Click-Here-For-Sports-Front
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
INSIDE: High school roundups B4 Big Ben battered and bruised B5 B High school football skinny B6 TONIGHT’S BEST TV BET NFL: Baltimore at Cincinnati NFL Network, 8 p.m. For complete listings see Page B2 NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SPORTS EDITORS SPORTS EDITOR BUCK FRANK 946-7461 [email protected] Altoona Mirror THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 H.S. FOOTBALL Lions hope home still a big help BY JOHN HARTSOCK [email protected] The Altoona Mountain Lions have enjoyed a sched - uling perk — four straight home games — to begin this football season. Altoona coach Nick Felus believes that the home cook - ing gives his team a lift. “We try to instill in the players the notion that they’re playing for the city of Altoona and this commu - nity,’’ Felus said. “We have a really good student (cheer - ing) section, and the com - munity support has been unbelievable. “We try to focus on what we need to do, and go 1-0 each week, and not concern ourselves as to whether we’re playing a home or away game, but it definitely helps,’’ Felus said of his team’s four straight games at Mansion Park to begin this season. The Mountain Lions, now 2-1 after two straight victo - ries, conclude the season- BY BUCK FRANK recruiting process opening home stretch with a [email protected] was telling schools 7 p.m. kickoff against she was not com - unbeaten Chambersburg (3- ellwood-Antis High School junior Alli 0) Friday night at Mansion Campbell has already won a state bas - mitting to their program – schools Park. Bketball championship. “They’re a very well- Two years from now, she’ll be in an excel - such as Penn State, Stanford, Duke, Pitt, coached team,’’ Felus said of lent position to possibly be part of a national Chambersburg, which will Boston College, collegiate championship. kick off the Mid-Penn Campbell, the reigning Altoona Mirror Michigan and Conference schedule for the and PIAA Class 2A player of the year, com - Michigan State. Mountain Lions. “On mitted on Monday night to take her game to But, ultimately, she offense, they have some South Bend to play for the defending nation - said she’s at peace with very good skill-position al champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish and her decision to attend players, and their ability to Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw begin - Notre Dame. make big plays on offense is ning in 2020. “From the first time something that we have to “I texted Coach McGraw Monday night,’’ I stepped on campus be ready for and prepare Campbell said Wednesday. “I asked her last fall, I loved it,’’ for.’’ when it would be a good time for me to call Campbell said. Behind senior tailback her, and she replied, ‘How’s now?’ Talking McGraw, a Pottsville Mitchell Lawhead’s three with her is so easy and comfortable. I pro - native, has won 800 touchdowns, the Mountain ceeded to tell her I would love to play for games in her 31 seasons Lions defeated Pittsburgh her, and she was very happy and excited. with the Irish, including See Football /Page B6 We both were.’’ two national championships The verbal commitment capped off a (2001 and 2018) and eight whirlwind two-year recruiting journey that Final Fours. PIRATES had nearly all the top programs in the Campbell said there was no sense putting nation interested in the 6-foot guard/for - off her decision because she knew she found ward who is on pace to become the all-time the perfect fit. leading scholastic scorer in Blair County “The coaching staff is amazing. The aca - Bucs play history. demics are second to none. The opportunity Monmouth was the first school to offer to play for a Hall of Fame coach is once in a Campbell a full ride in October 2016, and lifetime,” she said. “After watching them all nine many followed, including 2017 national fight through all of their adversity last sea - champion South Carolina. She ended up son, I feel extremely proud, excited and hon - with more than 35 Division I scholarship ored to become a member of the Notre Dame from Curve offers. family.’’ Wednesday was a historic Campbell said the hardest part of the See Campbell /Page B2 day for the Curve, as for the first time ever, the entire Pirates starting lineup for a game was made up of for - Mirror photos by Gary M. Baranec, photo illustration by Nick Anna mer Altoona players. As a sophomore, Alli Campbell led Bellwood-Antis to the 2018 PIAA Class 2A cham - For their game in St. pionship this past March. She drew college offers from across the country and made Louis, which resulted in a 4- an unofficial visit to Notre Dame in June, where Irish coach Muffet McGraw showed 3 win, the Bucs’ starting her the 2018 national championship trophy. This week, Campbell verbally committed lineup consisted of: 2B to join the ND program in 2020. Adam Frazier, CF Starling Marte, 1B Josh Bell, RF Jordan Luplow, 3B Kevin Kramer, LF Pablo Reyes, SS Kevin Newman, C Jacob Stallings and P Jameson PENN STATE FOOTBALL Taillon. There was a game in Baltimore last year in which all nine starting posi - Series with Notre Dame Rivalry with Syracuse tion players for the Pirates were Curve alums, the first time that had ever stirs special memories one-sided but memo rable occurred. But that game came with an asterisk, as ell, for openers, it Bryant to rivalry suggests ral for me to the designated hitter was wouldn’t be Kent State both teams have a pick the David Freese, who never State, Saturday’s College in pretty good chance PSU-Cuse W A played for Altoona. opponent. 1981, when of winning, but if you look rivalry as The Bear at the history of Penn my favorite. The Curve recently com - Pitt’s been ruled out by pleted their 20th season, mutual agreement, but tied Amos State football, that has It’s the one I Alonzo never been the case with know the and Wednesday’s milestone there are still plenty of will go down in team histo - options left for me. Neil Stagg’s most of its old Eastern Cory most about, record of 314 cohorts. Giger and I’m cer - ry as a unique achievement. Two in particular stand Rudel It’s very rare for a major out: Notre Dame and wins by The Nittany Lions pret - tain in say - ing this: It league team to have a start - Alabama. defeating ty much destroyed them PSU, 31-16. all. They’re 38-2-1 all-time hasn’t been much of a ing lineup entirely of home- Until entering the Big rivalry for a long time. grown prospects, simply Ten in 1993, the Nittany The Lions repeatedly against Maryland and 20-4 had the ball inside against Boston College. Penn State leads the all- because of free agency and Lions played both annual - Alabama’s 5, and despite They’ve gone 34-2 against time series, 43-23-5, but the trades. But finally, after 20 ly beginning in 1981 for having a great offense, West Virginia since 1956, Lions are 21-2 against the years, it happened to the the better part of 10 years. they couldn’t score. including winning 27 in a Orange(men) since 1971. Curve. The Notre Dame series Bryant tipped his famous row at one point. It’s much There are, however, two “Such a great day for our went for 12 years while houndstooth hat to his Question: closer vs. Pitt — 52-43-4 — games that stand out to me. organization,” Curve man - Alabama ended in 1990. defense after its goal-line Excluding Pitt, but we’re excluding that I became a Syracuse ager Michael Ryan said. Though the Lions had stand, and he was later rivalry here. hoops fan at 11 years old, “To sit on the couch and played each in bowl games carried off the field. what’s been As for national rivals, when Pearl Washington watch all nine in today’s — Alabama in the Sugar Bryant held an informal Alabama and Notre Dame hit a half-court shot lineup contribute was Bowl for the national title press conference at the your favorite bring back a lot of fun against Boston College in amazing. Knowing each in 1978 — they had not met team hotel in Burnham on memories. But I let Neil, 1984. Loving the basketball player was from our system in the regular season in the Friday before the non-conference who’s been around for team so much, I also fol - was an absolute thrill to the modern era until ’81. game, and I will never for - most of the great battles, lowed the football program see. Huge day for our scout - The relationship with get that — his deep voice series? handle those. closely and was a big fan, ing and player develop - the Crimson Tide was ter - and his overall presence. As a lifelong Syracuse as well, for many years. ment.” rific and brought Bear See Rudel /Page B2 basketball fan, it’s a natu - See Giger /Page B2 — Cory Giger Page B2 I Altoona Mirror SPORTS Thursday, September 13, 2018 WARMING UP PAUL LILLY’S Boise State gets big chance this week DAILY TRIVIA BY RALPH D. R USSO AP COLLEGE FB PICKS Buckeyes combo of J.K. Dobbins and Mike bined their rosters, they’d probably still lose to ho was the last The Associated Press Weber? ..