Mike Mastovich | District 5-2A football gold at stake in Berlin Brothersvalley, North Star rematch
· Yahoo Sports
North Star football coach Shane Smith realizes the challenge top-seeded Berlin Brothersvalley will present his team in Friday’s District 5 Class 2A title game.
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The second-seeded Cougars (9-2) and Mountaineers (8-2) have a history – both recent and in district playoff encounters during three straight seasons from 2010 to 2012.
They’ll add another chapter in this 7 p.m. contest at Somerset Area High School’s field.
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“It’s been a while since a North Star team has beaten Berlin,” Smith said. “In 2012, we lost this (district championship) game to Berlin 14-6 (in overtime). It’s been a long time since we’ve had this opportunity.”
More recently, Berlin Brothersvalley edged visiting North Star 17-14 in a Week 9 Inter-County Conference South Division date.
The Mountaineers extended their winning streak against the Cougars to 17 games, dating to the 2012 regular season and including the District 5 Class 1A title game that year.
Berlin Brothersvalley will play in its fifth consecutive district title game, but hasn’t won one since 2015, when the Mountaineers eventually reached the PIAA Class 1A semifinals.
“We got them in the regular season 17-14, but that was one of those football games that could have gone either way the whole time,” Berlin Brothersvalley coach Dante Paul said of this season’s first meeting against North Star. “At the end, we ended up making one or two more plays than they did.”
Mountaineers senior safety Corbin Kordell made a pair of interceptions on defense and caught a 42-yard pass in the final minute to seal the victory and clinch the ICC South title. Junior back Carter Durst ran for two touchdowns, and junior Josh Brinton booted a 34-yard field goal for Berlin Brothersvalley.
“Both of us had multiple opportunities to put more points on the board in that game,” Paul said. “Both teams’ defenses played that bend, but don’t break mentality. We were a few plays away from putting 14 more on the board. They were a few plays away. They drove into our red zone quite a few times.”
North Star senior quarterback Kasey Yoder ran for a 2-yard touchdown and passed 34 yards to junior Will Eshleman for a touchdown against Berlin Brothersvalley.
“Looking back at the last game, I felt like a couple plays decided that football game,” Smith said. “I’m expecting the same type of game Friday night.
“The biggest thing we learned from that game is we need to bring more physicality this time around. I felt like Berlin owned both of the line of scrimmages on us the last game. We feel we need to pick up the physicality this time around.”
Yoder ranks fourth in the area with 1,410 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The veteran quarterback also rushed for 753 yards and five scores. Eshleman has 721 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
“We’ve played two games since we lost to Berlin, and I thought they were two of the best games we played as a team,” Smith said of wins over Glendale (48-28) and Everett (52-7) in the 5-2A semifinal. “I really like where we’re sitting right now from a team standpoint. I’m hoping that carries over into Friday night’s game.”
Durst is closing in on 1,000 rushing yards (928) and has 13 touchdowns on the ground.
Senior quarterback Brady Janidlo has thrown for 1,134 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
“The kid I’ve been really proud of this year with his leadership and maturity at the position has been Brady Janidlo at quarterback,” said Paul, whose team had a bye in Week 11. “The last time we played them, Durst was able to get it going on the ground, but Brady Janidlo was able to show some stuff in that game that allowed him to get some confidence and remind him that he belongs in that spot and is a leader on this football team.”
Berlin Brothersvalley has outscored opponents 268-145.
The Mountaineers’ defense has limited seven of 10 opponents to 14 or fewer points.
Paul said he might not have a high-profile player on defense, but instead his team relies on a group mentality.
“It’s one of those years where everybody on the defense buys into their role,” Paul said. “To play good, sound defense, all 11 guys have to be willing to do their part. I think our guys have done a good job of buying into the role that I ask them to play defensively and then feeding off of each other.”
Each team will try to end a long district title drought.
After Berlin Brothersvalley’s 5-1A win in 2015, the Mountaineers fell in either district or subregional 2A title games against Westinghouse (2022 and 2023 District 5-8 subregional final), Bedford (2024 District 5-2A final) and Chestnut Ridge (2025 District 5-2A final).
Back in 2012, North Star played in its fourth District 5 title game in five seasons and made its third consecutive 5-1A championship game appearance.
Berlin Brothersvalley denied the Cougars’ bid to win a third straight 5-1A crown (2010, 2011).
“This is our first time back to this game since 2012,” Smith said. “We’re hoping to seize the opportunity. It’s been few and far between. We’re hoping to take advantage of a second opportunity against a good Berlin team.”