Published: August 29, 2008 12:01 am            

Page’s try for No. 200 leads off season

The scholastic football season kicks off tonight with 12 games involving schools from The Tribune-Democrat’s 27-team coverage area.

All games begin at 7 p.m.

Laurel Valley coach Jerry Page will try for his 200th win in a meeting with border rival United at Thomas Madill Field.

Greater Johnstown will face visiting Bedford at Trojan Stadium, as new Bisons coach Dan Smith debuts against second-year Johnstown coach Kevin Marabito’s team.

Two-time defending District 6 Class AA champion Bishop McCort, which dropped to Class A this season, will host Cambria Heights at Point Stadium.

District 6-AA runner-up Central Cambria faces Ebensburg rival Bishop Carroll at St. Francis University.

North Star, which won a District 5-A crown last season, will move up to 5-AA and face WestPAC rival Berlin on the road. Somerset will try to build on a milestone 2007 season while facing perennial power Forest Hills in Sidman.

Richland will try to take the first steps to a second straight playoff appearance by facing a physical and big Penn Cambria squad at Herlinger Field.

New Chestnut Ridge coach Max Shoemaker, a former Bedford coach, will start his tenure with the Lions by facing one of the region’s top Class A programs, Windber, at Windber Stadium.

In other games, Ferndale visits Meyersdale; Penns Manor travels to Northern Cambria and new Colts coach Paul Taranto; Ligonier Valley is at Purchase Line; and Conemaugh Valley is at Shade.

The opening weekend will continue with three Saturday afternoon games, all beginning at 1.

Conemaugh Township visits Blacklick Valley; defending WestPAC champion Portage travels to Rockwood; and Bishop Guilfoyle plays at Westmont Hilltop in new Hilltopper coach Matt Glennon’s first game.

        

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