Westmoreland sports notebook: Ligonier Valley’s 23rd straight conference win ties record

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 8:00 PM

A rare off week for the Ligonier Valley football team is a good time to pause and reflect on the Rams’ offensive run over the last few seasons.

A forfeit from Saltsburg gives the Rams 23 consecutive Heritage Conference wins, which ties them with Blairsville (2003-05) for the conference record.

Not that the coaching staff is counting.

“We treat the weekly opponent as though we are playing for the state championship and prepare the same way each week,” coach Roger Beitel said. “The only thing that matters to us is that we have one more point than our opponent.”

But the body of work is quite impressive.

Since 2016, the District 6 Rams are 31-2 and have racked up 40 or more points in 22 of 32 games, including 12 of 50 or more. This year, the Rams (4-0) are averaging 50.3 points. Quarterback John Caldwell is Westmoreland’s top passer, completing 40 of 56 attempts for 647 yards with 13 touchdowns and no interceptions.

Senior Aaron Tutino has 13 receptions for 231 yards and five touchdowns, and Sam Sheeder has 10 catches for 198 yards and three scores.

Beitel said the Rams’ running attack is a group effort; it takes an army.

“We have an amazing football community that supports the program, especially the parents,” Beitel said. “The parents fully support our vision and thus we get their sons to commit and do things that many will not do. Our culture is built on the premise of ‘relentless effort’ in everything that we do.”

Ligonier Valley is ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 2A.

Schwerha eligible

Senior soccer player JoJo Schwerha, who transferred from Greensburg Central Catholic to Belle Vernon, was ruled eligible by the WPIAL and played in Tuesday night’s game. Schwerha went to a tryout for the D.C. United Academy before making the move to Belle Vernon.

Schwerha will be ineligible for postseason play because he transferred after Aug. 6, when a new PIAA rule took effect.

Volleyball ranks

Two county teams made the grade in this week’s Western Pa. Volleyball Coaches Association girls volleyball poll. Hempfield checked in at No. 6 in Class AAAA, while Greensburg Central Catholic is ranked third in Class A.

The association also chooses players of the week. Latrobe senior setter Carly Augustine was recognized as such in Class AAAA.

Alumni game

Belle Vernon boys soccer is hosting an alumni game on Sept. 22 at James Weir Stadium. The game will start at 4 p.m., followed by a junior varsity-varsity doubleheader against Ringgold (at 6 and 7:30).

Alumni can reserve spots in the game via email to coachmiele@gmail.com.

Title rematch rescheduled

Rivals Greensburg Central Catholic and Shady Side Academy had their Section 1-A girls soccer showdown postponed Tuesday night. The game was supposed to be played at Shady Side but construction on campus moved it to GCC, which had an unplayable field after persistent rain.

The game is now scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at GCC.

Neither team has played a game yet.

Eubank transfers

Former Greensburg Central Catholic standout Jassan Eubank changed colleges over the summer. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound linebacker left Edinboro for Nassau Community College in Garden City, N.Y.

He has played in three games for Nassau (2-1) and has 12 tackles, 2.5 for losses, one sack and a fumble recovery.

Event canceled

The Yukon Game Day event scheduled for Saturday at Yukon Ball Field has been canceled because of flooding in the area.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Greensburg C.C., Hempfield, Ligonier Valley