Tutino ties state touchdown receptions record as Ligonier Valley rolls past Marion Center

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, October 5, 2018 | 11:18 PM

MARION CENTER — Heritage Conference opponents have been trying to give Ligonier Valley their best shot for three years.

The Rams continue to just shrug them off by just going to what they know works: Aaron Tutino.

Tutino tied the state record for career touchdown receptions, hauling in three in the first half as Ligonier Valley ran its conference football winning streak to 26 games with a 49-27 victory over homestanding Marion Center at Mallino Stadium on Friday night.

The game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated; Marion Center scored three times in the second half against the Ligonier Valley reserves while the clock ran. The Rams led 49-6 at halftime.

Tutino ended the game with 54 scoring catches. He’ll try to grab sole leadership of the top spot next week when the Rams host Northern Cambria in a battle for first place in the conference. After catching two short touchdown passes, he tied the state mark by running under a 37-yard John Caldwell bomb at the 7:19 mark of the second quarter.

“It was a sail route. I knew John was going to throw it to me. He just put it in a perfect spot. All I had to do was run down the sideline,” Tutino said after finishing the night with six catches for 121 yards. “It feels amazing (to have a share of the record).”

John Caldwell threw five touchdown passes for Ligonier, also hooking up with Sam Sheeder from 32 yards out and Cage Dowden on a 2-yard score. He was 10 for 13 in the first half for 213 yards. Kyrie Miller tacked on 103 yards on the ground on just six carries, scoring on a 48-yard run for Ligonier’s second touchdown.

The Rams led 28-6 after the first quarter, then brought the mercy rule into play on Tutino’s second and third scoring passes and Andrew Kuzemchak’s recovery of a fumbled punt snap in the end zone.

Ligonier Valley is 7-0. Next week’s opponent, Northern Cambria, is 6-1 after Friday’s 39-8 win over Blairsville.

Ligonier coach Roger Beitel praised his players in the postgame huddle to not fall victim to what could have been a trap game.

“Our kids have been in these situations before. Laser-sharp focus on attention to detail,” Beitel said.

Marion Center dipped to 3-4, losing for just the second time in its last five contests. Garret Wells fronted the Stingers with 126 yards on 14 carries, scoring twice on the ground and another time on a 20-yard pass play. Wells, though, had just 13 yards rushing over the first two quarters.

“It takes speed (to beat Ligonier). Something you can’t coach,” Marion Center coach Adam Rising said. “They have speed. They have talent. And we came out a little flat.”

Phil Cmor is a freelance writer.

Tags: Ligonier Valley, Marion Center