District 6 Class 2A final preview capsule: Ligonier Valley vs. Richland

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 16, 2018 | 6:36 PM

PIAA District 6 Class 2A Championship

No. 2 Ligonier Valley (12-0) vs. No. 1 Richland (12-0)

7 p.m. Saturday, Mansion Park Stadium, Altoona

On the air: 106.3 FM; TribHSSN.triblive.com

Coaches: Roger Beitel, Ligonier Valley; Brandon Bailey, Richland

Winner plays: The winner of Dunmore (9-3) and West Catholic (10-2) in the PIAA quarterfinals Nov. 23 or 24

District 6 titles: Ligonier Valley 2 (2016, ‘17); Richland 1 (2012)

How they got here: Heritage Conference champion Ligonier Valley defeated No. 7 Marion Center, 41-0, in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Bellwood-Antis, 34-7, in the semifinals. Laurel Highlands champion Richland defeated No. 8 West Branch, 61-7, in the quarterfinals and No. 4 Penns Valley, 59-7, in the semifinals.

Statistical leaders

Passing: LV: John Caldwell, 140-206, 2,489 yards, 35 TDs, 6 INTs; R: Joe Hauser, 181-315, 2,702 yards, 33 TDs, 9 INTs

Rushing: LV: Kyrie Miller, 163-1,456 yards, 23 TDs; R: Teon Reed, 96-779 yards, 8 TDs

Receiving: LV: Aaron Tutino, 59-1,268 yards, 19 TDs; R: Caleb Burke, 65-1,129 yards, 15 TDs

Notable: This is Ligonier Valley’s fourth trip to the championship game. The Rams beat Bishop McCort, 35-7, in 2016 and 19-12 in 2017. They lost to Forest Hills (AAA), 18-14, in 1985. … This is Richland’s fourth trip to the championship game. Richland beat Forest Hills, 27-0, in 2012 and lost to Central-Martinsburg, 27-22, in 2013, to Tyrone, 27-22, in 2011 and to United, 27-6, in 1986. … The last time the teams met was in 2013, when Richland won in the opening round of the playoffs, 46-6. … Bailey has been coaching at Richland for 17 seasons; Beitel has been at Ligonier Valley 15 seasons. … Both teams are nicknamed the Rams and at one time both played in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference. … Ligonier Valley junior Sam Sheeder has 42 catches for 700 yards and seven touchdowns and has rushed for 342 yards and scored seven touchdowns. … Ligonier Valley junior tight end Cage Dowden has 10 catches for 137 yards and five touchdowns. … Richland running back Zack Vogelsberger has rushed for 692 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also has eight quarterback sacks. … Richland receivers Koby Bailey, Trevor Tustin and Joey Kovachick each have caught 25 passes. … Richland averages 469 yards per game, 239.4 on the ground. Ligonier Valley averages 452.4 yards per game, 236.9 passing.

Probable lineups

Ligonier Valley

STARTING OFFENSE

LT, 77, Blake Bridge, 5-10, 225, sr.

LG, 54, Mike Petrof, 6-2, 275, jr.

C, 74, Jude Grzywinski, 6-2, 250, fr.

RG, 71, Alex Torrance, 5-11, 245, jr.

RT, 55, Christian Jablonski, 6-5, 240, jr.

TE, 81, Cage Dowden, 6-0, 220, jr.

FL 9, Sam Sheeder, 5-9, 190, jr.

WR, 17, Sullivan Schueltz, 5-11, 170, sr.

WR, 6, Aaron Tutino, 5-11, 170, sr.

RB, 29, Kyrie Miller, 5-8, 180, jr.

QB, 10, John Caldwell, 5-10, 150, sr.

STARTING DEFENSE

DE, 77, Blake Bridge, 5-10, 225, sr.

DT, 66, Wylie Spiker, 6-3, 230, jr.

DT, 54, Mike Petrof, 6-2, 275, jr.

DE, 55, Christian Jablonski, 6-5, 240, jr.

LB, 25, Ayden Kelley, 5-9, 215, jr.

LB, 8, Ethan Boring, 5-10, 187, jr.

LB, 9, Sam Sheeder, 5-9, 190, jr.

DB, 2, Andre Kuzemchak, 5-11, 165, sr.

DB, 3, Zach Beitel, 5-10, 160, sr.

DB, 6, Aaron Tutino, 5-11, 170, sr.

DB, 88, John Beard, 5-11, 160, jr.

P, 17, Sullivan Schueltz, 5-11, 170, sr.

K, 83, Peter Stoll, 6-1, 190, sr.

Richland

STARTING OFFENSE

C, 74, J.D. Black, 5-10, 245, jr.

G, 63, Bryce Batche, 6-1, 230, so.

G, 73, Collin Instone, 6-3, 260, sr.

T, 75, Dylan Dininny, 6-5, 255, sr.

T, 54, Nathan Kniss, 6-2, 215, so.

TE, 2, Koby Bailey, 6-3, 205, jr.

WR, 12, Caleb Burke, 6-1, 175, jr.

WR,14, Joey Kovachick, 6-0, 175, sr.

WR, 8, Trevor Tustin, 5-11, 170, jr.

RB, 1, Teon Reed, 5-9, 155, sr.

QB, 11, Joe Hauser, 6-2, 175, sr.

STARTING DEFENSE

DL, 73, Collin Instone, 6-3, 260, sr.

DL, 75, Dylan Dininny, 6-5, 255, sr.

DL, 50, Connor Rager, 6-2, 245, so.

OLB, 32, Gavin Lewis, 5-8, 185, sr.

OLB, 5, Zach Vogelsberger, 6-0, 195, sr.

ILB, 40, Lucas Sabol, 5-10, 175, jr.

ILB, 41, Jacob Sabol, 5-10, 180, so.

CB, 12, Caleb Burke, 6-1, 175, jr.

CB, 14, Joey Kovachick, 6-0, 175, sr.

SS, 35, Shane Gavazzoni, 5-11, 175, sr.

FS, 22, Jordan Kocsis, 5-6, 155, sr.

K, 99, Tim Bodenschatz, 5-10, 155, sr.

P, 11, Joe Hauser, 6-2, 175, sr.

Tags: Ligonier Valley