Meyersdale and Berlin Brothersvalley Advance to District 5 Football Championships
MEYERSDALE, PA – Meyersdale and Berlin Brothersvalley will compete for District 5 football titles after securing semifinal victories Friday night. Meyersdale defeated Northern Bedford 20-0, while Berlin Brothersvalley routed Everett 34-7.
Meyersdale quarterback Jones completed 12 of 20 passes for 225 yards, with Caden Snyder recording four catches for 100 yards. Running touchdowns from Spencer Whitfield (1 yard) and Jones (9 yards) in the second quarter sealed the Red Raiders’ win. the victory marked Meyersdale’s first against Northern Bedford as 2016 and their first home playoff game since 2019. Coach Donaldson, a 2006 District 5 champion as a player, will lead his team against second-seeded Conemaugh Township (7-4), who defeated Windber 41-28. Meyersdale’s last District 5 title came in 2006.
In the District 5-2A semifinal, Berlin Brothersvalley’s sophomore running back Durst dominated with 253 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Mountaineers took an early lead with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Brady Janidlo to Ryan Janidlo late in the first quarter. Durst added a 73-yard touchdown run before the Janidlo brothers connected again for an 11-yard score just before halftime, establishing a 20-0 advantage. Everett scored on a 14-yard run by jonathan Cooper, but Durst responded with a 14-yard touchdown of his own, and finished the night with a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Berlin brothersvalley (7-4) will face fourth-seeded Chestnut Ridge, which upset top-seeded Tussey Mountain 22-10, in the championship game. First-year coach Dante Paul has guided Berlin to three consecutive wins after a 4-5 start to the season. Berlin is seeking its fourth consecutive District 5 title game appearance and its first championship since 2015,when they reached the PIAA 1A semifinals.
