2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

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lakersfan24
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2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

Post by lakersfan24 »

Basketball season is starting to wrap up in our area and there's only 5 months or so until camp so why not? Feel free to post comments and criticism.

Let's start with the reigning LH champs

Bishop McCort
BM is coming off an undefeated regular season, a 3rd straight LHAC title, and a 3rd straight D6 title. Many people will say it's time for a down year. Not so fast my friends! The Crushers may be losing a few key players but they are also returning some experience and talent across the board

Strenghts
McCort returns a few solid lineman, one of them being Rugg. IMO Rugg is likely the best lineman in the area. They also return RB Seidel who showed flashes of dominance before going down with a back injury. If he can stay healthy expect the running game to be strong again. In the secondary, Domonkos and James return along with Seidel. Merriman also returns at linebacker.

Weaknesses
Bishop McCort goes into their 2nd straight season with no set quarterback. Last year Schrey was athletic enough to step in and still make plays, but who will take over that role this year? With Lowry gone, who is going to step up and be the leader and identity of the team? This could pose some problems for the Crushers as they make a run at their 4th straight title

Predictions
McCort likely won't lose more than one game in the regular season this year. For the 2nd straight year they don't play Forest Hills so the Laurel Highlands will likely come down to one of these 2 teams. McCort is also the favorite in D6-A once again.


Forest Hills
FH is coming off a 10-2 season after being upsetted in the semifinals of the D6-AA playoffs. The Rangers finished 2nd overall in the LH with a 9-1 record, losing only to Central Cambria. Forest Hills returns an abundance of experience and talent but is still only 2 years removed from their first losing season in 20 some years.

Strengths
Experience. The Rangers return 7 out of 11 starters on defense, and 6 out of 11 on offense. Along with that FH returns some players who played different formations or got time due to injuries last season. Glessner returns for his senior year behind a line that boasts 4 out of 5 returning starters. McCombie is as good as any corner in the area and can match up with any receiver. Look for FH to have a strong defense and a power run game once again.

Weaknesses
The Ranger Wideouts last season were both seniors, and their 3rd best was also a senior. The pass game may struggle for a few weaks because the WRs will be young and inexperienced. The team will have to choose between picking one starting running back or alternating as a group to replace Mehall. Meier, Lazration, Dudukovich, and Kostan all are good runners.

Predictions
The Rangers will likely finish top 2 in the Laurel Highlands. Between FH and BM the team that finishes the regular season unblemished will take the LH crown. In D6-AA, FH is once again one of the favorites with Tyrone, Penn Cambria, and returning champs Central.


Central Cambria
CC finished tied for 3rd in the Laurel Highlands with Johnstown last season. They made their 2nd straight trip to the D6-aa championship game and fell to Central. The Devils lose almost everyone who contributed last season.

Strengths
The Devils return Max Michkofsky who showed signs of being a good runner. Bussard will likely start at qb and 6'4" Caleb Handlon returns at defensive end.

Weaknesses
CC loses a senior class that dominated their team last season.

Predictions
Look for CC to struggle out of the gate as they try to find their identity. I think they will come on strong towards the end of the season, but likely won't finish better than a little over .500. Playoffs are a possibility but the hole left from starting 10 seniors last year is killing them.

Johnstown
Johnstown finished tied for 3rd in the Laurel Highlands and made a trip to the D6-AAA championship to get waxed by Holidaysburg. The Trojans return a strong necleus but lose a few key parts of last years team

Strengths
The passing game should excel for the Trojans with returning WRs Jordan Jefferson, Stevens-Howling, Agurs, and Siciliano at QB. Defensively Kashmir Pretlor and Williams are both good tacklers.

Weaknesses
Offensive and Defensive line may be an issue for the Trojans with Istanich graduating. Christian also needs to be replaced at RB

Predictions
The Trojans have a chance at the LH title if they can knock off FH and BM. They also are a favorite in D6-AAA once again.

Penn Cambria
PC is coming off a 5-6 playoff season where they lost to D6-AA champs Central. They return some star players but lose a lot of their starters.

Strengths
Newton. PC returns Zak Newton who was 90% of the Panthers offense last year. Line or no line, Newton will get 25 carries a game because that's the way Fetzer runs the offense

Weaknesses
The team runs an offense where one player almost always gets the ball. Stop Newton, win the game. Glenn graduates along with some other talent.

Predictions
PC will be a middle to upper team in the LH this year. They also have a shot at the D6-AA title.

Richland
Richland is coming off a playoff season and a loss to Forest Hills in the 1st round. Richland returns a star qb but he loses some of his weapons.

Strengths
Richland returns a mobile, strong armed qb with a year of experience now under his belt. Last year he was the leading passer in the state. Richland also returns Rizzo who will only be a sophomore but looks more like a grown man at running back.

Weaknesses
Richland will need to address offensive and defensive line like ever other year. Failure to stop Mehall even when the Rams knew which play was coming was pitiful. The Rams must toughen up and work hard on both lines because the road will likely always go through Sidman for Richland. Ripple graduating also hurts, but until Brandon Bailey can beat Don Bailey the Rams have no shot at the D6-AA title.

Predictions
The Rams will be a middle to upper LH team. If they can pull a few upsets in the playoffs they have a shot at the D6-AA title.

Bishop Carrol
BC graduates some good lineman as well as defensive players. The team returns a couple big playmakers for their senior seasons and could potentially knock off BM in single A.

Strengths
My good people, Julock is back. Is this kid ever going to graduate! Finally a senior, Julock will likely be the focal point of this offense again. As long as this kid can stay eligible this time they have a shot in every game. He produces big play after big play and runs the draw play better than any running back I've seen in awhile. Perich also returns as a senior at quarterback.

Weaknesses
Greene is gone, Marrucca is gone. The Huskies must find some interior lineman or they will go nowhere fast. Will the young Minemeyer develop like his brother?

Predictions
The Huskies will be a middle of the road LHAC team unless they bring in some Blacklick talent. As of now they don't have what it takes to beat BM in single A, or Bellwood-Antis for that matter.

Westmont Hilltop
The Hilltoppers have consistently underachieved year after year, and now all their talent graduates. A horrible year for Westmont? Who knows?

Strengths
The biggest strength these kids have is the fact that there are no distractions. Finally no kids with big heads, and parents with bigger heads. Finally the coach will coach, and the kids will play to win. With no expectations the Hilltoppers may find themselves in an unfamiliar position, THE WINNERS CIRCLE. A bunch of no-name kids playing together against the odds? Now that's highschool football!

Weaknesses
Keklack, Valcheff, McKloskey, Curry, Ketchum, Colbaugh, Chessa, ALL GONE!

Predictions
I think this team will be a middle team in the LH but win some games they aren't supposed to. WH has a chance to start some tradition with this new coach this season and a fresh start. Maybe things on the Hilltop aren't so bad after all.

Cambria Heights
Heights is coming off yet another bad season, but finally got the monkey off their back. They aren't going to contend for anything, but if Vescovi gets some weapons they are gonna cause some teams headaches.

Strenghts
Vescovi is back and is only a Junior. He will continue to progress under Myers and excel in the system he is given. They also return a pretty big fullback in Dubyak and Beck returns on defense.

Weaknesses
Heights loses the only threats they've had in the last 3 seasons in Priester and Stanek. These 2 were the only bright spot on the team the last few seasons, let's hope they've rubbed off onto some of the younger guys.

Predictions
Do not expect Heights to compete for the LH or D6 crown this season. But it is possible that they continue to build their program to become competitive. Bringing in a good sophomore class will be crucial but word is that Heights' JH programs have been successful. For Heights, a few words of motivation, "Anything is possible!"




Coming Soon
Somerset
Cambria Heights
Bishop Guilfoyle
Bedford
Last edited by lakersfan24 on March 3rd, 2009, 8:22 pm, edited 2 times in total.
El-Moldo
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Re: 2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

Post by El-Moldo »

With the 10 game schedule, are you sure that BM DOES NOT play FH this year. I assumed that Somerset goes off FH's schedule and BM comes on at the end.
lakersfan24
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Re: 2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

Post by lakersfan24 »

BM is still single A correct? That means that they will start playoffs week 10. Forest Hills has Somerset as week 10 on the schedule. It's a real shame that FH and BM haven't played the past 2 season and have no chance of playing each other because of different classifications.
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Re: 2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

Post by El-Moldo »

Is BG single A? If so, there are 3 single A teams in the LHAC (BM, BG, BC). All 3 of them could make the single A playoffs. If this happens, and single A starts the playoffs a week earlier than the other classes, someone in the LHAC will be left out of a game ten (12-3 = 9) opponent from the remaining LHAC teams. Now what?
lakersfan24
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Re: 2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

Post by lakersfan24 »

I'm not sure. It must've been done last year. Either somone takes a bye week or picks up a game with an opponent out of the LH. Does anyone know if D5-AA starts week 9? Because if it does that would make Bedford the 4th.
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Re: 2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

Post by S Cube »

Bedford has been playing Chestnut Ridge week 10, and 5AA starts the following week.
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Re: 2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

Post by KobeBallsLikeSwoosh »

I calling this right now Johnstown will beat McCort this year. Their WRs are excellent! McCort wont catch any of them.
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Re: 2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

Post by Bendover12 »

John Pinkerton will step up as qb and he was a vocal leader last year for mccort Mccort always shuts down johnstown wow yo got reciever now big deal Antwuan Reed in 2 years against mccort never combined for 100 yards in 2 years of playing them mccort will shut down there receiver pinkerton and domonkos both covered them last year
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Re: 2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

Post by KobeBallsLikeSwoosh »

Yea i hope they have fun covering Jefferson and Stephens-Howling....anyways whens the Westmont/Bishop Carrol one come out lakersfan24
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Re: 2009 LHAC Preview (Subject to change)

Post by Bendover12 »

Domonkos laid out stephens-howling this year so they probably will have fun doing it you gotta face this to jtown lost alot of lineman mccor returns 4 starters (pioli rugg bambino belskey) you can have receivers if your line doesnt block good luck getting it to them
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