Blog Archives - Eight & 322/Eight & 27

Several Venango runners headed to Hershey

10/26/2024

Six Venango runners earned spots in the PIAA Cross Country Championship following the District 10 meet Saturday in Titusville.

Franklin’s Jay Prettyman was the top local finisher in the boys AA race. The senior ran a 15:56 to finish eighth. Prettyman was among a trio of Knight qualifiers in 2023. In last year’s state competition Prettyman finished in 44th place with a time of 17:19.

Three Oilers will be making the trip to Hershey. Seniors Elijah Brosius and Eli Collins both qualified for the first time.

Brosius finished ninth with a time of 16:15. Collins beat teammate Rilee Matalino by one second to finish 17th and snag the final qualifying spot, with a time of 16:46.

In the team contest, Oil City finished fourth out of 18. Their best team placement in recent years. Rounding out the Oiler team were Elliot Hulsizer (53rd), Keegan Kirkwood (68th), Kaleb Guiste (91st) and Tim Kahle (104th).

In the girls AA race, Corabel Shiley was the only local runner to earn a spot in the state competition. Shiley improved on her 2023 time by 52 seconds and ran a 18:56 to earn fourth place. The sophomore placed 32nd during her first Hershey debut last year.

It will be a return to the state championships for Rocky Grove’s Isabel Griffin. She finished third in the girls A competition with a time of 19:32. Last year Griffin placed 33rd out of 267 runners.

Fellow Oriole Maxx Baker crossed the finish line in 12th place to secure his ticket to Hershey. He led a strong overall showing by Rocky Grove in the boys A race.

The team just missed out on qualification by six points, ending in third out of 17. Competing alongside Maxx Baker were Gauge Gierlach (20th), Miles Baker (27th), Nathaniel Bolley (28th), Preston Keith (30th), Jayden Miller (38th) and Landon Platt (86th).

More photos can be viewed at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p391927498

Cranberry to send both squads to the states

In District 9 competition, both boys and girls teams qualified to states once again. Both finished in second place during Saturday’s races in Ridgeway.

Running for the Berries in the girls A race were Elena Ishman (fifth), Kayla Hanna (seventh), Karleigh Shaffer (10th), Kelsey Hanna (18th), Darien Wenner (21st) and Gracee Hess (36th).

In the boys competition, the Berry team was made up of Dalton Wenner (10th), Mariner Perry (21st), Dane Wenner (24th), Cooper Matassa (28th), Elias Fox (35th), Isiah Miller (36th) and Thatcher Matassa (44th).

More photos can be viewed at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p391927498

More photos can be viewed at sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p391927498

Orioles can't exercise the Blue Devils

10/23/2024

Cambridge Springs proved a bit too powerful for the Region 1 champion Rocky Grove Tuesday in Meadville. Firing on all cylinders the Blue Devils downed the Orioles 25-15, 25-15 in the first two sets. Though Rocky Grove lead most of the way, the Spa came back to win the third set 25-19.

This brings a tough ending to one of the best seasons in Rocky Grove history. The Orioles were second in the region a couple years back, but fell to Cambridge in the playoffs then too.

Katie Beggs led the team overall, scoring nine points with three aces, four kills, five digs and 12 assists.

Rylee Curll added a couple of kills. Jillian Cratty scored 13 points and had four digs. Olivia Faust added seven points, eight kills and also had five digs. Zoe Cresswell added a couple kills and ended with seven points.

Kaidlynn Burger had seven points, a pair of kills and was also strong on defense with five digs. Faith Copley had a dig and a kill. Anna Rodgers had six points along with an impressive 10 digs.

Orioles season ends with a 7-1 region record and 15-4 overall.

Coveted Route 8 sign remains in Oil City

10/19/2024

Since 2017 Oil City has owned the Route 8 sign that has served as the trophy between the two rivals. During that time the Oilers have scored 445 points to Franklin's 58. Franklin's six points last night came from the foot of Rocky Grove's Connor Ritchey.

Franklin's young team was just beat up Friday, though at times they proved they could find creases and move the ball. After going down a touchdown, Franklin got a 50-plus yard run from Caden Mincer. They couldn't turn the run into momentum and settled for a 35-yard field goal.

Oil City's Steven Heise was a touchdown magnet rendering five while rushing for nearly 200 yards against the Knights.

Whatever Franklin did well, Oil City countered. After Ricthey's field goal, De'Vaughn Griffin took a kickoff 92 yards for another score.

Franklin was able to move the ball against Oil City early on, but all they could muster was another field goal. and that's all they had in this one. A late drive in the game got them to the one, but they couldn't punch it in and turned it over on downs.

It's a young team, making young team mistakes, but, when they are playing clean, they get yards. They gained over 160 yards despite fumbles and bad snaps at times. Take away those and the game was much closer.

That's where experience and depth in a program pays off for Oil City who move to 5-4 overall this season. They've ridden several positive years including a bunch of D10 titles into depth, something Franklin has struggled to do with their struggle for wins. The Knight's haven't had a winning season since 2006. They made the playoffs with a .500 record during that time but they haven't managed a higher number in the W column in a long time.

Oil City took a 29-6 lead into halftime and increased their lead, and started the running clock early in the third on a couple Knight's miscues. The Oiler's gained over 350 yards.

It doesn't really matter what the records are when it comes down to community rivalries. Sure there are bragging rights, but each school, which also includes co-ops with Cranberry and Rocky Grove, try to do something that shows that the rivalry is really family. All four schools gathered together to raise easily more than a $1,000 to help people in the midst of a battle with cancer.

The schools sold, for a $1 a paper link on a chain to see who would create the longest chain. The old adage that the a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link shows these two schools, made up of four local communities are stronger together, The money raised goes to the Kirtland Foundation that uses the money to help cancer patients be sure they can make their crucial appointments.

So, beyond the sport, life goes on and everyone understands that there are more important things than who won or lost, though it is fun to keep the rivalries alive for bragging rights by by middle-aged folks on bar stools 20 years from now.

Both squads have potentially winnable games in their final week. Franklin taking on Class A Lakeview who are 4-5 on the season, has a chance to end their season with three wins. They already have the second winningest season under coach Matt Turk. Last year's senior heavy team had four wins at the end of the season.
The Oilers will face a surprisingly top tier Corry team who are 7-2 and looking to start the 3A playoffs on top of their region tied with Fort Leboeuf.

Below are more photos from this rivalry game that was also Franklin's senior night. All of these people are our community.

October 31, November 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. at Franklin High School. This show is a co-op between Franklin and Rocky Grove featuring som exceptionable alent.

Rocky Grove volleyball defeats West Middlesex, wins the region

10/15/2024

Rocky Grove volleyball celebrated senior night by defeating West Middlesex and winning the region with a 7-1 record.

All three seniors contributed to the night's victory. Katie Beggs had 10 points, including three aces, 12 kills, 14 digs and 26 assists.
Rylee Curll had six kills and a block. Faith Copley had four kills.

Their play, along with standout contributions from
Jillian Cratty (27 points, six aces, six digs), Olivia Faust (11 points, 11 kills, 12 digs), Zoe Cresswell (22 points, five points, three digs), Kaidlynn Burger (23 points, three kills, 15 digs) and Anna Rodgers (6 points and 15 digs), led the team to win in four sets (25-19, 24-26, 25-14, 25-14).

The Orioles improved to 15-3 on the season. They will move into District playoff action next week at a time and place to be determined.

Pictures from earlier games this season.

Shiley shines in Rocky Grove's 50th Invitational

10/12/2024

More photos visit: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p993480455

Oil City’s Corbel Shiley made it a repeat victory and Cranberry girls took the team title leading the local results at the 50th annual Rocky Grove Cross Country Invitational Saturday at Two Mile Run County Park.

Shiley improved on her 2023 time by more than a minute, finishing in 19:56 to break the ribbon for the second time. The sophomore led the Oil City squad to fourth place overall in the team standings. Also scoring for Oil City was Ella Speece, Addison Wyant, Meredith Best and Laila Marvin.

Cranberry was led by sophomore Beatrice Kolesar, who finished in second place with a time of 20:11. The remaining of the scoring Berries came in a pack that was separated by only 7 seconds. They included Karleigh Shaffer, 11th; Kayla Hanna, 12th; Elena Ishman, 14th; and Kelsey Hanna, 16th.

The team accumulated only 47 points to the second place Brockway’s 88.

Rocky Grove’s Isabel Griffin crossed the finish line in fourth place.

Titusville seniors Anna Mehlenbacher and Madeline Johnson were ninth and 15th respectively to round out the local finishers in the top 20. Mehlenbacher said her time was her course bast, beating her time for last year by thirty seconds.

Justeyn Winner was Franklin’s top runner at 22nd out of 139 competitors.

Prettyman leads locals finishing second overall for the boys

More photos visit: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p993480455

Franklin’s Jay Prettyman edged out Oil City’s Elijah Brosius to finish second. The pair led a strong contingent of local runners in the top 20 at the 50th Annual Rocky Grove Cross Country Invitational.

Maxx Baker of Rocky Grove was sixth, Rilee Matalino of Oil City, 13th; Logan Kier of Maplewood, 17th; and Keegan Kirkwood, 20th.

Brosius’ third-place finish matched the team’s overall placing. Also scoring alongside Brosius, Matalino and Kirkwood, were Oilers Elliot Hulsizer and Kaleb Guiste.

Scoring for the fifth place Rocky Grove team, which was without one of their top runners, were Maxx Baker, Miles Baker, Preston Keith, Nathaniel Bolley and Jayden Miller.

The top runner for Cranberry was Dane Wenner, who finished 46th out of 167.

First to cross the finish line for Titusville was Andrew Bryan.

Titusville’s Grayson Steinbuhler was second in the junior high boys race and Rocky Grove’s Max Griffin was fourth.

Below are more photos from Saturday's race.

More photos visit: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p993480455

More photos visit: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p993480455

More photos visit: sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p993480455

What a Homecoming: Franklin battles for 40-34 win

10/11/2024

Oh my.

If you didn't stay to the end of the Friday night's game, you missed an epic overtime joust between opposing Knights - Franklin and Eisenhower.

When Franklin drove the ball employing a no-huddle "push" offense, it looked like they found the answer for a comeback. Eisenhower was back on its heels for 61 and half yards.
But in that last half yard a defender dislodged the ball from Jason Carey's arms and the drive stalled on the one yard-line with a turnover.

All Eisenhower had to do was get a first down, control the ball and the game was theirs.

But penalties killed them all night.

Up two scores on the one-yard line, Ike's quarterback Caleb Jakubczak snuck up the middle for some breathing room to the five. Then a couple of penalties later they found themselves again on the one and had to punt from their own endzone.

Franklin's Freddie Blackhurst fielded the punt around the 40 and took it back to the 18.

A few plays later Franklin was in the endzone. A missed extra point left them down eight with under five minutes left.

Again, all Eisenhower needed was a first down or two and run out the clock, but Jakubczak, who had a monster game up until this point, lost the handle on a bizarre backwards lateral that scooted out into the open field. Landon Lynch picked it up and virtually walked it into the end zone.

Franklin needed a two-point conversion for the tie.

On the plan, Blackhurst lost control of the ball and appeared to have recovered it around the four-inch line and rolled into endzone. No call was made immediately. Eisenhower players excitedly pointed in the opposite direction thinking they stopped Franklin while the Knights' sideline stood staring and waiting with their arms raised indicating a success.

After a bit of a huddle of referees and players from both sides, Franklin erupted and the game was tied.

Time ran out with neither team able to procure a go-ahead winning score.

In overtime, each team is given four downs to score. Eisenhower got the ball first, but the Franklin defense stopped them in four attempts. They elected to not try a field goal on fourth and five.

Franklin again took advantage with two handoffs to Caden Mincer and were in the end zone with winning touchdown. Franklin logged a thrilling homecoming win 40-34.

It was the Knight's second win of the season.

Mincer and Blackhurst combined for over 200 yards rushing. Eisenhower's Jakubczak had over 200 yards running and passing, as well as a catching an interception.

Franklin faces their Route 8 rival Oil City next week. The Knights have not beaten the Oilers since 2017.

Below are more photos from Friday's win.

Raising awareness and cash for cancer foundation

10/11/2024

Everyone knows about cancer, so months dedicated to awareness are more of a reminder and, in some cases, a sobering understanding that we're all in this together. But oftentimes we don't truly become aware about cancer until we face it head-on either personally or alongside a loved one in the midst of a battle for their life.

Why are we talking about this in the sports section?

Nearly all local volleyball teams, many football and soccer teams abandon their school colors for at least one game in order to raise a few dollars to help cancer treatment organizations. Thursday Rocky Grove and Lakeview volleyball squads did just that during their region match up.

October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and for years it has been a facilitator for fund raising. It reminds us this affliction is something we may someday come face-to-face with or help someone through. Over two million people annually are diagnosed with breast cancer alone.

Organizations like the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Koman Foundation raise money for research, support and education. Their goals are to increase awareness about early detection, steps toward better health and treatments so that the disease is less deadly each and every year.

And it isn't just women who can develop cancer in their breast material, Between 2,500 to 3,000 men in the United States are diagnosed each year. And nearly a fifth of them die from the disease.

About one in eight women in the United States will get it. Over 350,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and sadly, still over 40,000 women die each year, all according to the American Cancer Society.

In Rocky Grove, and other Venengo County schools, they get involved by raising awareness for the Kirtland Cancer Foundation, a local group dedicated to helping local families with unexpected expenses as they go through their treatment.

During the matchup between Rocky Grove and Lakeview, there were 90 baskets raffled and more than $2,000 raised for the foundation.

The money will help Kirtland give patients and their families a "financial hug" when they need it the most.

The foundation has given over $1 million dollars to local families since its inception in 2005, according the the foundation's director Kathy Horner during a break in the game Thursday. She told the crowd how earlier in the day she helped a cancer patient get new tires so they wouldn't miss a treatment.

Another way they help, and Horner expressed wishing more people knew about this, is through a college scholarship program for student's directly affected by cancer.

"Charitable assistance will also be provided as college scholarships in the amount of $1000 to a student who is a cancer patient, cancer survivor and/or have an immediate family member (mother, father, son, or siblings) with cancer. Please download the application forms here," from their website.

Those are the kind of financial, and spiritual hugs the foundation provides. And more.

Annually, the Orioles host a "Dig for a Cure" game. It was a win-win for Rocky Grove this year.

The on-fire Orioles defeated the Sailors varsity in straight sets. The the first set was a 32-30 marathon, but the Orioles easily handled the Sailors in the second and third set. Lakeview's JV took care of business winning their match.

Besides being a good community partner, the Rocky Grove girls are enjoying one of the best seasons in program history. They are sitting at 6-1 in the region and 14-3 overall on the season with playoffs just around the corner.

Franklin Area High School's fall theater musical performance, which also features Rocky Grove students, will be held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and 2.

The students will perform "Once Upon a Mattress", a retelling of the fairytale "The Princess and the Pea." Advance tickets are $4 discounted and can be ordered at
www.onthestage.tickets/show/franklin-jrsr-high-school/

Oil City couldn't quite find a way to get past the Royals

10/6/2024

Oil City had two good scoring opportunities n the first half, but one was left on about the four-inch line after an Erie high goal-line stand.

Erie basically ran all over the oilers and the score could've been much worse than the 14-7 final if the Royals were just more disciplined. Long run after long run was called back due to penalties.

Oil City's lone TD came on Cole Findlay short pass to De'Vaughn Griffin that Griffin used his speed to do the rest.

The loss moves the Oilers into the unfamiliar territory of having a losing record going int week eight. It's a position they likely won't be in long with the hapless Warren Dragons coming to town next week and they'll go cross town to take on Franklin in the Route 8 rivalry game with the struggling Franklin Knights.

And they finish their season against Corry who is having a decent season so far only losing to to top tier teams.

For more on Oil City's season visit our friend, Penny Weichel's great history of Venango sports site at
www.yardsandpoints.com/oilcity