Football - Ligonier Valley vs Marion Center

Ligonier Valley Runs Record to 11-0, Blanks Marion Center 41-0 in D6 Playoff Opener

Greensburg Salem football calls it home. Seton Hill University calls it home. But tonight, although the scoreboard sign said Golden Lions and the goalpost pads said SHU, the cozy confines of Offutt Field in downtown Greensburg were home to Ligonier Valley's powerhouse football program. When recent rain made Ligonier Valley's Weller Field unplayable, the Rams hopped on the bus and made the 30 minute drive west on Route 30 for a District 6 opening round playoff game with Marion Center on the artificial surface at Offutt Field. As they've done all season, the trio of Kyrie Miller rushing, Aaron Tutino receiving, and John Caldwell calling signals didn't mind what the venue was, they just put points on the board in bunches. And for the second time in four weeks, the Rams beat Marion Center, this time ending the Stingers season by a 41-0 score.

After Marion Center won the coin toss and deferred, Ligonier Valley took the opening kickoff and quickly marched 56 yards in 4 plays, with Miller rushing for the touchdown as only 59 seconds had ticked off the game clock. Peter Stoll added the PAT kick for a 7-0 Rams lead. The Stingers couldn't get anything going on their first possession, and were forced to punt from deep in their own territory. But the Rams' Cage Dowden blocked punter Gaven Palko's kick, and Ligonier Valley was in business again at the Stingers' 7-yard line. A Caldwell strike to Tutino on the next play, followed by a Caldwell run for the two-point conversion, and the Rams had a 15-0 lead only a minute and 57 seconds into the game. Miller notched his second touchdown on a 1-yard run with 1:45 left in the opening quarter, and Stoll's kick made it 22-0 when the first quarter horn sounded. 

The Rams built upon their lead in the second quarter with Tutino hauling in a 24-yard Caldwell pass in the corner of the endzone at 6:12 remaining. Stoll's kick doinked off the left upright no-good, and the score was 28-0. Miller danced into the endzone again from 22 yards away with 1:28 left in the half and the Rams went into the locker room with a 34-0 lead after Stoll's second PAT kick in a row hit the upright and bounced out.

Caldwell closed out the scoring for the Rams as he called his own number from the 10-yard line at 8:06 of the third quarter. Stoll's kick made the score 41-0, and a running clock for the rest of the game sent fans to their cars early. 

The Stingers close their season with a 5-6 record while the 11-0 Rams move to the next round against either West Shamokin or Bellwood Antis.
  

Watch this link for a full gallery of action photos available for purchase or sharing the day after the game.