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H.S. FOOTBALL

November 27, 2009

Tigers a model program

Northwest’s first state playoff game in program history is against a PIAA powerhouse.

By John Erzar jerzar@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
John Erzar on Facebook | TLJohnErzar on Twitter

UP NEXT

Northwest (9-3)

vs. Southern Columbia (8-4)

PIAA Class A first round

7 p.m. today

Kemp Memorial Stadium

Shamokin H.S., Coal Twp.

LAST MEETING: Southern, 43-0 in 1991. Southern leads the series 15-7-3 according to the team’s Web site.

UP NEXT: The winner plays the winner of the game between District 11 champion Tri-Valley (8-4) and District 1 champion Saint Pius X (8-4) next weekend in the state quarterfinals. The game will likely be in the district of the winner of that game.

Tri-Valley and Saint Pius X play at 7 p.m. Saturday at Williams Valley High School in Tower City.

TO GET THERE: These directions don’t seem too difficult, but don’t be fooled. The end of the rainbow and the Holy Grail are easier to find than Kemp Memorial Stadium in Coal Township.

•To get started, take Interstate 81 South to exit 116 for Route 901 North. Take 901 North to Route 61 North.

Take 61 North to Market Street (Dunkin Donuts on left), turn left onto Market Street. Go through the first light and make a right at Walnut Street.

•Follow Walnut Street to the T at the top of the hill and turn left. Go two blocks to a stop sign, make a right, go straight at the next stop sign, and at the next stop sign you will see Kemp Memorial Stadium to your left.

ALSO ON THE SCHEDULE: District 2 Class 3A champion Abington Heights (11-1) plays District 11 champion Allentown Central Catholic (11-1) at 7 p.m. today at Bethlehem Liberty High School.

•District 2 Class 2A champion Dunmore (12-0) plays District 12 champion Philadelphia West Catholic (10-2) at 7 p.m. today at Palisades High School in Kintnersville.

•District 2 Class 4A champion Hazleton Area ended its season last weekend.

Coach Carl Majer wants to build the Northwest football program into a consistent contender on the district and state level.

The blueprint for doing so will be on the other sideline tonight – the Southern Columbia Tigers.

“Without a doubt,” Majer said. “You have to take your hat off to coach (Jim) Roth. Twenty-five years ago, nobody heard of Southern Columbia. He came along and changed that program and set the bar high for all single-A schools.

“That’s what we want to accomplish in our program. We want to have that kind of respect and be able to go out and have people say, ‘Hey, we’re playing the Rangers this week.’ ”

District 2 champion Northwest can take a step in that direction starting at 7 p.m. today at Shamokin High School’s Kemp Memorial Stadium in Coal Township. The Rangers (9-3) will play their inaugural state game in school history against Southern (8-4), a program that has ruled PIAA Class A like no other.

Just consider some of Southern’s achievements:

A record six Class A state championships. Only Berwick in Class 3A has equaled that mark. But Southern won five in a row from 2002-2006, a feat unmatched.

Six other appearances in the PIAA Class A championship game.

An incomparable 16 consecutive District 4 Class A titles from 1991-2006. Southern added two more in the last two seasons.

The program has been so dominant that other D4-A schools have avoided the district playoffs, instead opting for the Eastern Conference. The reasoning – better to get a shot at two games than face certain annihilation in one.

While Southern’s resume is enough to make an opponent quiver, Northwest is approaching the game like its two District 2 victories over Meyers and Riverside.

“It’s been like another playoff week,” Majer said. “The kids are positive, we’re practicing hard. … We’re looking forward to playing.”

By Southern’s standards, it has been an off year. The Tigers haven’t lost four games in a season since going 11-4 in 1999. They haven’t lost five times since going 6-5-1 in 1985, Roth’s third season.

Roth picked up his 300th win at Southern this season, but it took until Week 5. The Tigers lost their next two – including 35-28 to Selinsgrove, which is 12-0 and plays in the PIAA Class 3A playoffs tonight. (For comparison’s sake, Selinsgrove defeated Berwick 34-6 during the regular season).

Southern defeated Line Mountain 42-12 last Friday for the D4 title. Junior running back Jake Morton led the way, rushing for 129 yards and three touchdowns to boost his season totals to 1,214 and 16. Junior quarterback Jake Townsend also had a strong game, throwing for 127 yards and two scores. He has passed for 1,283 yards.

Sophomore running back Tyrell Thomas is also closing in on 1,000 yards on the ground.

While Southern was pulling away in the second half, so was Northwest until Riverside’s passing game started to click. The Rangers led 33-8 entering the fourth quarter and ended up winning 40-30.

Junior running back Bret Rutkoski led the Rangers with 118 yards rushing and two TDs. He has 1,529 yards on the ground and 23 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jeff Moss was only 3-of-10, but had a 59-yard touchdown pass to Steve Merth and rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown.