District 5 football title drought set to end for either Conemaugh Township, Meyersdale
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Conemaugh Township and Meyersdale football have been through more lows than highs in the past decade.
Second-seeded Conemaugh Township earned its first playoff win since 2018, with a 41-28 victory over rival Windber in the District 5-1A semifinals, while top seed Meyersdale collected its first postseason triumph since 2016, with a 28-6 rout of Northern Bedford County.
Meyersdale (10-1) was the preseason favorite to win D5-1A gold, while Conemaugh Township (7-4) has surprised some in route to the title game.
The Red Raiders are senior-laden and have played exceptionally well on both sides of the ball this season. The defense is allowing a mere 11.1 points per game in 10 games contested. Meyersdale received a forfeit over Mount Union in Week 10. Coach Ryan Donaldson and his squad are trying to put it all together one more week and earn the program’s first D5 crown since 2006, when he was a junior on the team.
“These guys have embraced being a conference and district favorite,” said Donaldson. “We knew these guys were capable of that. They have lived up to the expectations. When we broke the huddle after last year’s semifinal loss, the kids quickly declared they were making it a goal to not only get to the district final but also become district champions.”
Junior Cooper Porter and senior Caleb Snyder lead the team with 89 and 88 tackles, respectively. Trey Bolyard has a team-high 10½ sacks.
Meanwhile, the offense is putting up an average of 29.9 points per contest. Senior quarterback Lance Jones has thrown for 1,350 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven picks. He’s added 313 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Senior Matthew Hainsworth is Jones’ top target with 23 catches for 395 yards and four scores.
Junior Spencer Whitfield has amassed 451 rushing yards and 11 scores, while sophomore Caleb Sines has contributed 345 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The team has 1,569 rushing yards in what has been Meyersdale’s most balanced offensive attack in years.
“The balance with our passing game, and the athletes we get involved with our backs and receivers has been key,” Donaldson said. “It’s been our mantra all year. Our guys up front are doing their job as well.
“Defensively, we have just relied on our guys to do their job. These guys step up on both sides of the ball. Conemaugh Township is physical, and they have plenty of athletes. We have plenty of keys against them after watching the tape.”
Meanwhile, it’s been a complete turnaround for Conemaugh Township in coach Brandon Studer’s third season at the helm.
Conemaugh Township went 0-10 in 2023; the program’s first year in the Heritage Conference. A season ago, it finished 5-6, earning a playoff berth. This season has been Conemaugh Township’s best under Studer, riding a 3-game winning streak into the title game.
“I attribute all of this success to our kids,” Studer said. “All of the kids in our program show a willingness to work hard and compete each week. This group has shown a lot of resilience, character and have stuck by one another. They like being around each other and support each other. Days aren’t always easy at practice. We’ve had our tough times, but these guys believed in me and the coaching staff and have stuck together through it all.”
The offense goes behind senior running back Brennan Lohr and sophomore signal-caller Greyson Studer. Lohr’s carried 214 times for 1,309 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s added 13 catches for 155 yards and two scores.
Studer, the son of coach Brandon Studer, who was a talented quarterback in his own right at Conemaugh Valley, has had a coming out party this season. Studer has thrown for 990 yards, 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions. His dual-threat ability has added another element to Conemaugh Township’s offense, toting the rock for 661 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior D.J. Bambino has 24 catches for 503 yards and seven touchdowns.
Conemaugh Township’s offensive line is much improved as is the defensive unit, which is allowing 15.5 points per contest against some talented foes. Senior Cohen Stahl has a team-high 61 tackles, while Lohr leads the team with four interceptions. The defense will need to shine against one of the more versatile offenses it has seen this year.
“Meyersdale is physically one of the biggest teams we’ve seen all year, and with that comes many challenges,” Coach Studer said. “They run it well. They are big up front and in the backfield. They throw it well. You have to prepare for a bit of everything. It’s not going to be an easy task by any means, but our guys are excited to be there.”
Conemaugh Township’s 2016 District 5-1A title win came against none other than Meyersdale 26-0.
Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on X @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Meyersdale looks to finish mission in D5 title vs Conemaugh Township
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