On this night 14 wasn’t enough! I visited not one but THREE Heritage Conference games

Tagged under: District 6, Game Photos, Gameday Hub

Greg Ricupero | September 18, 2022

On this night 14 wasn’t enough, Heritage Conference Week #4!

River Valley 14 at Penns Manor 43

Portage 35 at Purchase Line 14

Cambria Heights 54 at Marion Center 14

Besides the weather, the one thing I love about the fall in Pennsylvania is high school football. I’m lucky to live in Indiana County where we have seven high schools within 1/2 hour of my house. Indiana Area is the biggest and plays in the WPIAL. The rest are smaller and play in the Heritage Conference that’s where I’m usually at on a Friday night. My children (both grown) planned a trip and took me to Europe at the end of August beginning of September. So against my will I missed the first two weeks of the season. Week Three I went to the Carlisle area to see my nephew play (family is important to me). So with just seven weeks left in the regular season and 10 teams unseen in the Heritage Conference, I decided to watch parts of three games Friday night. The little town of Clymer, Pa has four high schools within 15 minutes of it in any direction. Indiana was on the road, but Penns Manor, Purchase Line and Marion Center all had home games. Why not see three games and 60% of the Conference in one night.

River Valley Panthers (0-4) 14 at Penns Manor Comets (4-0) 43

Great pregame in Kenwood at one of only two artificial surfaces in the conference. Comet quarterback Max Hill is a beast! A couple of years ago as a sophomore he was leading a very good senior laden team. They were undefeated in the regular season but loss in the opening round of the playoffs, that wasn’t Max’s team. Fast forward to this year, Max is a senior and the leader of probably the best team in the Heritage Conference. PM got the ball first and ran right on the opening play, everyone but Hill who took the ball down the left sideline deep into Panther territory. The Comets scored shortly after. Last year, the first year for the River Valley, the Panthers won by 44. Indiana County used to have eight teams but Saltsburg and Blairsville merged. After watching both teams first two possessions and the Comets up 14-0 it was time to head down the road. Mark Bagley scored from one yard out after Hill converted a fourth and short. On the second drive explosive senior back Justin Marshall raced around the left side for a 34 yard touchdown. PM would lead 23-0 at half and go up 43-0 before the third quarter ended.

: Kenwood, Pa!

: Honoring the younger players!

: Comets defense has only allowed 20 points this year!

: Max Hill !

: Touchdown Marshall!

Portage Mustangs (3-1) at Purchase Line Red Dragons (1-3)

After a short 15 minute ride I arrive at Barry T. Madill Field in Commodore, Pa. The Dragons were down 7-0 at the beginning of the second quarter. The PL defense came up with a big fourth down stop deep in their own territory. Moments later, Red Dragon quarterback John Elick would go 70 yards straight up the middle. He was almost tackled 5 or 6 times before stumbling into the end zone. A couple of minutes later PL back Andrew Beer raced over 50 yards for a score and the Dragons would take a 14-7 lead to the locker room. Unfortunately for Purchase Line they outscored Portage 14-0 when I was in the house and were out scored 35-0 when I wasn’t. The Mustangs would score 28 unanswered points in the second half. Portage always seems to have a great football program. This is their first year in the Heritage Conference. It’s a much tougher league than they are used to playing in, but so far so go. Halftime and it’s time for the goat path to my third game.

: Commodore, Pa

: New team on the block!

: Mustangs playing hard!

: Elick breaks away!

: Beer scores!

Cambria Heights Highlanders 54 at Marion Center Stingers 14

I arrive in time to see the awesome Highlanders band with CH leading 28-14 at the half. The second half was all Highlanders. Cambria Heights was able to pass or run the ball at will. In past seasons they have been able to pound teams on the ground but struggled when they needed to pass the rock. Marion Center who only have 5 seniors struggled to do anything well. I see a bright future for the Stingers however as I was able to watch their talented 7/8 grade team against Portage Thursday night. Highlanders Tanner Trybus is a play maker.

Try us on the ground!