Published: October 05, 2008 12:09 am            

Conemaugh Township runs over Conemaugh Valley

Conemaugh Township established its running game on the opening series and never let up on the way to a 35-6 WestPAC win at Conemaugh Valley on Saturday afternoon.

The Indians (4-2) rolled up 391 of their 418 total yards on the ground, as junior running back Seth Zaman led the way with 264 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries.

“We wanted to come out right off the bat and control the ball,” Indians coach Sam Zambanini. “Our offensive line did a great job coming off the ball, and all our backs ran hard.”

Defensively, Conemaugh Township faced the challenge of containing the Blue Jays’ Steve Ling, who entered the weekend as the area’s leading rusher.

The Indians kept Ling in check, as he was limited to 73 yards on 29 carries.

“We focused on shutting down their running game,” Zambanini said. “Ling and their other backs can break off big plays at any time, and I was very happy with our defense’s performance.”

The Blue Jays (3-3) lost their third straight.

“They’re just a better football team,” Conemaugh Valley coach Tom Marshall said. “They were bigger, stronger and faster, and that’s why we got beat.”

Jarod Nanna’s 14-yard touchdown run capped off an eight-play, 57-yard opening drive for the Indians, and Emory Mock added the first of his five extra points for a 7-0 Conemaugh Township lead.

Zaman carried twice for 66 yards on the next series, including a 41-yard scoring sprint.

Early in the second quarter, Conemaugh Valley quarterback Cody Kushner lost a fumble at his 28 after being sacked.

Three plays later, Zaman raced 24 yards to score for a 21-0 lead.

Two subsequent Conemaugh Township turnovers kept the Indians from padding that advantage, and the Blue Jays were able to answer on their final drive of the first half.

A 31-yard run and a 23-yard reception by Ling keyed an 80-yard drive that was climaxed when Kushner fired a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Uncapher with 26 seconds left that cut the deficit to 15 at the break.

The Indians regained momentum in the second half as they moved 65 yards in seven plays on their initial series of the third quarter. Zaman plowed in from 8 yards out to put Conemaugh Township ahead 28-6, and Kyle Zambanini’s 14-yard touchdown run with 6:16 left in the game set the eventual final.

        

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