quarterback passed
for 479 yards and seven touchdowns
and rushed for 719 yards and 10
touchdowns in 2017.
MIKE PETROF
Ligonier Valley, jr., OL/DL
This two-way tackle is getting
interest from colleges at every level.
He’s a two-year starter and worked
during the offseason to improve his
strength.
BEN SCHMIDT
Homer-Center, so., QB
The Wildcats had two 1,000-plusyard
rushers, but Schmidt still put up
solid numbers. He completed 74 of
133 passes for 1,099 yards and eight
touchdowns.
KYLE SILK
United, jr., QB
This junior dual-threat quarterback
rushed for 914 yards and 12 touchdowns
and completed 40 of 114
passes for 492 yards and five scores.
AARON TUTINO
Ligonier Valley, sr., WR/DB
He caught 55 passes for 1,030 yards
and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed
for 317 yards and five touchdowns
and intercepted six passes.
DON’T MISS
8.24 Ligonier Valley
at Homer-Center
The top teams from the conference
in 2017 square off in the opener.
Both were District 6 champions:
Ligonier Valley in Class 2A and Homer
Center in Class A.
9.7 Blairsville at Saltsburg
These rivals are in the same school
district and are coming off one-win
seasons in the conference.
10.12 Northern Cambria
at Ligonier Valley
These teams were picked 1-2 in the
preseason coaches’ poll, and this
game could decide the conference
title.
HOMER-CENTER’S BEN SCHMIDT (LEFT)