Football - Week 1 thoughts

Here is my take, very unscientific, on this week's games in the Bedford Gazette coverage area.

Everett at Tussey Mountain 

A very interesting rivalry game right out of the box. In fact, Tussey has two of them back-to-back with a trip to Northern Bedford next week. Back to this week, where the Titans welcome back quite a bit of skill and experience on both sides of the ball. Tussey Mountain possesses some big speed guys such as Darrin Sipes and Mitchell Corbin out of the backfield.

Meanwhile, Everett has a lot back too, and a new coach. Mark Kirk has travelled the country but says this will be his final stop. Can he turn the Warriors around after a rough couple of seasons? Though Kyle Droz had a decent year throwing the ball last fall, Kirk will go with at least a tandem operation with Droz and Spencer McInroy. Everett has some nice complimentary players to those two, including Barkley Rhoat and Drew Ritchey.

I do think Everett will win more than one game this year, but I don't think the first one will come this week. The Pick - Tussey Mountain.

Northern Bedford at Glendale

What a game this shapes up to be. Though Northern Bedford welcomes a new starting QB in Blake Over, the Panthers have talent returning in the backfield and in the passing game with depth and height overload at receiver. Biggest question for NB appears to be offensive line. If they can hold up and block for Over and lead runner Conner Kagarise, there is no doubt that Northern will score points. The Panthers should be solid on defense with a lot back in the starting lineup from 2011.

The talk at Glendale is that this might be the best Viking team ever, at least on paper. The favorites in the ICC Silver Division, Glendale has top runner Damon Braniff and quarterback Gary Witherow retuning in its arsenal. Braniff is likely the best back in the ICC and can play an option style QB if need be to show different and sometimes confusing looks.

This is a tough game to call. Northern Bedford coach Jeff Batzel always has his team ready. Glendale has a 23-year old new coach. Nothing against him, but coaching could come into play here. Whoever has the ball last might determine the winner. The Pick - Glendale in a close one.

Martinsburg Central at Chestnut Ridge

Central comes to Ridge with a lot of talent and big play type guys back. Ridge lost nearly 3,700 yards of offensive players to graduation. The Lions do have a nice group on the offensive and defensive lines.

I don't think Ridge will start 0-3 like last year, but they will be 0-1. The Pick - Central.

Claysburg at Williamsburg

These two have been on the lower end of District 6-A in recent years, but Claysburg made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2008 and has a lot back as well as size, which is not always one of its strong suits. Zach Helsel's season will play prominently in how well the Bulldogs do.

Williamsburg is on the upswing and has several starters returning on offense and defense. Look for a good one here. Remember, a second game between the squads comes up in mid-October at Claysburg, who gets the first one. The Pick - Claysburg.

Saturday

Bedford at Bishop Guilfoyle

Bedford was hit with a blow last week when starting QB/LB Aaron Henry was injured. He is not likely to play the first game or two. The Bisons also have to rebuild their lines while leading receiver Luke Campbell did not come back out for the team.

Guilfoyle suffered a miserable season in 2011 and things can only go up. The Pick - Bishop Guilfoyle.

Remember to check out Friday's Gazette for previews, photos, stats and much more about the six local teams.

A little wrestling for you

While we're beginning the football season later this week, I have a few tidbits about wrestling.

- Bethlehem Catholic will be attending the King of the Mountain this year. Speaking of the Golden Hawks, senior Darian Cruz has announced his intentions to wrestle next year at Lehigh University. Cruz's older brother Randy, and fellow Becahi state champ Elliott Riddick, are at Lehigh this season as freshmen.

- Central Dauphin is switching holiday tournaments and will be at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic. This is a major coup for host coach Jody Karam of Bethlehem Liberty, who already has a fine field year in and year out there.

- Longtime Blair Academy (NJ) coach Jeff Buxton has unexpectedly resigned. Sources that are working this story have not been able to get many details as of yet.

Getting closer to kickoff

We're now less than a week away from the start of local high school football. Be sure to check out the Bedford Gazette's annual season preview which comes out on Friday. Also stay tuned to this blog for extra commentary and features that you won't find in the print edition throughout the high school sports season.

Local sports get underway

After Monday's events were either postponed (Bedford-Chestnut Ridge tennis) or called in the middle of it (Bedford County Cup golf), the first official result of the 2012-13 high school season is now in the books with Bedford winning all three singles matchups on the way to a 3-2 home victory over Bishop McCort earlier today.

Check out Wednesday's Bedford Gazette for Codi Weyant's match report. Bedford and Chestnut Ridge have rescheduled their match for this afternoon at the Bedford courts.

More from Olympic medalist Natalie Dell

A homemade video with more photos and Olympic experiences with Natalie Dell. Click on the link that is below. (The Olympic Life: A Rower's Perspective)

The Olympic Life: A Rower's Perspective

Natalie Dell on camera

Everett grad Natalie Dell, a member of the U.S. Women's Quadruple Sculls team that won the bronze medal on August 1 at the London Olympics, is prominently featured with teammate Adrienne Martelli in this short video from the UK. Click on the link below (US Rowers describe Olympic experience)

US Rowers describe Olympic experience

Favorite Quote from London

There were a bevy of great comments from the Olympics, but this is a particular favorite.

From Jordan Burroughs, the 74-kilogram Freestyle Wrestling Gold Medalist: "If the Queen of England stepped out on the mat, I'd probably double-leg her."

Burroughs, noted for that double-leg takedown, was a standout wrestler at Winslow Township High School in southern New Jersey, winning one state championship before becoming a two-time NCAA champ at Nebraska.

The day is here

This is one of my favorite days of the year, from a job perspective, as high school practices for the fall sports season are now officially underway.

It's been a quick summer for me. Between covering two successful American Legion baseball teams, the success of the Pirates and the upcoming NFL and college football seasons, we've stayed busy for sure. Of course, Natalie Dell's bronze medal at the Olympics made things so much better. Throw in a little vacation with my wife and other family, and mid-August rolled around the corner easily.

Look for a couple of first day practice snapshots in Tuesday's Bedford Gazette, and remember to check out our annual Football Preview on August 31 and our capsule previews of the other fall sports in the coverage area around the end of the month.

For a refresher, here's a look back at our local fall sports champions in 2011:

Football
Northern Bedford - ICC South Champions (5-0 in divisional play)

Boys Soccer
Bedford - LHAC Co-Champions with Somerset (12-1-2 in league play), defeated the Golden Eagles in the District 5-6AA championship game

Chestnut Ridge - Regular Season SHL Co-Champions with Fannett-Metal (9-1-2), but the Tigers defeated the Lions in the District 5-A title game, winning the league as well because SHL bylaws state that if co-champs meet in the postseason, the winner gets the league crown

Volleyball
Chestnut Ridge - SHL Champions at 11-1

Girls Tennis
Bedford - LHAC Champions, was 12-0 in league matches

ICC Media Day

On hand at Bellwood for ICC's Football Media Day today.

Can Northern Bedford reload and continue its winning ways? Can Claysburg return to the playoffs for a rare second straight season? Is Tussey Mountain ready to turn it around from last year? And how will Everett react to a new coach with a new philosophy?

Those questions will begin to be answered soon. For now, check out Wednesday's Bedford Gazette for my two stories from Media Day, as well as a capsule description of the ICC's new divisional alignment for 2012.

Pick up a copy or subscribe online at www.bedfordgazette.com

Natalie Dell follow-up

Natalie says she woke up today at 5:25 am like normal. Except this morning, she wore her bronze medal to breakfast. And why not?

Gazette newswriter Cara Beemiller caught up with one of Natalie's high school coaches at Everett, as well as two residents of her hometown in Clearville for reaction to her historic performance at the 2012 London Olympics. Cara's piece will be in Friday's edition of the paper.

Dell became the first Olympic medalist ever from Bedford County with a bronze in the Women's Quadruple Sculls rowing competition on Wednesday. To relive that moment, catch my story and column in the Thursday edition, plus a tremendous collection of photos we used from the Associated Press. As I stated in my column yesterday, it was an absolute honor and one of the highlights of my career to talk to Bedford County's first Olympic medalist just a few hours after she and her teammates received those medals.

Football Media Days begin

Local football and the rest of the fall sports are about to get underway in the Gazette coverage area and across Pennsylvania.

First up today was the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference's football Media Day at Johnstown's Trojan Stadium. A lot of intrigue surrounding Bedford this year: New faces and some familiar ones in different positions.

Look for my report about the Bisons in Friday's edition of the Bedford Gazette.

A Bronze Medalist!

Clearville native Natalie Dell and her American teammates won the bronze medal on Wednesday in the Quadruple Sculls competition at the 2012 London Olympics. Ukraine won the gold, Germany took the silver.

I interviewed Natalie via phone, and my story will be featured out front in Thursday's Bedford Gazette, plus my column and a photo feature of the historic moment in the regular sports section. Pick up a copy, or subscribe online at www.bedfordgazette.com.

Natalie is just the second Summer Olympian from Bedford County (Northern Bedford's Brian Sell was the other in 2008 Men's Marathon) and is the first-ever county medalist. The United States had not won a medal in the Women's Quad Sculls since 1984, a silver in Los Angeles.