LHAC going up in flames?

[reugenev]

With CV joining the Heritage, that puts the league at 11 schools, an odd number! Are more schools coming? Is this effective for the 2022-23 school year?

[Colonel Mustard]

Coach. I totally agree with what you are saying in regards to A schools competing with bigger schools. I'm not trying to argue. Just stating that logistics for scheduling the football season here, the other sport seasons there, the junior high programs over there, would be prohibitive. The bigger these things get the more difficult it will be to get everyone on the same page. I think what the LHAC is trying to do might be the best option. Will everyone be happy, no. Are there potentially better options, maybe. It is going to be difficult enough to get this off the ground let alone roping in 2 or 3 other conferences.

[longtimefan1sttimecaller]

None of the Mountain League schools listed motions discussing joining the LHAC at this month's board meetings so it looks like it's going to be the Somerset County WestPAC football schools only joining the LHAC. That would put them at 18 total members, with 17 of those being football schools. Will they consider that good enough or extend invites elsewhere?

What's going to happen with Blacklick Valley and Ferndale? Both co-op with Heritage schools for football (Blacklick with United and Ferndale with Conemaugh Valley) so it would make sense that they could slide in although if both go in that would put the Heritage at 13, still an odd number.

Since the ICC would extend football-only invites to the Somerset County WestPAC schools, it looks like the remaining WestPAC South (Rockwood, Salisbury, Shade, Shanksville, Turkeyfoot) is going to putting some miles on to fill their sports schedules. I'm guessing trips to Maryland and West Virginia could replace the 15-20 minute trips to the local neighboring school districts.

[Nemesis]

I wonder how long the Conemaugh Valley-Ferndale co-op will last now that CV joined the Heritage.

I can't see parents of Ferndale students wanting to travel all the way to Blairsville, Marion Center, and Homer Center to play games when you have Westmont, Richland, Johnstown, and Forest Hills that are a heck of a lot closer.

[knowitall]

How much farther is Homer Center and Purchase Line from Ferndale than Meyersdale and Turkeyfoot Valley is?

[Nemesis]

From Ferndale High School

Rockwood: 45 min - 37.8 miles
Shanksville-Stonycreek: 37 min - 27 miles
Turkeyfoot Valley: 1 hr 5 min - 38.9 miles

Heritage

Cambria Heights: 47 min - 36.7 miles
Homer Center: 43 min - 28.4 miles
Marion Center: 1 hr - 45.1 miles
Northern Cambria: 46 min - 37.5 miles
Penns Manor: 48 min - 31.5
Portage: 31 min - 20.7 miles
Purchase Line: 1 hr 3 min - 41.6 miles
United Valley (Blacklick Valley): 31 min - 16.1 miles
United Valley (United): 28 min - 16.7 miles
West Shamokin: 1 hr 13 min - 53.9 miles

LHAC

Bedford: 50 min - 39.1 miles
Bishop Carroll: 29 min - 23.2
Bishop Guilfoyle: 54 min - 46.2
Bishop McCort: 5 min - 1.8 miles
Central: 1 hr 3 min - 45.9 miles
Central Cambria: 29 min - 23 miles
Chestnut Ridge: 36 min - 27.5
Forest Hills: 20 min - 12.9 miles
Johnstown: 5 min - 1.7 miles
Meyersdale: 44 min - 40.3 miles
North Star: 22 min - 13.6
Penn Cambria: 41 min - 31.7 miles
Richland: 14 min - 7.2 miles
Somerset: 36 min - 26.6 miles
Westmont-Hilltop: 12 min - 5.2 miles

Three trips in the Heritage are over an hour away. West Shamokin is the farthest at 1 hr 13 minutes, while Marion Center and Purchase Line are over an hour.

Only one, Central, in the LHAC is over an hour. Likewise, you have several schools in the LHAC (and potentially more with Berlin Brothersvalley, Conemaugh Township, and Windber) that are considerably closer. Berlin (39 min - 33.5) is comparably to driving to Cambria Heights.

McCort, Forest Hills, Johnstown, Richland, and Westmont are at or below 20 minute drives from Ferndale High School. Conemaugh Township (13 min - 6.5 miles) and Windber (15 min - 9.6 miles) would also fit that criteria.

[District5Fan]

With all due respect to Ferndale, they could never make it in the LHAC.

[Manfred]

Whats more important, driving a few extra miles or having a running clock by halftime, for many of these proposed games.

[knowitall]

I think his point might be will Ferndale seek another school to co-op with. I'm not sure how viable the CV-Ferndale co-op is going to be going forward. How long will they have enough players combined to be able to continue to field a team?

[reugenev]

I’m confused as well! Are you saying that Ferndale should seek another co-op or go it alone in the LHAC.?!?!