Crushers, Rangers Clash in Laurel Highlands Showdown
By Brian Carson



As the high school football season heads toward playoff time, there's still plenty of exciting games on tap for the final two weeks of the regular season.

In what could be the headline game of week nine in District 6 - Bishop McCort will meet Forest Hills in a Laurel Highlands contest on Friday.

The rivalry is a long and intense one to say the least. The schools are only about 13 miles apart; they're in the same conference and compete in Class AA. In addition, both schools have long, rich traditions on the gridiron. No matter how you look at it - that spells natural rivals.

Bishop McCort and Forest Hills met twice last year with the Crushers taking both games - 49-15 in the regular season and 29-22 in the playoffs.

The Crushers, ranked second in the district, come into the contest with a 6-1 overall and conference record. Their only loss on the season was to unbeaten Bishop Carroll by a 14-13 count. They have out-scored opponents by a 213-44 margin.

Quarterback Mike Sheridan leads Bishop McCort. The senior has thrown for 520 yards on 49-of-79 passing with 11 touchdowns. Seven of his passes have been intercepted.

Sophomore Jordan DeFrances spells Sheridan from time to time. He is 11-of-17 for 136 yards and two TDs on the season.

Matt Spangler is Sheridan's favorite target. The senior has caught 26 passes for 239 yards and six touchdowns.

The Crushers feature a trio of backs who have combined for 1,070 yards and 12 scores. Junior Brad Barbin has 494 yards and seven TDs; junior Scott Lewis has 341 yards with two scores and senior Frank Rizzo has collected 235 yards with three touchdowns.

Zack Terchanik is the spark plug on a defense that allows only 6.3 points per game. The senior defensive back has 44 stops, four sacks and one interception on the season.

The Rangers come into the contest with an identical 6-1 overall and conference mark. They are currently ranked third in the district and have out-pointed opponents by a 204-74 count.

The only blemish on the season was a 28-7 loss to Bedford in week three.

Forest Hills QB Travis Rearick has put up very impressive numbers this season. The junior is 63-for-110 for 1,090 yards, 11 touchdowns and only two picks. In addition, Rearick has scored five rushing touchdowns.

His targets are seniors Adam Trout and Jake Oswalt. Trout has 31 receptions for 652 yards and nine touchdowns. Oswalt snagged 18 passes for 257 yards and a score.

On the ground, senior tailback Will Lazaration has rushed for 542 yards and six touchdowns.

The Ranger defense is a swarming aggressive bunch that goes after quarterbacks with reckless abandon. That aggression has allowed them to record 20 sacks on the year.

Senior linebackers Brad Waters and Mike Zerby lead the defensive unit. Waters has 49 tackles to lead the team, while Zerby's four sacks are second on the squad - next to senior DT Dan Henderson, who has five. Senior DE Tyler Johnson has contributed four sacks as well.

When all is said and done, this contest will go a long way in deciding playoff positions and who hosts a game or goes on the road. Two power football teams battling it out on a Friday night in Pennsylvania.

It can't get any better than that.

Friday's Games:

Cedar Cliff (Dist 3 AAAA 2-5-0) @ Central Mountain (Dist 6 AAA 2-5-0)
Harrisburg (Dist 3 AAAA 6-1-0) @ Altoona (Dist 6 AAAA 3-4-0)
Bedford (Dist 5 AA 5-2-0) @ Somerset (Dist 6 AAA 0-7-0)
Bellefonte (Dist 6 AAA 6-1-0) @ Penns Valley (Dist 6 AA 2-5-0)
Bishop Guilfoyle (Dist 6 A 4-3-0) @ Mount Union (Dist 6 A 1-6-0)
Central (Dist 6 AA 2-5-0) @ Richland (Dist 6 A 2-5-0)
Central Cambria (Dist 6 AA 2-5-0) @ Johnstown (Dist 6 AAA 3-4-0)
Claysburg-Kimmel (Dist 6 A 3-4-0) @ Southern Huntingdon (Dist 6 A 6-1-0)
Ferndale (Dist 6 A 1-6-0) @ Windber (Dist 5 A 7-0-0)
Forest Hills (Dist 6 AA 6-1-0) @ Bishop McCort (Dist 6 AA 6-1-0)
Hollidaysburg (Dist 6 AAAA 3-4-0) @ Chambersburg (Dist 3 AAAA 1-6-0)
Huntingdon (Dist 6 AAA 5-2-0) @ Bald Eagle Area (Dist 6 AA 1-6-0)
Laurel Valley (Dist 6 A 4-3-0) @ Purchase Line (Dist 6 AA 4-3-0)
Lewistown (Dist 6 AAA 3-4-0) @ Philipsburg-Osceola (Dist 6 AA 2-5-0)
Ligonier Valley (Dist 6 A 4-3-0) @ Blairsville (Dist 6 A 6-1-0)
Moshannon Valley (Dist 6 A 5-2-0) @ Bellwood-Antis (Dist 6 A 6-1-0)
Penn Cambria (Dist 6 AA 5-2-0) @ Bishop Carroll (Dist 6 A 7-0-0)
Penns Manor (Dist 6 A 1-6-0) @ Saltsburg (Dist 6 A 1-6-0)
Richland (Dist 6 A 2-5-0) @ Central (Dist 6 AA 2-5-0)
Tyrone (Dist 6 AA 7-0-0) @ Indian Valley (Dist 6 AAA 2-5-0)
United (Dist 6 A 5-2-0) @ Northern Cambria (Dist 6 A 2-5-0)
West Branch (Dist 6 A 2-5-0) @ Glendale (Dist 6 A 2-5-0)
Williamsburg (Dist 6 A 0-7-0) @ Juniata Valley (Dist 6 A 6-1-0)

Saturday's Games:

Cambria Heights (Dist 6 AA 0-7-0) @ Westmont-Hilltop (Dist 6 AA 4-3-0)
Homer Center (Dist 6 A 3-4-0) @ Marion Center (Dist 6 AA 5-2-0)
Portage (Dist 6 A 7-0-0) @ Conemaugh Valley (Dist 6 A 6-1-0)