Red Raiders will meet the Wolves in AML title game

Quarterback Jordan Crane turned in another performance at Sheffield. Taylor Songer (9) was solid both offensively and defensively.

Cameron County faces its biggest football games in eight years over the coming weeks.

Next Friday night, the Red Raiders head to Kane to meet the Wolves in the Allegheny Mountain League championship game (7:00).

The following weekend, the PIAA District 9 playoffs get underway. Cameron County (8-0) joins Coudersport (7-1), Kane (8-0) and Redbank Valley (7-1) as the heavyweights likely to vie for the Class A title and a berth in the state playoffs.

Considering the ease with which the Raiders have dispatched recent opponents -- they close out their regular season this Friday night on the road against an undermanned Johnsonburg team -- they'll welcome the solid competition they will be facing at Kane.

Last Saturday's mismatch at Sheffield was another chance for the Red Raiders to empty their bench early. The Raiders produced 35 points and 10 first downs on their first 15 plays and coasted, 67-8.

Andy Lippert races for yards during Saturday's lopsided game.

"The kids came out and played hard right from the start," head coach Tony Defilippi said. "We've preached that to them all year."

Abram Zoschg got the scoring started on a 41-yard run down the visiting sideline, after Cameron Clingan broke off a 12-yard gainer.

Quarterback Jordan Crane's 29-yard scoring pass to tight end Jordan Garrigan put CC up 14-0. Crane then hit Sean McManigle from 23 yards out for six more.

Zoschg added a nine-yard run to make it 28-0. Crane followed with a 15-yard touchdown run off the option. Charlie Holjencin nailed his fifth PAT kick to make the score 35-0 with 2:24 left in the first quarter.

A three-yard TD run by Zoschg lifted the lead to 41-0. By that time, Crane had exited.

"Jordan played well today," Defilippi noted. "We ran more option and it worked well."

Andrew Kesterholt's fouryard touchdown scamper gave the visitors a 47-0 halftime lead.

After the break, Andy Lippert raced 53 yards for another Raider score and Kyle McManigle ran for the conversion. Hunter Bardo scored on a 15-yard run and Lippert picked off a pass and returned it 60 yards for the final TD.

Defensively, the Raiders were clicking on all cylinders. Sheffield tried to pick apart the pass coverage, but starter Craig Fitch went one-for-18 with an interception. He yielded to Jordan Copley long after the game was out of reach.

Sheffield really had no choice but to pass. The Wolverines finished with minus 28 yards rushing.

"We've been playing pretty good defense all season, and we continued that today," Defilippi said.

AML Standings

North: Cameron County 8-0, Coudersport 7-1, Port Allegany 5- 3, Sheffield 1-7, Otto-Eldred 1-7, Smethport 1-0.

South: Kane 8-0, Brockway 5- 3, Ridgway 4-4, Elk County Catholic 4-4, Curwensville 3-5, Johnsonburg 1-7.