AML WHIPS KSAC FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR

Tagged under: District 9, News

Pa Football News | June 30, 2018

Written by Phil Myers

The Allegheny Mountain League All-Stars topped the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference All-Stars 40-14 at Frank Varischetti Field in Brockway Friday night before a capacity throng of spectators. It marked the third straight year the AML proved to be superior to their KSAC counterparts.

QB Reed Williams led the way offensively for the winners by connecting on 13 of 19 passes for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was the Offensive Player of the Game for the AML. Defensively, Johnny Mitchell had a fantastic game with an interception, covering receivers like a blanket, and making some nice open field tackles. “I didn’t play defense all year. I had a lot of fun,” a very happy Johnny Mitchell said after the game. He also averaged 44 yards a punt and was the AML’s Defensive Player of the Game.

The game began with 3 touchdowns being scored in three minutes and twenty-six seconds. The AML struck quickly on their first two possessions when Williams hit Neil MacDonald for a 71 yard score and followed that up with a 65 yard bomb to Ray Maze. On his throw to MacDonald, Williams showed off some nifty scrambling ability.

The KSAC got on the board and cut the lead to 13-7 when QB Brenden Mackray found Spencer Miller on a 46 yard pass play. With still over 3 minutes left in quarter one, Williams threw a 14 yard touchdown to Noah Vokes who made a nice grab. “We had a couple of good matchups, Reed threw a couple of good balls, and Vokes went up and got the corner one and got it into the end zone,” said AML Head Coach Nick LaBella out of Otto-Eldred.

The AML pretty much put the game out of reach in the second quarter. Big John Eakin (6’2” 240 lbs.) scored on a one yard run to give the victors to a 26-7 lead. With just under 6 minutes left in the half, KSAC Offensive Player of the Game, Colton Rapp, took the handoff and raced 83 yards down the sidelines. That made the score 26-14 AML and it stayed that way into halftime. Rapp finished with 138 yards rushing on 16 carries. He also caught 6 passes for 57 yards.

The AML had the only touchdowns in half two when Nick Stewart carried the agate into the end zone from four yards out in the third quarter and big John Eakin scored his second TD of the game in the fourth on a 12 yard dash. “It was nice to come together and see the team click within a week,” commented LaBella.

Game Notes: Spencer Miller was the Defensive Player of the Game for the KSAC as he had an INT. Steve Fawcett did the placekicking for the KSAC and Treyton Stiles did the same for the AML. The KSAC ran a triple reverse on a kickoff, but only gained 20 yards. Nick LaBella talked a bit about Isaac Gralak who collapsed at practice Monday with a heart problem, “He inspired some kids and we had kids that night that saved the kid’s (Gralak) life and I don’t think they’ll ever forget that night. Hopefully they’ll remember this night as well.” Gralak is doing better according to those close to the situation.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews