FOOTBALL
JERSEY SHORE -- For the second straight week, Danville quarterback Alex Vitunac caught the game-winning touchdown as the Ironmen escaped Thompson Street Stadium on Friday night with a 42-41 victory over Jersey Shore.
With the win, Danville (8-2, 5-1 Heartland Athletic Conference Division I) most likely locked up the No. 3 seed for the District 4 Class AA playoffs, which begin next week.
Vitunac, typically the team's starting quarterback, splits wide when the Ironmen run the wildcat or when backup Andrew Andychick comes in. He also caught the winning touchdown in last week's 14-7 win over Montoursville on a throw from Mikeal Owens-Wright. Vitunac's 13-yard TD catch from Andychick with 1:00 left tied the game at 41. Dylan Friday's PAT gave the Ironmen the win.
"(Vitunac's) got a phenomenal set of hands," said first-year Danville coach Jim Keiser, who guided the Ironmen to their best regular-season record in 10 years. "I can't say enough about him."
Danville running backs Owens-Wright and Russell Heath had a big night on the ground, combining for 295 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
Jersey Shore (1-9, 1-5) got a phenomenal effort from quarterback Taylor English, who threw for 344 yards and six touchdowns.
Northwest 38, East Juniata 12
BEAVER SPRINGS -- The Tigers got themselves in a hole too deep to overcome as they fell behind 26 points in the first half before losing to Northwest in the All-America Conference game.
Northwest got its offense started early by scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter, including a 75-yard interception return by Steve Merth. Merth added two touchdown receptions in the second quarter and another third touchdown reception in the third quarter. With just less than a minute left in the first half, Dexter Herman put East Juniata on the board by scoring a touchdown on a 16-yard pass from Sam Wray to make it 26-6. The lead quickly jumped back to 26 points as Merth scored his second receiving touchdown of the second quarter with 41 seconds left in the half.
The Northwest offense cooled down in the second half, but the Tigers (5-5) were only able to score on a 44-yard fumble recovery by Dexter Herman in the fourth quarter. Herman finished the game with five receptions for 109 yards and accounted for both of East Juniata's touchdowns.
Despite the lose, the Tigers move on to play in the District 4 Class AAA playoffs as the No. 3 seed.
Sports
High School Roundup
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H.S. Track & Field notebook: Better late than never
As soon as the Class AA boys javelin throwers were finished Friday morning, Lewisburg’s Brandon Smith left his fellow competitors at the throwing area and took off for Seth Grove Stadium track, trying to hurry while negotiating the heavy foot traffic of fans, coaches and athletes.
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Keller runs to his first victory
Amazing. That was the simple reply from Cody Keller after capping the long comeback from injury win his first sprint car race Saturday night at Selinsgrove Speedway.
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Zaktansky: Life lessons learned from an earthworm
On my hands and knees, I slogged forward.
The steady rain had long before soaked through my clothes and turned the ground underneath me into a slick film of runny mud. My back hurt, my fingers were caked with brown goop and my mouth was aching from holding a small flashlight as I slowly scanned the backyard. -
Indigo buntings grace the Valley
Summer is the best time for viewing a spectrum of colorful birds.
Like most bird species, it is the male who exhibits bright coloration. From the orange and black patterns of the northern oriole to the scarlet tanager and yellow warbler and the rose-breasted grosbeak — all make a spectacle of themselves. -
Don Steese column: Counting the days
Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the start of the summer vacation season. Kids are out school, the weather is beautiful and all is well with the world ... except for folks like myself, who find themselves counting the days until fall.
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Hartley, Billas fight off heat
Melanie Hartley was drained, a puddle of nerves and perspiration after a brutal 400-meter dash. While the official thermometer at Shippensburg University flirted with 90 degrees on Saturday, the heavy dose of humidity had the packed house at Seth Grove Stadium sweltering.
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Moore bags two medals
Matt Moore is a hard guy to please. Or at least, he finds it hard to take pleasure in his own track and field performances.
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Ken Maurer column: More talk about bass
This past week I attended 2 meetings involving the PFBC.
The first was in Harrisburg where fish commission officials explained to the state senators why they want the DEP to place the Susquehanna River on the “impaired” list. DEP has refused once, and the PFBC has reapplied. -
Scott Dudinskie's high school baseball column: Reich still going strong
Bryan Reich feels it with every pitch he throws. Some would call it pain, maybe discomfort. The Milton right-hander chooses "annoyance."
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State Track & Field updates
Get updates throughout the day on how Valley athletes are faring at the PIAA Track & Field Championships in Shippensburg.
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H.S. Track & Field notebook: Better late than never
