Rangers geared up for title showdown

Half of the expected matchup will be on the artificial surface at Spartan Stadium in Kingston tonight.

Really, it’s the only half that matters to Northwest, which will play defending champion Riverside at 7 p.m. for the District 2 Class A football championship.

“It’s all about momentum,” Northwest standout running back Bret Rutkoski said. “Now we have it and have to keep playing well. We can’t let it go to our heads. We have to keep working hard.”

The Rangers (8-3) have done that all year, living up to the preseason billing as a D2-A championship contenders. But just about everyone envisioned Northwest playing Old Forge, the preseason favorite.

Everyone but Riverside, Old Forge’s bitter next door rival. The Vikings (4-7) pulled off one of the biggest shockers in District 2 playoff history, knocking off previously unbeaten Old Forge 30-14 in the semifinals.

Junior running back Corey Talerico, who didn’t play in a 43-12 season-opening loss to Old Forge, finished with 18 carries for 155 yards and three touchdowns. Backfield mate junior Paul Lassiter added 150 yards on 22 rushes.

“We scrimmaged them in the preseason, and I think we took them off guard and surprised them,” Northwest coach Carl Majer said. “I think they weren’t ready for us. They’ll be ready for us this week.”

The Vikings limited Old Forge’s Brian Morris, one of the premier running backs in the area, to 60 yards on 12 carries. They also minimized the effectiveness of Old Forge’s Malkolm Blackshear, a double threat as a runner and thrower.

Riverside will be faced with a similar duo in Rutkoski and quarterback Jeff Moss. Rutkoski hits the hole as quick as anybody and can cut without losing speed. Moss is a dual threat, and arguably a better thrower than Blackshear.

While Rutkoski and Moss played huge roles in a 43-0 semifinal victory against Meyers, Majer mentioned other talented skills players as well. The Rangers have two big receivers – 6-foot-4 Steve Merth and 6-3 Brett Sikora – as well as 6-foot wideout John Voyton. All are also very athletic and fast.

“There are a lot of kids on this team who are weapons,” Majer said. “You can see them on turf they’re fast and tough to defend.”

Northwest will also be buoyed by the return of 6-5, 260-pound senior lineman Tommy Noss.

“What’s a great thing is we got Tommy Noss back, our big center,” Majer said. “He was supposed be out for his senior year. He just made our line big and strong again.”

Riverside can’t match Northwest’s size and will be hard pressed to match its speed. The Vikings, though, are an aggressive bunch who swarm to the ball.

DISTRICT 2 CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP

QUICK FACT: Riverside is the only District 2 program to play for a Class A state championship. The Vikings lost 10-7 to District 10’s Sharpsville in 1997. Steve Armillay, who went on to coach Pittston Area, was Riverside’s coach.

Northwest is playing for the D2-A championship for the fourth time in six year. The Rangers lost the previous three games.

UP NEXT: The winner plays the District 4 champion – the winner of tonight’s Southern Columbia (7-4) at Line Mountain (8-3) game – next weekend.