ST. MARYS, Pa. (D9Sports) — Because of last night’s Perry/St. Marys District 8-9 3A semifinal game at Dutch Country Stadium, Redbank Valley has the different task of playing a late Saturday afternoon 4 p.m. game against Elk County Catholic and it’s single-wing offense.
(Photo of Clint Thurston. Photo by Mike Schnelle. Check out more of Schnelle’s work here)
The sixth-seeded Bulldogs (5-4) have struggled at times this season and didn’t secure a postseason trip until a 24-17 win over Moniteau last week, while the third-seeded Crusaders (6-3) have lost to three teams — Kane, Brockway and Ridgway — with a combined record of 26-3 with the three losses coming against each other.
It’s the first time since 2007 when Redbank Valley hammered ECC, 39-14, in New Bethlehem, the two teams have met in the postseason.
Despite Redbank Valley’s record, the Bulldogs have played a challenging schedule with losses to Clarion-Limestone, the second seed in the 1A bracket, 8-1 Clarion, and 8-2 Karns City, the top seed in the 3A bracket. The fourth loss was to 6-4 St. Marys.
Defensively, Bulldogs will be challenged by the throw-back single-wing offense ECC has employed the last few years.
The Crusaders average 298 yards per game offensively with thrower — the offensive doesn’t really have a quarterback with any one of three back capable of taking a snap — quarterback Nate DaCanal (59-for-139, 934 yards, 9 TDs, 8 Ints) being the key cog to the unit. He’s the third-leading rusher (73-368, 6 TDs) behind Jared Braun (85-600, 8 TDs) and Dan Stauffer (102-498, 5 TDs). Brad Dippold (22-299, 5 TDs), Eric Gerber (12-239, 2 TDs) and Braun (12-257, 1 TD) are DaCanal’s leading receivers.
Redbank Valley averages 277 yards — 178 rushing, 99 passing — per game offensively. Sophomore quarterback Keaton Kahle (58-126, 822 yards, 6 TDs, 5 Ints.) and receiver Brock Barrett (25-361, 3 TDs) lead the passing game while the trio of Colten Mohney (78-385, 4 TDs), Curtis Mohney (78-385, 4 TDs) and Clint Thurston (57-371, 7 TDs) leads the running game.
Defensively, the Crusaders’ Ryan Heary leads his team at 9.7 tackles per game. Joe Kucenski has seven sacks while Braun leads the unit with four interceptions. For the Bulldogs, Barrett and Colten Mohney have seven and five interceptions respectively and the defense has 21 in all.
Redbank Valley plays its 25th district playoff game and is 9-15 overall. ECC is 3-12 in the playoffs, its last win coming in 2012 in a first-round game against Union.
