Daugherty leads Ligonier Valley back to District 6 championship game
By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 10, 2017 | 10:57 PM
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Jackson Dougherty jogs into the end zone for a touchdown against Cambria Heights on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 during WPIAL playoffs at Weller Stadium in Ligonier.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley players howl at the conclusion of their 39-14 win over Cambria Heights Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at Weller Stadium in Ligonier. The Rams will move on to the District 6 finals.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Cambria Heights' Christian Spaid (56) attempts to stop an extra point kick by Ligonier Valley's Peter Stoll on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 during the WPIAL District 6 semifinal playoff game at Weller Stadium in Ligonier.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley players prepare to enter the field before kickoff against Cambria Heights on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at Weller Stadium in Ligonier. The Rams defeated Highlanders in the WPIAL semifinal playoff game 39-14 netting them a chance at the District 6 final.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Jackson Dougherty runs through a gap in Cambria Heights' defense Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 during WPIAL playoffs at Weller Stadium in Ligonier.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Kyrie Miller dances around Cambria Heights defense on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 during WPIAL playoffs at Weller Stadium in Ligonier. The Rams move on to the District 6 final after defeating Cambria Heights 39-14.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Sullivan Schueltz tackles Cambria Height's Tyler Trybus on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 during WPIAL playoffs at Weller Stadium in Ligonier.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Below freezing temperatures become visible in players on Ligonier Valley and Cambria Heights teams as they face up on the scrimmage line Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at Weller Stadium in Ligonier during WPIAL playoffs.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Aaron Tutino leaps from a host of Cambria Heights defenders to score a touchdown Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at Ligonier Valley in WPIAL playoff football.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Aaron Sheeder protects the ball while keeping eyes forward on Cambria Heights defenders Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at Ligonier Valley in WPIAL football playoffs.
Ligonier Valley's Jackson Dougherty jogs into the end zone for a touchdown against Cambria Heights on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 during WPIAL playoffs at Weller Stadium in Ligonier.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley players howl at the conclusion of their 39-14 win over Cambria Heights Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at Weller Stadium in Ligonier. The Rams will move on to the District 6 finals.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Cambria Heights' Christian Spaid (56) attempts to stop an extra point kick by Ligonier Valley's Peter Stoll on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 during the WPIAL District 6 semifinal playoff game at Weller Stadium in Ligonier.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley players prepare to enter the field before kickoff against Cambria Heights on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at Weller Stadium in Ligonier. The Rams defeated Highlanders in the WPIAL semifinal playoff game 39-14 netting them a chance at the District 6 final.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Jackson Dougherty runs through a gap in Cambria Heights' defense Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 during WPIAL playoffs at Weller Stadium in Ligonier.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Kyrie Miller dances around Cambria Heights defense on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 during WPIAL playoffs at Weller Stadium in Ligonier. The Rams move on to the District 6 final after defeating Cambria Heights 39-14.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Sullivan Schueltz tackles Cambria Height's Tyler Trybus on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 during WPIAL playoffs at Weller Stadium in Ligonier.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Below freezing temperatures become visible in players on Ligonier Valley and Cambria Heights teams as they face up on the scrimmage line Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at Weller Stadium in Ligonier during WPIAL playoffs.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Aaron Tutino leaps from a host of Cambria Heights defenders to score a touchdown Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at Ligonier Valley in WPIAL playoff football.
Shane Dunlap | Tribune-Review
Ligonier Valley's Aaron Sheeder protects the ball while keeping eyes forward on Cambria Heights defenders Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at Ligonier Valley in WPIAL football playoffs.
Last year, it was West Virginia-bound Collin Smith who helped to carry the Ligonier Valley mantra all the way to the PIAA semifinals.
The Rams are on a similar path this season with other names being called.
In a rematch of a first-round game from 2016, Jackson Daugherty scored four touchdowns — three on receptions from John Caldwell — as defending champion Ligonier Valley advanced to a second straight District 6 Class 2A championship game with a 39-14 victory Friday night over visiting Cambria Heights in the semifinals.
The Rams (12-0) will face the winner of Saturday’s scheduled semifinal between Bishop McCort Catholic and Westmont Hilltop on Nov. 18.
“We’re going back and that was a big goal for us,” Ligonier Valley coach Roger Beitel said. “We had a really tough opponent this week … ultimately in the end, our athletes got the ball in space and made plays. Kudos to our defense and defensive line. They were outsized and outmanned.”
Daugherty scored on passes of 5, 56 and 26 yards and also threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Tutino. He also scored on a 1-yard run and finished with 274 yards of offense (136 receiving, 72 passing, 66 rushing).
The freezing conditions at Weller Field couldn’t stifle the enthusiasm afterwards, as Beitel tried to stay warm amid handshakes and excitement.
The thought of making another deep run in the playoffs was hitting home.
During a school record-setting run, Ligonier Valley lost to Southern Columbia in the 2016 PIAA Class 2A semifinals.
“Our senior class has worked their tails off all season long,” he said. “Now we’re going to defend our District 6 Double-A title, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
