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Local teams aiming for strong finish to football season

Warren quarterback Jake Kupchella and the Dragons close out the season by hosting Huntingdon.

It’s hard to believe, but the end of the high school football regular season.

With none of the three county schools advancing to the playoffs, today and Saturday will mark the final games of the season.

Eisenhower travels to Sheffield for a county battle on Saturday, while Warren hosts District 6 3A powerhouse Huntingdon tonight.

Here’s a look at each game.

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HUNTINGDON (8-1) at

WARREN (2-7)

The Dragons conclude their season against a team with plenty to play for in the Huntingdon Bearcats, who need a win to lock up the top spot in the District 6 Class 3A playoffs. They are a team that is coming in hungry following their first loss of the season last week to Central-Martinsburg, 14-10.

They feature a three-headed monster on offense in 6-1, 210-pound junior quarterback Andrew Hudy (65-of-110, 1,113 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs), 6-0, 210-pound senior running back Ian Border (1,214 yards, 7.4 yards per carry) and senior receiver Jonathan Price (36 receptions, 620 yards, 17.2 ypr.)

They are a lot like Conneaut, they run to the football on defense and their offense is very good at trapping and pulling, it seems every week we are facing a 1,000 runner, Ian Border is that man this week, he will also line up in a Wildcat formation, Despite losing their first game last week, this is a state ranked team and it is easy to see why.

“They are a lot like Conneaut, they run to the football on defense and their offense is very good at trapping and pulling, it seems every week we are facing a 1,000 runner,” said Warren coach Mark Morelli. “Ian Border is that man this week, he will also line up in a Wildcat formation. Despite losing their first game last week, this is a state ranked team and it is easy to see why.”

Defense is really the Bearcats’ calling card, however, as they have allowed just 13.3 points per game. On the season, they have outscored their opponent 390-120.

Morelli, however, is confident in his team’s ability to compete after a strong week of practice.

“It has been a fun, no stress week, the effort and the work is there though but they are loose and relaxed,” he said.

Offensively, the Dragons are led by senior lineman Andrew Egger and Mason Benjamin, senior running back Noah Myers (1,259 yards rushing, 7.5 ypc), junior quarterback Jake Kupchella (64-of-135, 1,000 yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs) and junior fullback Marvin Bryant (706 yards rushing, 7.5 ypc.).

Kupchella’s top targets are Kohl Nosel, Mitchell Bryant and Ryan Arnold.

The Dragons will need to be fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball in order to stay with the high-powered Bearcats.

“Obviously, containing Border or at least limiting him,” said Morelli about the defensive keys. “The middle of their defensive line is stout, tough to run on, we may have to throw to be successful. You never know sometimes with these end of the year games, they are making a three hour bus ride to Warren and they have the playoffs next week. Both teams are not familiar with each other or their conferences.”

For the seniors it will be their last game at War Memorial Field, and, despite the season not going the way they would have liked, Morelli wants them to go out with their heads held high.

“It will be an emotional affair for the seniors, they have been through a lot,” he said. “We all had high hopes in the beginning of the year and unfortunately the seniors did not have the year they envisioned. Yet despite our record, one thing they do have is fun memories of the season and their teammates. The underclassmen though we believe learned some valuable lessons for the future this year that hopefully will be applied for next season.”

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EISENHOWER (3-6) at SHEFFIELD (0-9)

Both Eisenhower and Sheffield had playoff aspirations coming into the season.

Eisenhower had offensive miscues in a pair of losses that kept the Knights out of contention in District 10’s Region 3, while Sheffield just couldn’t get enough going defensively and the Wolverines enter the final game of the regular season still searching for their first win.

Regardless, the budding county rivals will take the field on Wolverine Mountain Saturday hoping to end the season on a high note.

The Knights come in riding a two-game winning streak where they have outscored their last two opponents, Mercer and Saegertown, 101-7. Despite the 0-9 record, Eisenhower coach Jim Penley isn’t taking Sheffield lightly.

“They’re going to be pumped to play us,” he said. “This is a tremendous challenge.”

Eisenhower’s sudden offensive explosion coincides with a partial change at quarterback. Spencer Head is still starting games as the signal caller, but Penley has been moving him to other positions in the backfield to take advantage of his diverse ability.

“He’s a natural football player,” Penley said. “Strictly playing quarterback limits his creativity.”

The move has certainly paid off as Head has scored seven touchdowns, including one defensive score, in the last two games. Last week at Saegertown, Head ran for one score and threw for two more as the Knights rolled to a 49-7 win.

Head’s success is also opening things for playmakers Jaydon Hayes and Jonah Samuelson. With Head in the backfield, Hayes is able to spend more time at his natural receiver position, while Samuelson, with his state caliber speed, is a threat to break off a big play anytime he touches the ball. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, it has been the big play that has doomed them all season.

Sheffield looked like it might be on the verge of picking up that elusive first win last week at Cameron County, only to see the Red Raiders score the go-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion with less than five minutes to play.

Cameron County got the win despite a monster game from Sheffield quarterback Cale Albaugh. The senior signal caller threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those scores went to do-it-all playmaker Josh Agudio. Agudio had four receptions for 126 yards, with scoring grabs of 46, 45 and 24 yards. Agudio has had 100 receiving or rushing yards in nearly every game this season and will be one of the big keys the Knights watch.

“They’re a really athletic team,” Penley said.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

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