Portage

Portage, Windber Battle for WestPAC Crown

What a way to end the regular season. A Hollywood screenwriter couldn't have come up with a better script.

Two teams in the same conference, both unbeaten, playing for the league crown one week before the post season begins.

In one corner we have the Portage Mustangs - ranked second in District 6 Class A with an 8-0 mark. In addition, they carry an identical 8-0 record in WestPAC play. On the season, the Mustangs have out-pointed foes 304-67.

In the other corner stands the Windber Ramblers - also unblemished with an 8-0 record - overall and in the conference. Windber is currently ranked numero uno in District 5 Class A. The Patriot News ranks them tenth in the state. PFN has both squads as teams to watch in its rankings.

The similarities don't end with just records. Both squads employ offenses that are considered to be old-fashioned among the coaching fraternity. Old-fashioned maybe, but work they do.

Mustang head coach Gary Gouse employs the Wing-T, while Rambler boss Phil DeMarco works out of the Single Wing, an offense in vogue back in the 1940s, when Michigan halfback Tom Harmon won the Heisman Trophy.

The Wing-T is a misdirection offense that puts the wingback behind the tight end. Three running backs are placed in prime positions where counters, fakes and traps can be used to the utmost advantage. The quarterback also has the option to run or throw on most plays.

"This offense is hard to defend because it takes so long to understand it. It takes a long time to learn. You can't learn to defend it in just one week," said Gouse. "We attack from so many different angles and it has been expanded so much by Carnegie-Mellon and other teams, that we learn new things every year.

"Our guys are used to it. They've been with me for a long time and they know it inside out. That's really been the key for us. They know the system and what we want to do in it.

"Teams really don't stop us. We stop ourselves most of the time. We really believe that. When we've been stopped, it's usually because of a mistake we've made."

In the Single Wing, an unbalanced or overloaded line is employed with a wingback and two running backs placed about five-yards deep. This offense can be a great one for the passing game and it's a good system if you like power football.

"The Single Wing and the Wing-T are so much alike except Windber is coming from a direct snap we don't," said Gouse. "There's so much faking and they're very good at it. They do a great job.

"They have so many formations and that keeps you off-balanced. They're tough to defend. Most defensive coordinators will prepare for a team and worry about defending two or three formations. Windber has about 21. It's tough on a defensive coach.

"They have a great coaching staff and do a good job teaching this offense."

The quarterback who makes the Portage Wing-T go is Daniel Kowalczyk. The senior is 47-of-86 for 711 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.

The Mustang ground attack has amassed 2,831 yards and 39 TDs on the season. Leading the way are seniors Wayne Gathers (94-767-8), Chris Willinsky (37-312-7) and Justin Hutsky (22-237-2), along with juniors Ryan Fuller (76-600-8) and David Murphy (43-358-6).

"We have to slow down their Wing-T. We have to slow them down since it is tough to shut them down completely," DeMarco told the Tribune-Democrat. "We must make them work for everything they do. They execute very well."

Senior Jared Bilchak is tops among receivers with 17 grabs for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Bilchak also leads the defense with four interceptions.

"I told the kids to have fun and enjoy the moment. Take it in. We want to be loose and have some fun. That's the way it should be," stated Gouse. "There's lots of tradition for both programs. We're very excited.

"We haven't beaten them since 1994 or 1995 (Windber has won eight straight). We can't give up the big pass. Big plays have hurt us the last three years against them and we can't give that up. It would be nice if they'd give one up to us. Stopping the big play is the key to the game."

Defensively, the top guns for Portage are LB Ray George (74 tackles), DT Chris Rousell (66 tackles), and DE Mike Kreutzberger (52 tackles, five sacks).

"We are a better defensive team this year. We tackle much better and we're more disciplined," said Gouse. "The more disciplined the defense, the better you'll be.

"Our kids are great students of film study. They have gone the extra mile this season. My hat is off to them. They work very hard and that's paying big dividends."

It's defense that's been the main contributor for Windber's 8-0 record. The Ramblers are allowing only five points per game. They have out-scored opponents by a 271-35 margin.

Junior Josh Kotula has 91 tackles from his linebacker spot, while juniors Nick Berkey (10 sacks, 44 tackles) and Jake Lehman (56 tackles, seven sacks) are major contributors as well.

Offensively, senior quarterback Brad Dale is 44-of-84 for 984 yards for 11 touchdowns and three picks. Dale's favorite targets are junior Patrick Ferrante (16-444-5) and senior Matt Wilson (9-182-3). Wilson also has three interceptions from his DB spot.

Kotula is the leading rusher with 370 yards on 50 carries. Matt Andrascik has collected 297 yards on 55 attempts with four TDs. Short yardage specialist Aaron Peterson has seven touchdowns on the ground.

"It's going to be a playoff atmosphere, just like a playoff game," said DeMarco. "The only difference is that it's not the end of the road if you lose. You will not be playing your last game. It is very unique to have two undefeated teams playing in the last game of the season."

Much is at stake for a game so late in the season. This is a rare opportunity to get a big win, build even more confidence and gain huge momentum heading into the playoffs.

"The Conemaugh Valley game was good for us. They had only one loss and we were down. But we overcame that and we didn't panic. That's the sign of a good team," said Gouse. "We are battle tested and ready to play. A win would be nice.

"If we win we've locked up the number two seed for playoffs. If Bishop Carroll loses, we may be number one. The conference title is on the line as well as personal pride.

"This is what it's all about. This is a moment that may never come again for these guys. For both teams to be undefeated and playing for so much in the last game of the regular season, you can't ask for much more. It's the whole ball of wax."

Red Land (Dist 3 AAA 2-6-0) @ State College (Dist 6 AAAA 5-3-0)

Shamokin (Dist 4 AA 4-4-0) @ Huntingdon (Dist 6 AAA 6-2-0)

Everett (Dist 5 AA 2-6-0) @ Williamsburg (Dist 6 A 0-8-0)

Windber (Dist 5 A 8-0-0) @ Portage (Dist 6 A 8-0-0)

Altoona (Dist 6 AAAA 3-5-0) @ DuBois (Dist 9 AAAA 8-0-0)

Bald Eagle Area (Dist 6 AA 1-7-0) @ Bellefonte (Dist 6 AAA 7-1-0)

Bishop Carroll (Dist 6 A 8-0-0) @ Central Cambria (Dist 6 AA 2-6-0)

Bishop McCort (Dist 6 AA 6-2-0) @ Cambria Heights (Dist 6 AA 0-8-0)

Blacklick Valley (Dist 6 A 3-5-0) @ Shade (Dist 5 A 2-6-0)

Blairsville (Dist 6 A 7-1-0) @ Homer Center (Dist 6 A 3-5-0)

Central Mountain (Dist 6 AAA 2-6-0) @ Jersey Shore (Dist 4 AAA 1-7-0)

Conemaugh Valley (Dist 6 A 6-2-0) @ Berlin Brothersvalley (Dist 5 A 4-4-0)

Glendale (Dist 6 A 3-5-0) @ Claysburg-Kimmel (Dist 6 A 3-5-0)

Hollidaysburg (Dist 6 AAAA 3-5-0) @ Cedar Cliff (Dist 3 AAAA 3-5-0)

Indian Valley (Dist 6 AAA 2-6-0) @ Lewistown (Dist 6 AAA 4-4-0)

Johnstown (Dist 6 AAA 4-4-0) @ Bedford (Dist 5 AA 6-2-0)

Juniata Valley (Dist 6 A 7-1-0) @ Mount Union (Dist 6 A 1-7-0)

Marion Center (Dist 6 AA 6-2-0) @ Penns Manor (Dist 6 A 2-6-0)

Moshannon Valley (Dist 6 A 5-3-0) @ Chestnut Ridge (Dist 5 AA 7-1-0)

Northern Cambria (Dist 6 A 2-6-0) @ Purchase Line (Dist 6 AA 5-3-0)

Penns Valley (Dist 6 AA 2-6-0) @ Tyrone (Dist 6 AA 8-0-0)

Richland (Dist 6 A 3-5-0) @ Penn Cambria (Dist 6 AA 5-3-0)

Somerset (Dist 6 AAA 0-8-0) @ Forest Hills (Dist 6 AA 7-1-0)

Southern Huntingdon (Dist 6 A 7-1-0) @ Tussey Mountain (Dist 5 A 3-5-0)

West Branch (Dist 6 A 2-6-0) @ Northern Bedford (Dist 5 A 5-3-0)

Saint Marys (Dist 9 AAA 4-4-0) @ Philipsburg-Osceola (Dist 6 AA 2-6-0)

Meyersdale (Dist 5 A 4-4-0) @ Ferndale (Dist 6 A 1-7-0)

Bellwood-Antis (Dist 6 A 7-1-0) @ Bishop Guilfoyle (Dist 6 A 5-3-0)

Ligonier Valley (Dist 6 A 4-4-0) @ Laurel Valley (Dist 6 A 4-4-0)

Saltsburg (Dist 6 A 1-7-0) @ United (Dist 6 A 6-2-0)