First-year Monaca coach Sam Cercone wasn't sure the phone call was on the level at first.

His Indians had been scheduled to entertain Duquesne the second week of the season, but that matchup was sacked when Duquesne closed its doors and students were sent to either East Allegheny or West Mifflin.

Cercone had been looking for a replacement game and had called schools in West Virginia and Ohio with no luck.

He was so desperate he even considered having his Class A Indians go against the junior varsity of a Class AAA or Class AAAA school.

Then came the telephone call from Conemaugh Valley, a District 6 school located outside Johnstown.

Conemaugh Valley was supposed to play Turkeyfoot Valley the second week of this season ... but that was before Turkeyfoot Valley decided to drop its football program.

"They were like us, looking for a game. Some of the people over there suggested they find out who Duquesne was supposed to play and give them a call. When they called, I thought it was a prank," Cercone said.

"It turned out to be a good match because they are about the same size as us [enrollment-wise] and they were willing to come here."

Had it been later in the season, Cercone might have considered having a Friday night off. But after Monaca opened with a victory -- a tight 35-34 decision against Apollo-Ridge -- he wanted to maintain his team's momentum.

"I didn't want us to sit the second week," he said. "That wouldn't have done us any good. That's why I was considering going the JV route."

To help Conemaugh Valley keep the cost of the long trip to a minimum, Cercone offered to feed the players.

"I even told the coach there that we'd feed them after the game ... have our boosters set up something in the cafeteria," Cercone said.

"He said they'd have to stop someplace anyway and that sounded like a good idea."

The story even has a happy ending for Monaca. The Indians rolled to a 35-7 victory and have opened the season with a 2-0 record.

The Indians will try to make it 3-0 tomorrow night at home against South Side Beaver. It will also be their Big Seven Conference opener.

Joining forces

Cornell and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart have a cooperative agreement for football that allows OLSH students to play for the Raiders because their school doesn't field a team.

In the past, OLSH hasn't sent many athletes to play for Cornell. But this season, coach Dan Knause has seven OLSH students on his roster, including the starters on the right side of the offensive line.

"We hope to build gradually on that number," Knause said. "The nice thing is that all seven of those guys are juniors or below."

Center Matt Cahalan, guard Tom Dombrowski and tackle Steve Marshall are the Cornell starters from OLSH along with defensive end Ryan Ott.

Classy move

When Geneva College had artificial turf installed at Reeves Field this summer it had a nifty design for the Golden Tornadoes painted at midfield.

On both sides of the field, between the 15- and 20-yard lines, there are also the letters "BF" painted in orange and black.

Beaver Falls High School uses Reeves Field for its home games and the letters stand for Beaver Falls. Their placement on the field has some significance because they are said to be on the 19-yard lines.

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath wore No. 19 when he played at Beaver Falls. That number has since been retired.

"It was our idea to do it," said Geno DeMarco, Geneva football coach and athletic director when asked about the initials at the 19s.

"We thought it would be a nice way to honor Joe and we also have Namath's number up on a wall at the field along with the three numbers, those of Larry Bruno, Joe's high school coach, Cal Hubbard and Ed Hartman, that we've retired."

Best bets

There are plenty of good games to choose from tomorrow night.

In Class AAA, Montour (2-0) will be out to prove victories the first two weeks were no flukes went it takes on West Allegheny (0-2) in the Parkway Conference opener for both.

Another interesting Parkway contest has Ambridge, 2-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class AAA by the Post-Gazette, entertaining No. 2-ranked Hopewell (2-0).

In the Class AA Midwestern Athletic Conference, No. 3-ranked Beaver Falls (2-0) plays host to always tough Center (1-1). New Brighton (1-1) travels to Gypsy Glen Stadium to take on Beaver (2-0) in a contest that could ultimately be the difference in which team advances to the WPIAL playoffs.

And in the Class A Big Seven Conference, South Side Beaver (2-0) visits Monaca (2-0).