From the sidelines Week 13
Written by: Larry Spegar on Monday, November 24th, 2008. Follow Larry Spegar on Twitter.
As a start to this week’s column, let’s all salute and wish a speedy recovery to a long time fan of high school football in PA, my Dad, Michael Spegar, Sr. Dad suffered a stroke in early October and is battling back in rehabilitation and therapy in Lackawanna County medical care. Dad always enjoys Friday night and Saturday afternoon high school football action. He has listened intensely on his trusted radio this fall and still stays close to the action. Let’s all hope and root for an exciting finish to this already exciting 2008 season and that Dad will make a speedy and healthy recovery, especially with the Holiday Season fast approaching. I dedicate the season and the remaining columns of “From The Sidelines” to my Dad!!!
On Friday night’s action, the A competition drew a great State playoff contest between the No. 2 State ranked RIVERSIDE VIKINGS and the perennial District 4 powerhouse SOUTHERN COLUMBIA TIGERS. In the much anticipated and expected match-up, both teams “showed up” with hard hitting and running action to please a packed house in Peckville. RIVERSIDE prevailed 25-7 in a thrilling battle worthy of these two A Titans. Remember 1997 when the VIKINGS upset the TIGERS in Wilkes-Barre to stop the TIGERS consecutive run to A State Championship Game appearances. SOUTHERN COLUMBIA has been a staple in the A State Title Game. With the exception of 1997 and 2007, the TIGERS were the Eastern Representative in State Competition in 1994-96 and 1998-2006. An incredible accomplishment to say the least. The proud program of SOUTHERN COLUMBIA, led by Head Coach Jim Roth, who needs just 3 more wins to join the elite 300 career coaching wins milestone, has consistently led the TIGERS to the very top of competition in PA Football year after year. RIVERSIDE is truly deserving of their lofty No. 2 ranking in the State courtesy of Friday’s impressive win over SOUTHERN. The VIKINGS were led once again by star tailback, Joe Klebon, who registered all 4 TD runs en route to the win. Klebon scored in every quarter on respective runs of 7, 1, 45 and 2 yards. It was perhaps the 45 yard scoring burst in the 3rd quarter which defines Klebon the most as the gritty, hard nosed, determined running back he is by running straight into the arms of several defenders, but managing to remain up and driving forward and breaking free and rolling along to the eventual TD which put the VIKINGS back up by 2 scores and deflating any comeback momentum seized by the TIGERS at the time. RIVERSIDE also received standout play by numerous members of this talented and determined team. Play after play, numerous VIKINGS stepped up to the task and challenge and made the most of their opportunities, including an exceptional defensive stand midway through the 2nd quarter which stopped a TIGER threat deep in VIKING territory. This stand kept the TIGERS off the scoreboard and provided RIVERSIDE with the opportunity to punch in yet another score with just 2 minutes remaining in the first half. That has been the story for RIVERSIDE all season long: Making the most of opportunities and always seeming to convert those opportunities into winning ways. Remember well Week No. 2 at RIVERSIDE in a key battle with WEST SCRANTON. It was RIVERSIDE’S defense which shut down WEST’S chance to convert a 4th and 1 with under 2 minutes remaining in the game and WEST leading by 7. RIVERSIDE went on to march down the field with key plays and ultimately scoring both the TD and a nifty 2 point conversion to seal the exciting and impressive 22-21 victory. The VIKINGS have clearly built on this statement game and have made several impressive statements since that Week 2 victory over WEST SCRANTON, including Week 10 over AA DUNMORE and Week 13 over SOUTHERN COLUMBIA. This coming week RIVERSIDE will return again to Peckville with a Week 14 match-up with District 11 juggernaut, SCHUYLKILL HAVEN. This game will feature the obvious talents of RIVERSIDE’S Joe Klebon and SCHUYLKILL HAVEN’S superman, Zach Barket, who has amassed 3,806 yards this season alone in 13 undefeated games. Barket needs just 41 yards to establish the State single season rushing mark held by Parkland’s Austin Scott. This should be a great one on Friday in Peckville at 7 pm.
In the District 2 AA Title Game, defending Eastern Champion and State Runnerup, DUNMORE, handled WILKES-BARRE GAR 48-13. The Bucks, eager to return to Hershey for another shot at the AA State Title, were led again by RB, Mike Perry and QB, Miller Holmes. Despite stumbling at RIVERSIDE in Week 10, the BUCKS are poised with many returning starters. Experience and talent are prevalent at DUNMORE and it all starts with Head Coach, Jack Henzes, who is a member of the 300 Career Coaching Win Club. DUNMORE jumped out to a 13-0 first quarter lead and jumped out to a 34-7 halftime lead as well. Next week the talented BUCKS will face WEST CATHOLIC in the Philadelphia area.
A salute to the WPIAL winners from this past weekend. Hats off to FSN TV for the outstanding coverage of these great games from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The winners were CLAIRTON (A); ALIQUIPPA (AA); THOMAS JEFFERSON (AAA) and BETHEL PARK (AAAA).
Good Luck to all teams in Week No. 14 and See You On The Sidelines!!!
Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball
Share This Post:
![[Facebook]](https://www.easternpafootball.com/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[LinkedIn]](https://www.easternpafootball.com/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[Twitter]](https://www.easternpafootball.com/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Email]](https://www.easternpafootball.com/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
November 29th, 2008 at 1:46 am
HAVEN IS VICTORIOUS!GOT BARKET?
November 29th, 2008 at 12:07 am
turns out i was compltely wrong about everything but talent scout. you lost. your predictions looked like it was going to work until the onside kick recovery the havens got.
you lost
November 27th, 2008 at 2:18 am
there is no doubt in my mind that this is going to be a great game both teams are pretty solid O&D,but i believe this is going to be a high scoring game both V & H have a high powered offense i just think riverside is more balanced squad the vikings will jump on them early and protect the lead for the rest of the game and win by 13 GOOD LUCK TO BOTH TEAMS THE WINNER OF THIS ONE WILL WILL BEAT STEELTON AND GO ON TO BE CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONS. An UNIQUE your crazy 20-7 at the half RIVERSIDE SHOULD HOLD A 2 SCORE LEAD THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE GAME.
November 27th, 2008 at 12:59 am
ohh… i think itll be 20-7 at half. hurricanes up
November 27th, 2008 at 12:58 am
… you people should not be doing pregame analisis cause if u check the scores of this years hurricanes and riverside… youll find that hurricanes have the same defence totals (about) as riverside does.
youll also find that the hurricanes will have no problem scoring … i predict a low scoring game for these teams. 26-23 final score. haven hurricanes winnning with a big first half. and a bad second half…
they gotta go out scoring fast. or they will lose.
riverside will adjust to haven far to quickly if u dont blow them out fast.
November 26th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
brandon devlin is there if haven needs him.. hes 6’7″
November 26th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I remember everyone saying that about Riverside back in 98 when Haven downed them! They (Riverside)were ranked #1 in the state then.So much for rankings. Plenty good enough to beat Riverside. Haven is just as quick but bigger and stronger.Haven by 1 TD is a close back and forth game.Slow start till both teams feel each other out.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:45 am
DUNMORE IS GOING TO LOSE AGAINST WEST CATHOLIC…WEST HAS TO MUCH WEAPONS ON OFFENSE, AND THEIR DEFENSE IS AMAZING…THE BUCKS ARE GOOD BUT WEST CATHOLIC IS TOO GOOD… THE TRIO…CURTIS DRAKE/ ROB HOLLOMAN/ RAYMOND MAPLES…UNSTOPPABLE
November 26th, 2008 at 1:32 am
I for once agree. (kinda) it’s obvious haven has a very strong o-line you don’t rack up rushing yards like zach did without one. but like i said before’ you stop the run (zach) you stop Haven!!!but i don’t think the hurricane defense can match up anywhere against the vikings high powered offence no matter how many players you mention Haven is a great team they wouldn’t gotten this far if they weren’t BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BEAT THE VIKINGS. The vikings ship will sail right through that mild storm you call a hurricane
November 25th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
sry bout all the comments, my computer was messed up
November 25th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
haven is not a one man team! tyler swoyer is a beast on o line and d line? i guess he doesn’t matter. tyler naus? ryan fehr? evan fink? i guess they r nobodys either. a team can’t go anywhere with 1 player
November 25th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
haven isn’t a one man team. our beast o line and our cannon linebacking core doesn’t count? i guess tyler swoyer isn’t on the team?
November 25th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
haven is a one man team? he wouldn’t b where he is without our o line, and i guess our beast linebacking core doesn’t count either? i guess tyler swoyer doesn’t count?
November 24th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
when you think of the hurricanes you think ZACH BARKET the kid is an outstanding running back who carried the hurricanes to where they are at right now BUT, When you think of the vikings speed and talent all over the field every position AND JOE KLEBON who is just as good as BARKET if not BETTER remember the vikings made it this far with KLEBON out for 7 weeks where would haven be without BARKET???? definately NOT in the playoffs. If you stop BARKET you stop the hurricanes if you stop KLEBON 10 other ATHELETES ruin your friday night and end your season. the RIVERSIDE VIKINGS will hold BARKET to a season low and end the the hurricanes season this friday.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
The Hurricane stops in Peckville, VIKES ALL THE WAY