Friday 11/4/11 Updates

[El-Moldo]

Seriously, no one cheered from the Johnstown bleachers after the game. They just got up and walked away. Thank God the band did something. Guess they had seen enough.

[Opinionguy]

Few thoughts from the OG...

First, if those things were said in the endzone, obviously it was wrong. No way should that type of behavior be tolerated, regardless WHATEVER they were doing on the field. I have no issues sharing my opinion that a kid may be over hyped, but to say these types of things at a kid is wrong. I wasn't standing there, so I don't know. I know people very well who stand in that general area, and will have to talk to them. I would bet my house they weren't involved in that.

On another note...the OG has said it before, and he will say it again. This too shall pass. Everyone has known about this current Senior class and about the talent they have. The OG has heard it since they were in 7th grade. The OG also remembers hearing how Johnstown was going to "walk" over the LHAC when they came from the WPIAL. That surely hasn't happened. While I'll readily admit that Johnstown has outplayed FH in the previous two contests...the OG still holds the G&G program wise a few rungs ahead. Nobody has done it better for longer...period. I will say this though about Johnstown, this success that they have experienced has trickled down through their J.High program, so it will be interesting to see how the Trojans fare in the coming years when this talented senior class leaves. Talent alone will win the Trojans 6-7 games a year, every year, but will they truly develop into the Conference Super Power that they should be? I'll readily admit as a FH fan Johnstown scares me program wise more than any other school (sorry McCort), because of the shear talent they churn out. If that talent could be harnessed, they should rarely lose in this conference.

As far as the game, the OG is extremely proud of the players on the field and how they fought back. After graduating the caliber of kids FH did the last two years these Seniors really rallied and carried on the tradition. 8-2 is a good regular season, but the work is far from done. Another District crown will be a dogfight, but with Unger getting healthy, Shope developing into the playmaker that everyone was hoping he'd become, and J-Lo leading the way, the OG believes. First things first, it starts in Cresson.

Great season Johnstown, and good luck in the playoffs. The OG is hoping for another LHAC D6 Title sweep.

[sportsfan1000]

You two are too much. First off, you never see me defend the coaching, couldn't agree with you more. Got lucky? Are you kidding me? They got lucky dominating the first half? Laughable. How about FH got lucky because Penna tried to be waaayyyy to conservative and try and run the ball instead of continuing pressing throughout the second half. If he would have they just may have really blown it open.

Not necessary to take a shot at Simon and sarcastically call him a genius. Just not necessary. You are smart enough that you can make your point without being a jerk. BTW, you didn't answer my question. How many yards did that receiver have in the first half? Just curious.

OG, very good post. FH does it year in and year out and is a model that any program should strive to be. FH players should be proud of the effort they gave in the second half. I will say this, most teams would have folded, guaranteed. I think that is a tribute to what Bailey and his staff bring to the table. I would have loved to have been in the locker room at halftime to hear what they had to say.

[El-Moldo]

I can take a shot at Simon if I want. He is a three year starter on a AAA team. He was playing in the biggest game of the year. He should have known better. He could have cost GJHS the game. Maybe his teammates should have just given him a handslap when he got back in the huddle and said, "Nice try. You'll do better next time". Isn't that what players do nowadays?

[Opinionguy]

....And now about the game itself

The OG is going to disagree with point one you made. With only 8 minutes left from your own 5...taking a safety was the right play. Penna did not want to take the chance of giving FH a touchdown there with a blocked punt, or setting them up for a very short field for a quick TD. By taking the safety, they still forced FH to score twice, in 8 minutes, in likely both 50+ yard drives.

I will agree though the the Trojans exercised poor clock management down the stretch. Forest Hills should have never had the ball back with more than a minute remaining. As a coach, you have to be telling your players to STAY IN BOUNDS! Let alone, to throw on third down!

[sportsfan1000]

I can take a shot at Simon if I want. He is a three year starter on a AAA team. He was playing in the biggest game of the year. He should have known better. He could have cost GJHS the game. Maybe his teammates should have just given him a handslap when he got back in the huddle and said, "Nice try. You'll do better next time". Isn't that what players do nowadays?

And this my friend is what makes you a total douchebag. Old man, sitting at a computer feeling the need to be the tough guy. How wonderful.

[El-Moldo]

Got to disagree with point one. What's the difference punting from the endzone OR the 20. You're sacrificing POINTS for some yardage? PLUS by punting you MIGHT get a ruffing call. In either event, you STILL have to HIKE the ball to the punter. If Penna was really serious about going for the safety, then he should have had the center HIKE the ball WAY over the punters head. And like I said, how hard is it to get a two point conversion? If it is so easy, then why don't more teams go for two after a TD instead of kicking for one? To get TWO TD's and TWO 2 point conversions in 8 minutes is awfully tough. Taking the safety is Penna's way of saying "I don't have faith in my defense holding a 16 point lead late in the game". Giving FH a chance to win the game with 14 points instead of 16 was a mistake, just for the sake of picking up 20 extra yards.

[El-Moldo]

sportsfan1000: Would it have been better if I said Johnstown's QB didn't get out of bounds, instead of saying Simon? Wonder if he would have scored a TD on that play. Should I have said Johnstown's QB scored a TD instead of Simon scored a TD??????? It comes with the territory. Praise and criticism go hand in hand. Who are we protecting??? Like I said, give him a handslap and tell him to try harder next time. Then all will be better.

[Richland_Fan]

The FH fans at the game last night were completely out of line and should be ashamed at the very least. DonBo will be making house visits to each of them today, I am sure he was mad about the display. I understand, they are passionate, but there is a line they crossed with the racial slurs. Kind of like when Richland used their huge blown up, formation cards against Johnstown. They had Bananas, Obama, KFC, and Tony Subs. Completely out of line and very childish from a very childish staff.
I can't believe the amount of adults that yell ridiculous things at the young high school players. First off, those players have family and friends in the same stands, and secondly are trying their best. Then you got the actual bleacher coaches, which complain about every play and eat their hot dog in the stands. 95% of them never played the sport or at that wasnt even good. they just like to complain~ Coaching is very tough and even tougher now a days. You deal with alot of things behind the scenes and it takes a lot to keep everything together.
All those bleacher coaches, please apply at your nearest admin office, I am sure your local district would like someone that knows everything about the sport.......

Wasn't in Sidman so will not comment on that other than to say if it occurred as described it is TOTALLY wrong. As for the misplaced rant about the Richland cards: you are correct on only one of the ones you listed and rest assured NONE of them are racially motivated nor inappropriate in ANY way. They are the same cards used since the first game and NONE of them depict or refer to anyone or anything inappropriately. Direct your anger someplace that needs it cuz this ain't it.

[Colonel Mustard]

"Grown men" taunting high school kids is ridiculous. But what do you expect from the hay-seeds of Forest Hills. Always classy.

It wasn't a great game, too many flags in the second half, and Johnstown seemed to want to run-out the entire second half clock instead of trying to score. I didn't like the safety with that much time left, but it was a tough call. Give Forest Hills credit for fighting back, but they got some help from the refs as well. They must have gotten 45 yards in penalties on their first scoring drive. Amazing that the FH timekeeper stopped the clock at 00.00.1 of the first half, giving Jtown a chance at the fieldgoal. That wouldn't have happened at most fields.

Don't know Richland's intentions, but how exactly is Tony's Subs racial?