Local sports

Henry Huber on football: Late-season surge produced Rams’ first win streak since ‘23

After Penns Valley football picked up its first win of the season in Week 5, the two performances that followed it up were unceremonious on paper. A nailbiter loss to previously one-win Clearfield immediately shut down the Rams' prospects of starting a win streak, and a two-score defeat at Central preceded it to drop them to 1-6.

However, while not victorious, Penns Valley still displayed the positives that earned it a win in Centre County play and got it close to another in Week 4. Clearfield went on to carry that victory into a three-game win streak, the Dragons sport just one loss through nine games and the Rams had chances to defeat both - down one score in both fourth quarters.

And come time for Week 8, they'd get back to their winning ways in explosive fashion.

Against Class AAAA Greater Johnstown, Penns Valley got out to a 32-0 lead by halftime and went on to post a 54-0 shutout, its widest win margin since its last ten-win season in 2022. And in Week 9, it'd carry that success into another impressive win, defeating four-win Huntingdon by two scores, 30-18, to secure its first two-game win streak since 2023.

On paper, the Rams are still an outskirt playoff team sporting six losses heading into their regular-season finale at Somerset. But they've proven that midseason surge wasn't just a flash in the pan, embodying progress in each of their last six games and presenting themselves as the scariest three-win team in the District 6 Class AA field.

"I'm really happy for the kids," said Penns Valley football head coach Martin Tobias when discussing the team's latest win over the Bearcats. "The way we started out, from where we were to where we've come, it's been a real testament to the players, their effort and what they've put in to make themselves better football players and a better team."

Prior to Friday's matchup, Huntingdon had won three of its last four games while averaging 33.5 points per game, with its only loss within that span being by two points on the road at Central. That span saw junior running back Cole Lane compile 638 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns, including a 213-yard outing in their Week 8 win over Bedford.

Lane still saw success against the Rams, turning 21 carries into 85 yards and a second-quarter touchdown, and the Huntingdon offense as a whole combined for over 300 yards. But much of that offensive production came in the fourth after Penns Valley amassed a 24-point lead, as it held the Bearcats to six points through the first three quarters.

"Collectively, the defensive performance that our kids put on to contain one of the best running backs in the conference and limit their potent passing attack, they really put in a gutsy performance. So, I was pleased with that," said Tobias on the performance.

That defensive success has become a defining trait of the Rams' core identity, a trend that has now lasted longer than the unit's initial slump. Through its first four games, Penns Valley surrendered over 37 points per game. And in the last five, it's allowed an average under 16, with just two opponents within that frame scoring more than 20.

When it comes to that shift in success, Tobias credits the unit’s grasp of the fundamentals and development in its all-hands-on-deck approach as the catalysts. Assured tackling and minimal penalties can go a long away, especially when paired with trust and chemistry, and the team has bought in on both.

Offensively, there have still been some ups and downs in the latter half of the season. But they've still come a long way from a shaky start to the season, particularly in the last two games where they've scored 84 combined points.

In just his debut season under center, sophomore Cael Smith stands among the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the Laurel Highlands. He turned it on late in the first half against the Bearcats, contributing two of his three passing touchdowns on the night in the last 90 seconds of the frame. That included an 11-yard touchdown pass to Emery Reed on the half's final play.

With that performance, Smith surpassed 2,000 yards of offense and 20 total touchdowns on the season. In eight full games, he's eclipsed 80 rushing yards in seven of them - 100 in four, and he heads into Week 10 averaging over eight yards per rush. And while passing wasn't an early strength, it's become so down the stretch.

"I've learned to stay composed, talk to my teammates and communicate," said Smith earlier in the season. "My mentality has been to just do my job no matter what. It takes 11, and I just need to do my job. Our line is amazing, and I couldn't do anything without them."

"He's a competitor, and he brings out the competitive nature in others," said Tobias on Smith earlier in the season. "He continues to grow as a sophomore quarterback and is making some nice plays and really good decisions."

His connections with leading receiver Spencer Althouse and tight end Emery Reed have grown by the week. Althouse heads into Week 10 with over 40 receptions, 571 yards and seven receiving touchdowns, and Reed surpassed 20 receptions and 250 yards last week despite missing time with injury.

All in all, it's been a great recipe for a late surge upward, one that's shown that Penns Valley's progress as a team is here to stay and that the team can remain consistent against tough opponents.

Its early shortcomings have put it in a rough spot going into postseason, as its best-case scenario has is slotted to face top-seeded Richland (8-1) or Mount Union (9-0) in the District 6 Class AA quarterfinals. But considering where the Rams started, at 0-4 and 1-6, they'd certainly take it, and they're simply happy with the improvement either way.

Henry Huber is the sports editor at The Express. He can be reached by email at hhuber@lockhaven.com. Follow him on Twitter/X at @HenryHuber_.