Bangor pays the price for win over Northwestern

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Bangor coach Frank Scagliotta walked off Farnan Field on Friday night with a heavy heart.

On Senior Night, Scagliotta's most notable player in his final high school season --- and one of the best players in the history of the Colonial League --- suffered a third knee injury in the last three months.

Scott LaValva, who had surgery on his left knee in August and recently sat out three games with an injury to his right knee, went down again less than 6 minutes into Friday's game against Northwestern.

He sat with ice on his left knee for the rest of the first half and spent the final two quarters in street clothes as Bangor turned in a stellar defensive effort and got two rushing touchdowns from Josh Wing in a 22-7 win.

"I have mixed feelings," Scagliotta said. "I'm happy for the team. This is a big win. But I'm depressed. I'm broken-hearted. No one has done as much in his four years as [LaValva] has. And, for this to happen on Senior Night is just terrible."

Scagliotta didn't know the severity of LaValva's injury, but the senior running back could miss the regular-season finale against Slate Belt rival Pen Argyl on Nov. 6.

On the other sideline Friday night, Northwestern (5-4) coach Tom Linette was angry with club's poor performance from the game's first play from a scrimmage --- a 75-yard touchdown pass from LaValva to Ben Ammerman on a flea-flicker.

"It was a fiasco," Linette admitted. "I'm not sure exactly why. We were thrown off our rhythm.

"You've got to give [Bangor] credit for it. Tonight, they were the better team."

The Tigers didn't score until Ty Cunningham's 62-yard run around left end against the Slaters' second-teamers with 2:17 left in the game.

Until then, Northwestern had a net of 7 yards of offense for the game.

That made Scagliotta happy.

"Our defensive line and linebackers, which are mostly underclassmen tonight, I thought they were outstanding," the Bangor coach said.

The Slaters (7-2) allowed just 33 yards and three first downs in the first half, which saw them take an 8-0 lead to the lockerroom.

Bangor's offense was slow adjusting to the loss of LaValva. It came up short on three fourth downs in the first two quarters in Northwestern territory and the fourth drive ended with LaValva's fumble (also in Tigers territory) on the play he suffered the injury.

"Scott said there was some soreness in his [left] knee [this week]," Scagliotta said. "Then he got it twisted the wrong way in the identical scenario as the first time he was hurt in the Southern Lehigh game."

Bangor took a 15-0 lead in the third quarter when Wing broke free around the right side for a 34-yard touchdown run at 1:19. The Slaters were able to overcome two holding penalties to finally finish off a drive.

Wing got loose outside again on Bangor's second series of the fourth quarter for a 44-yard game-clinching score.

Northwestern's only first down of the second half came on Cunningham's scoring run.

"We're in a bad streak right now, losing the last three games," Linette said. "So you tend to look down at things. We still have a shot to play on [beyond next week].

"I'm not ready to put the pads away."

Bangor remains in a battle with Southern Lehigh (7-2) and others for a District 11 Class 3A playoff berth. It likely needs a win next Saturday at Pen Argyl to secure a spot.

Northwestern must beat Catasauqua to have a chance at a Class 2A spot in the Eastern Conference tournament.

thousenick@mcall.com

Twitter @TomHousenick

Northwestern 0007 --- 7

Bangor8077 --- 22

First quarter

B-Ben Ammermann 75 pass from Scott LaValva (Russ Horn pass from LaValva), 9:40

Third quarter

B-Josh Wing 34 run (Ryan Fraunfelter kick), 1:19

Fourth quarter

B-Wing 44 run (Fraunfelter kick), 6:41

NW-Ty Cunningham 62 run (Andrew Deutsch kick), 2;17

TEAM STATISTICS

NW B

First downs 413

Rushes-yards23-10348-194

Passing-yards 1157

Comp-Att-Int 4-15-16-9-0

Penalties 5-404-36

Punts 7-37.02-28.5

Fumbles-lost1-01-1

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: NWL: Ty Cunningham 14-99, TD; Payton Bachman 2-12; Ben Snyder 5-(-4); Josh Werley 1-(-4); Matt Naugle 1-0. Bangor: Scott LaValva 2-11; Josh Wing 18-131, 2 TDs; Ryan Fraunfelter 13-52; Drew Nicholas 5-(-8); Ricky Flowers 2-(-4); Josh Pensyl 2-14; team 2-(-4); Steve Altorfer 1-(-7); Tony Bencivengo 1-(-1); Brett Albinson 1-5; Oshine White 1-5.

Passing: NWL: Snyder 3-11-1, 1 yard; Werley 1-4-0, 0 yards. Bangor: Nicholas 5-8-0, 82 yards; LaValva 1-1-0, 75 yards, TD.

Receiving: NWL: Cunningham 1-3; Bachman 1-(-1); Werley 1-(-1); Mason Schuler 1-0. Bangor: Ryan Hester 5-82; Ben Ammermann 1-75, TD.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-bangor-football-1029-20101029,0,6753592.story?page=2