District 10 PLAYOFF RESULTS
Class AAAA
Championship
Erie Cathedral Prep 15, Erie McDowell 13
Regional Play-In
Erie Cathedral Prep 48, Brashear 14
Class AAA
Semifinals
Erie Strong Vincent 47, Titusville 12
General McLane 49, Slippery Rock 21
Championship
Erie Strong Vincent 41, General McLane 6
Class AA
Quarterfinals
Wilmington 44, Fort LeBoeuf 6
Fairview 35, Greenville 7
Harbor Creek 37, Sharon 0
Grove City 35, North East 20
Semifinals
Wilmington 36, Fairview 25
Harbor Creek 14, Grove City 10
Championship
Wilmington 18, Harbor Creek 6
Class A
Quarterfinals
Mercer 14, Eisenhower 7
Saegertown 32, Conneaut Lake 14
Mercyhurst Prep 21, Linesville 20
Farrell 21, vs. Iroquois 0
Semifinals
Mercer 28, Saegertown 8
Mercyhurst Prep 21, Farrell 20
Championship
Mercyhurst Prep 21, Mercer 19
Mercyhurst Prep Outlasts Mercer 21-19 To Win District 10-A Crown
Lakers Win First-Ever District Title
By BILL ALBRIGHT
SLIPPERY ROCK -- In the case of the Mercyhurst Prep football team, history does indeed repeat itself.
The Lakers opened the 2007 season by tossing a 10-0 shutout at Mercer.
Friday night at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium, the Lakers repeated that outcome by outlasting the Mustangs 21-19 to capture their first-ever District 10 football championship.
As for being able to stand up against the pressure and hold off a late Mercer rally, Prep coach Matt Morgan pointed his finger at his team having been there and done that.
"I think those two tight games against Linesville and Farrell (both 21-20 wins) really helped us," said Morgan. "Mercer is a great football team and I think what we have gone through helped us hold our composure tonight. My hat is off to them because this game could have gone either way tonight."
With the win, the Lakers advance to the quarterfinal round of the PIAA state playoffs and will face Kane, a 14-6 winner over Cameron County in the District 9 final Saturday afternoon.
Although the Lakers had defeated Mercer in the first game of the season, Morgan was quick to point out that the Mustangs, a team that won 11 games in a row between the two losses to MP, was a much improved squad.
"They were so much better than they were in week one that we had our hands full with them," he said. "As for preparation for the second game, it was pretty much the game although we knew we had to play much better than the first time to beat them."
After a three-and-out by Mercer, tailback Joe Jelinek jump-started the Lakers as he scampered 74 yards for a touchdown on Prep?s first offensive play of the game. For the game, Jelinek finished with 144 yards on 13 carries.
"That was huge for us because we didn?t expect that," said Morgan. "To be honest about it, this week in practice we were a little banged up and we had some real bad weather in Erie and that made practices that much tougher. When we were able to come out and get that early score that was just what we needed."
Trailing 7-0, Mercer came back to take their only lead of the night with back-to-back touchdowns on a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Andrew Erdos to wide receiver Wes Schaa covering 4 and 71 yards respectively.
Erdos completed 5-of-9 passes for 116 yards and the two scores, all five completions going to Schaa.
However, the Mustang lead was short-lived as Prep went on top 14-12 on a 40-yard scoring pass from quarterback Marshall Huntsman to Nick Arrigo and later built its halftime lead to 21-12 on a 7-yard TD run by Bill D?andrea.
Facing the 9-point deficit, Mercer scored the final points of the game with less than two minutes left in the third period on a 3-yard run by Justin Angermeier following a blocked punt by Mike Peters that was recovered at the Prep 3-yard line by Jake Priester.
The Mustangs had one final opportunity to pull the game out of the fire as they drove from their own 21 to the Prep 27, but an Erdos pass was intercepted by Arrigo at the Prep 27.
Following the turnover and a rash of Mercer penalties that totaled 45 yards, Huntsman took a knee and the game was over.
For Mercer, Angermeier finished his outstanding high school career by rushing for 84 tough yards on 23 carries. Quarterback Andrew Erdos had a good night throwing the ball, the sophomore completing 5-of-9 for 116 yards, all five completions going to senior wide receiver Wes Schaa.
"That is a very good Mercyhurst Prep team," said Mercer coach Pat McClearn. "I have nothing but respect for them. Their entire backfield from last year as seniors are now playing college football and coach Morgan and came back with a group that was predicted to finish fifth up there (in the region). Their coaching staff did an outstanding job with them and I wish them the best of luck next weekend."
With the loss, the Mustangs complete a fine 11-2 season with both losses coming at the hands of Prep, the Lakers keeping their unblemished log intact at 13-0 heading into their state quarterfinal game.
Mercer Defeats Sharpsville In Regular Season Finale
By BILL ALBRIGHT
SHARPSVILLE -- One year ago, a 23-15 loss to Sharpsville kept Mercer out of the District 10 playoffs.
Although the Mustangs had already qualified for the post-season this year, they gained a little revenge by turning the tables on the Blue Devils with a 14-0 win at McCracken Field in the season finale for both squads.
With the win, Mercer completes finished the regular season with an overall mark of 8-1 that includes a perfect 7-0 Region 1-A log, while the loss ends what has unfolded as a roller coaster season for the Blue Devils who finished at 3-7 overall, 3-5 in the region.
"I guess right now I don't really know what this (winning a league championship) means to the program," said Mercer coach Pat McClearn. "I hope the excitement gets more of the younger kids involved in the program. We are getting better numbers out now and as a single A team, that is what you need. You can't have athletes walking around the halls who should be playing football and that is the biggest thing we have worked on since I took over the program."
Although they failed to dent the scoring column, the Blue Devils had several early opportunities handed to them when Mercer mishandled three first-half punts.
After the first turnover resulted in a three-and-out, the second one saw the Devils put together a 13-play drive that misfired when a field goal attempt was wide to the right.
"Our offense and more importantly our special teams hung our defense out to dry," said McClearn. "They left them out on the field the whole first half. We had a couple of series this year where we drove the length of the field and tonight, I was able to see how that looks from the other side of the field. But all in all, our defense did a great job. I thought Sharpsville did a good job coming out and getting after us, but our guys hung around and made plays."
As for the inability to finish drives by scoring points, Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli noted that was pretty much the story of his team throughout the season.
"We had an up-and-down year, there is no doubt about that," noted Piccirilli. "One thing that we didn't have the ability to do this year was to come up with big plays. We would get them or put together a drive and then when we got down around the 10-yard line, we would get stuffed by making a costly mistake."
On a night when the Blue Devil seniors were honored, Piccirilli had a lot of good things to say about the group.
"Those seniors played as hard as they could," he said. "In practice this week, they worked harder than if they were in two-a-days. They busted their butts, but some years you have good years and other times you have years like this one. I told them (the seniors) that if they keep working hard like they did for us this season, they are going to be successful."
Following the missed field goal, it didn't take the Mustangs long to get on the scoreboard.
After being held out of action for the first quarter, Wes Schaa made the most of his first play of the game midway through the second quarter. Schaa got behind the Sharpsville secondary, and when Mustang quarterback Andrew Erdos hit him in stride, he took the completion to the house for a touchdown covering 80 yards.
"We controlled the whole first half, but they scored the only points on the big pass play," said Piccirilli. "It hurts when that happens, but our kids kept battling and that is all I can ask of them."
As for Schaa's delayed appearance, McClearn said, "he (Schaa) entered the game with a little bit of excitement. He did a nice job with that one and Wes has made big plays for us all year and I just hope he will continue to do so."
Facing the 6-0 deficit heading into the third period, Sharpsville was again unable to sustain a drive as their first two possessions were culminated by a punt.
Following the second boot by Sharpsville punter Phillip Catrucco, it only took the Mustangs a pair of plays to score their second and final touchdown of the game when Justin Angermeier ripped up the middle untouched for a 43-yard touchdown.
With nine straight wins heading into the playoffs, it appears the Mustangs will face Eisenhower in the opening round of the District 10 tournament.
"The first thing we have to do is stop Eisenhower," he said. "They play a good brand of ball up there so we have to be ready to go. We preach to the kids all year long that once you get the boulder moving, keep it moving and right now, that is what we are trying to do."
Big Start Lifts Farrell over Linesville, 38-14
By BILL ALBRIGHT
FARRELL -- When Linesville and Farrell faced each other in a District 10, Region 1-A game Friday night, it was expected by many to be a close game.
However, so much for expectations.
Taking advantage of early turnovers and big plays, the Steelers opened up a 19-0 lead in the first half before cruising to a 38-14 win over the Lions.
"They were up by 19 at the half and there is no doubt that makes it difficult to come back," said Linesville coach Pat Gould. "I am proud of the kids coming back to score a couple of touchdowns, but it just wasn't enough. We just gave up too much early in the game."
One of the big factors for the Steelers in the win was their ability to convert on third and fourth down situations. Following the game, Linesville coach Pat Gould was quick to point out that fact.
During the first 24 minutes of the game, the Steelers were perfect on third and fourth down conversions, moving the sticks four times on each of the situations.
"They had the ball the whole first half," noted Gould. "We couldn't stop them on third down or fourth down. When we did get a little bit of a drive going, we would throw an interception, and when you throw an interception, that allows them to control the ball."
In addition to committing four turnovers (three interceptions and one lost fumble), the Lions were also guilty of giving up chunks of real estate on big plays, Farrell showing 14 offensive plays of 10 yards or more.
"That (big plays) is just a matter of hard work and our kids staying on the course," said Farrell coach Jarrett Samuels. "We have been trying to get big plays during the course of the year, and tonight, we got a lot of them because the team came together and clicked. I am so proud of this group of kids because of the way they stay focused."
Holding the 19-0 lead, the two teams traded touchdowns for much of the second half, and that made Samuels happy with the way his players answered the challenge.
"We didn't want them to score at all," chuckled Samuels. "This team (Linesville) is very explosive. We call it a three-headed monster because their quarterback, their fullback and tailback are all good runners. We wanted to contain them as much as possible and overall, our kids did a pretty good job doing that."
Going into the game, both teams sported 5-2 overall marks, both 4-1 in regional competition. With the win, Farrell all but secures a berth in the district playoffs, while for the Lions, their fate lies in their own hands heading into the final two games of the season.
"If we win out, we're in, but we have two good teams to play" Gould said. "We have West Middlesex and they are playing better ball now. They played these guys tough. After that, we have to face Conneaut Lake, two good ball teams, so we have to play better than we did tonight if we want to make the playoffs."
While posting the decisive win, the Steelers rushed for 349 yards, averaging nearly nine yards per carry. Leading the way was Lamont Hailstock with 95 yards, Hailstock followed closely by Jake Hartley with 92 yards and quarterback Danny Odem with 84.
Odem figured in four of Farrell's six touchdowns as he ran for two and passed for two more.
"We are just starting to jell as a line on both sides of the line of scrimmage," added Samuels. "We just wanted to establish a running game because down the road when the weather gets bad, we are gong to have to have a positive running game. Our guys did a good job up front, but now, we have to go back to work because we have another big game coming up against Conneaut Lake."
Greenville Tops Sharon 36-35, in Quadruple Overtime
By BILL ALBRIGHT
September 28, 2007
SHARON -- Over the years, Sharon and Greenville have locked up in some exciting football games, but more than likely none more exciting than Friday night's meeting at Tiger Stadium.
Going into the fracas, the Tigers were trying to remain unbeaten and put some space between themselves and other teams in Region 3 of District 10.
However, when the two squads left the field, the boys were as good as the men as the two clubs battled each other tooth-and-nail through regulation and four overtimes before the Trojans walked off the field with a hard-fought 36-35 win.
With the result, both teams are now 4-1 overall, 2-1 in conference outings.
"It was just a great ball game between two very proud programs," said a disappointed Sharon coach Bob Fromm. "The kids just slugged it out right to end and the bottom line is that they (Greenville) made one more play than we did. We were focused and ready to play, but I have to give a lot of credit to their coach and kids because they played a heckuva ball game."
In the first overtime, Greenville (4-1, 2-1) came up short of the end zone on four tries, but a Sharon 25-yard field goal attempt was wide to the right.
The two teams traded touchdowns and PATs in the second and third extra periods, setting up the frantic and deciding fourth overtime period.
Sharon had the ball first and it only took the Tigers (4-1, 2-1) two plays to score, tailback Billy Altman going in from eight yards out for the touchdown. Terry Flaugher's PAT made it Sharon 35, Greenville 28.
Faced with a do-or-die situation, Greenville also only needed a pair of plays to score on 5-yard runs by Justin Ferguson and Chris Fragapane.
With the score now standing at Sharon 35, Greenville 34, it was decision time for Trojan rookie head coach Brian Herrick, and as it turned out, he gambled and won.
Following a couple of time outs, Herrick replaced his extra point team with the regular offense.
Hoping to cause the Tigers to make a mistake, Herrick rolled the dice and came out a winner as the Tigers were flagged with an encroachment penalty.
Needing only a yard-and-a-half, Fragapane completed his outstanding night by slashing into the end zone for the 2-point conversion and the game-winner.
"We wanted to get them to jump off sides because I didn't think we could make three yards," said Herrick. "I thought we could make one and once we got them to jump, I asked the kids if they wanted to go for it (the 2-point conversion) and they said yes. We went for it and it wasn't blocked perfectly, but Chris (Fragapane) just made a great run."
As for his answer to deciding to kick for the extra points instead of running the ball, Fromm's answer was brief and to the point.
"We have a good kicker in Terry Flaugher and we had a lot of confidence in our defense," said Fromm. "In the first three overtime periods, we just felt that we might be able to hold them out of the end zone, but the kid (Ferguson) made a heckuva catch in the corner for the touchdown. When he (Herrick) pulled his kicking team off and they made a nice heady play by trying to get us to jump offside and they accomplished that. When you are trying to defend a yard-and-a-half against Greenville's power game, it is a tough place to be in."
During regulation, the Trojans made two major mistakes and they were both costly
.
Following a "muffed" punt, Greenville scored its first touchdown.
Holding an 8-7 lead heading into the second half, Trojan return man Shaun Ferguson hauled in the kickoff to begin the second half, and 92 yards later after dismantling the Sharon coverage, crossed the goal line for the score.
"When you get the kids in between the lines, they have to play," said Fromm. "The coaches don't come out with them and as for the kickoff return, that is on me because I am the special team's coach. We have to go back and get better at defending that (kickoff returns) as well as taking care of the ball and not turning it over."
In the second overtime, the Trojans didn't waste any time at all as they scored on their first play, a 10-yard fade pattern good for the touchdown from quarterback Josh Chisholm to Ferguson.
"We were lucky because (Jacques) Moss and (Billy) Altman are probably the two best cornerbacks in the conference," said Herrick. "It was a perfect pass to the back corner of the end zone just as it is supposed to be thrown. Shaun (Ferguson) can go up and get it with the best of them and he made a great play."
West Middlesex Downs Clairton, 37-30
Big Reds Advance To PIAA-A Title Game
December 9, 2006
By BILL ALBRIGHT
AMBRIDGE, PA - Although the West Middlesex football players have consumed their share of chocolates while growing up, Hershey kisses probably never tasted as sweet as they did Saturday at Bridger Stadium.
After winning the Region 1 and District 10 Class AA crowns, the Big Reds (15-0) took care of business with Clairton (14-1) Saturday afternoon as they defeated the Bears, 37-30, to advance to the PIAA Class A state title game next Friday.
"All I know is that we are going to Hershey," said WMSX head coach Brian Hoffman. "The kids really played outstanding football for four quarters and this is the biggest win in school history. We came out and set the tempo and I don't think they (Big Reds) were going to be denied today. They played with a lot of passion and right now, I am just real proud of them."
Although Hoffman is not a big consumer of chocolate, he just might become one this week.
"You know, this is the thing. I don't eat candy and the players know it," said Hoffman with a smile on his face. "But this week, that could change and I just might do it."
The Big Reds will meet perennial state power Southern Columbia in the title game, the Tigers a 35-0 winner over Bellwood-Antis Friday night.
Clairton took the initial lead in the game at 8-0 with a touchdown on its first possession, but the Big Reds answered the Bear score and more with scores from Lucas Allen and Steve Andrusky. Allen's score was set up by Josh Brown's interception that he returned 39 yards to the Clairton 27.
However, not to go away and hide, Clairton bounced back to get even in the game on a Brittan Davenport touchdown as the two teams found themselves in a 16-all tie at halftime.
West Middlesex again took the lead in the final minute of the third period when Andrusky hauled in a 16-yard scoring pass from quarterback Kolten Hoffman, but again the Bears answered by regaining the lead at 30-24 on a pair of touchdown runs by quarterback Leroy George before the Big Reds sealed the deal with two touchdowns of their own in the final 3-plus minutes.
Andrusky scored on a 6-yard run with 3:15 on the clock and Josh Brown made it 31-30 with his PAT. For the game, Andrusky caught six passes for 57 yards while also making numerous big plays on defense for the Big Reds.
"Oh man, this feeling is just awesome," he said. "It was a total team effort. It wasn't just one person. It is everybody and the reason we won today was all heart. As for my last touchdown, I just got behind the defender, caught the ball and ran it in. I don't know how else to describe it."
Forced to the airlanes following the Andrusky score, George was picked off by Lucas Allen, setting what turned out to be the clinching score.
After delivering the Hail Mary pass to Tyler Barris last week, quarterback Hoffman again came up with the big play for the Big Reds.
Operating with an ankle injury that he suffered in last week's win over Coudersport, quarterback Hoffman wouldn't be denied as he called his own number, took off to his left, cut back to the right, broke three tackles and made his way into the end zone for a 53-yard TD run.
The kick for the PAT was no good, but West Middlesex had taken a 37-30 lead with 1:16 on the clock.
"My ankle was a little dinged up so I wasn't going to run the ball much today," explained Hoffman. "But I said, coach, if I pull that ball out (from under center) there are a lot of yards in front of me. I just pulled it and started running. I should have fallen down and that way we could have run out the clock, but I didn't realize that until after I scored the touchdown."
With only one time out left and the clock showing less than a minute, the Bears moved down the field until they were faced with a fourth-and-14 on the Big Reds 25. However, a George pass was successfully defended by Hoffman and Chachi Ruffo and West Middlesex began celebrating their meal ticket to Hershey and the state title game.
Although he didn't reach the end zone this week, Barris came with five catches for 87 yards, most of his receptions in key situations.
"All week long, they have been talking to me about the big catch last week, but all I told them was that didn't mean that much if we didn't win today," said Barris. "It has just been a life-long dream of mine to play for a state championship and now I have that opportunity."
West Middlesex 8 8 8 13 -- 37
Clairton 8 8 0 14 -- 30
CLAIRTON -- Zaire Washington 43 run (Leroy George to Kevin Weatherspoon pass)
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Lucas Allen 8 pass from Kolten Hoffman. (Josh Brown rush)
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Steve Andrusky 5 run (Hoffman to Andrusky pass)
CLAIRTON -- Brittan Davenport 8 pass from George. (George rush)
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Andrusky 16 pass from Hoffman (Hoffman to Chaci Ruffo pass)
CLAIRTON -- George 15 run (pass failed)
CLAIRTON -- George 12 run (George to Manny Williams pass)
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Andrusky 6 pass from Hoffman (Brown kick)
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Hoffman 53 run (kick failed)
Wilmington Comes Up Short In 28-7 Loss to Jeanette
December 9, 2006
By BILL ALBRIGHT
GREENSBURG, PA - There will be no Hershey kisses for the Wilmington Greyhounds.
After winning the Region 3 and District 10 Class AA crowns, the 'Hounds had hopes of making the trip to Chocolatetown for the state championship game.
However, after two wins in the state tournament, Wilmington's run for the gold came up one win short of making the trip to Hershey and the state championship game as they fell 28-7 to the Jeanette Jayhawks Friday night.
"They are an outstanding team, but we couldn't get anything going offensively," said Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli. "When you give a team like them the ball three-fourths of the game, they are going to get it into the end zone sooner or later."
Watching his team struggle offensively for the entire game, Verrelli felt the big difference in the game was the athleticism of the Jayhawks.
"They have great athletes, all kinds of athletes," related Verrelli. "But again, the bottom line is that we couldn't move the ball offensively and that is what really made the difference."
After a pair of punts, the Jayhawks got on the board first when they marched 63 yards on a half dozen plays, Terrelle Pryor going around his right end untouched from four yards out for the score. Anthony Petrulak's PAT making it 7-0 Jeanette. A big play in the Jayhawks scoring drive was a 41-yard pass hookup between Pryor and wideout Jerry Harris.
After another three-and-out by the Greyhounds, the Jayhawks again put together a scoring drive as they marched 59 yards on 10 plays, Pryor again calling his own number from one yard out. Petrulak's PAT gave the Jayhawks a 14-0 halftime lead.
Not only did Jeanette have the upper hand on the scoreboard, the Jayhawks also completely dominated all phases of the game.
During the opening 24 minutes, the Jayhawks reeled off 41 plays to just 8 for Wilmington, while the tenacious Jayhawk defense didn't allow the 'Hounds a single first down in the entire half. The total yardage was also huge in favor of the Jayhawks by a 198-11 margin.
"Even though we couldn't get anything going offensively, I thought we played a heckuva game defensively," said Verrelli. "I thought we ran nine plays in the first half, and you aren't going to win too many ball games when that happens. Considering we gave that team the ball as many times as we did, I thought we did pretty good."
After the Jeanette domination in the first half, the Greyhounds had a golden opportunity to get themselves back into the game midway through the third period as the Wilmington defense held the Jayhawks short of the sticks, and Jeremy Beatty blocked a punt at the Jeanette 13.
However, on a fourth-and-6 from the Jeanette 9-yard line, a Jake Reiber-to-Beatty pass came up six inches short of the sticks and the Jayhawks took over.
"We had to go for it," explained Verrelli. "What do you want? You give them the ball on your 20-yard line. Hell, they can score if you give it to them on their 20-yard line."
Like most good teams are able to do, after dodging the bullet, the Jayhawks came up with a big play to score their third touchdown.
After picking up a pair of first downs, Pryor found Davonte Shannon wide open behind the Wilmington secondary and lofted a 69-yard scoring pass to Shannon who caught the ball at the Greyhound 15 and raced down the left sideline for the score. Petrulak's third PAT made it 21-0 Jeanette heading into the fourth period.
After failing to capitalize on their previous defensive effort, the Greyhounds made the most of an interception by Shane Wagner who returned the pick to the Jayhawk 2-yard line.
On the first play following the turnover, David Bruno scored from two yards out, Nick Riggall tacked on the PAT, and with 9:44 left in the game, the Jeanette lead had been cut to 21-7.
However, not to be denied, the Jayhawks came right back to answer the Bruno score when Jordan Hall went in from six yards out to set the final.
With the win, Jeanette (14-1) moves to Hershey to play in the state final, while the loss leaves Wilmington with an outstanding 14-1 mark for the 2006 season.
Wilmington 0 0 0 7 -- 7
Jeanette 7 7 7 7 -- 28
JEANETTE -- Terrelle Pryor 4 run (Anthony Petrulak kick)
JEANETTE -- Pryor 1 run (Petrulak kick)
JEANETTE -- Davonte Shannon 69 pass from Pryor. (Petrulak kick)
WILMINGTON -- David Bruno 2 run (Nick Riggall kick)
JEANETTE -- Jordan Hall 6 run (Petrulak kick)
Greyhounds Open District 10 Play With 35-8 Win over Corry
By BILL ALBRIGHT
November 10, 2006
SLIPPERY ROCK, PA - For the Wilmington Greyhounds, the beat goes on.
During the regular season, the Wilmington Greyhounds had things pretty much their own way while posting a perfect 10-0 mark.
Saturday night in the opening round of the District 10 playoffs, Wilmington was held somewhat in check during the first half, leading 14-0 at the break.
However, in the third period, veteran Greyhound coach Terry Verrelli and his staff "Let The Hounds Out" as Wilmington broke open the game with 21 unanswered points before cruising to a 35-8 victory over the Corry Beavers.
"It is always nice to get that first win (in the playoffs)," said Verrelli. "We kind of knew it was going to be a good football game, but it is always good to get that first one and look forward to the next one."
After neither team could find the end zone on their first possession, the Greyhounds put the first points of the game on the board set up by a Corry special team's miscue.
Following a Corry punt of negative seven yards, the 'Hounds took over on the Beaver 41.
Forrest Minteer picked up 14 yards on the first play following the poor kick, and on the next snap, quarterback Jake Reiber hooked up with Nate Reynolds for a 27-yard scoring play.
Nick Riggall's PAT made it 7-0 Wilmington.
After a pair of Corry punts, the Greyhounds took over on their own 20.
Fourteen plays and 80 yards later, Chris Burns scooted around his own right end for a 17-yard touchdown run, Riggall added the PAT, and the Greyhounds took a 14-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.
Holding onto the 14-0 advantage, the Greyhounds blew the game open in the third period as they scored on all three possessions for 21 points and a 35-0 lead.
Doing the honors for the 'Hounds were quarterback Jake Reiber with touchdown runs of seven and 21 yards followed by a 32-yard scoring sprint by Chris Burns.
"We made a few adjustments, but it was more a matter of being patient," said Verrelli. "I think it was just a matter of us playing our game rather than any adjustments we might have made at halftime."
Held scoreless through the first 43 minutes of the game, the Beavers scored a consolation touchdown when backup quarterback Aaron Gluvna hit Brendan Eck on a 42-yard pass-and-run play for the score.
In posting the win, the 'Hounds spread the wealth around between Chris Burns, David Bruno, Forrest Minteer and Jake Reiber.
Burns rushed for 84 yards, Minteer was next in line with 61 and David Bruno chipped in with 41. Reiber tossed a touchdown pass in addition to rushing for a pair of scores.
"I thought Corry played a great game," added Verrelli. "They were tough defensively, but the game is four quarters long and it is nice to have that many different weapons. We try to use different plays to get as many people involved, and tonight, we were able to do that."
Now 11-0, Wilmington will face Sharon next weekend at a time and place to be determined by District 10 officials. Sharon was a 14-0 winner over Harbor Creek to advance to the semifinals.
BOXSCORE
Corry 0 0 0 8 -- 8
Wilmington 7 7 21 0 -- 35
WILMINGTON -- Nate Reynolds 27 pass from Jake Reiber. (Nick Riggall kick)
WILMINGTON -- Chris Burns 17 run (Riggall kick)
WILMINGTON -- Jake Reiber 7 run (Riggall kick)
WILMINGTON -- Reiber 21 run (Riggall kick)
WILMINGTON -- Burns 32 run (Riggall kick)
CORRY -- Brendan Eck 42 pass from Aaron Gluvna. (Kyle Gates rush)
West Middlesex Rolls To 42-5 Win over Iroquois In District 10 Playoffs
By BILL ALBRIGHT
November 10, 2006
SLIPPERY ROCK, PA - Move over Iroquois, the West Middlesex Big Red Machine is on its way!
After breezing through a perfect 10-0 regular season to capture the Region 1-A championship, the Big Reds continued their winning ways Friday night by rolling over the Braves, 42-5, in the opening round of the District 10 Class A playoffs.
"Overall, I thought we had a balanced effort tonight," said WMSX coach Brian Hoffman. "I thought we played much better in the second half from the physical standpoint. I was a little disappointed in the first half because we made some mistakes early on and our execution was a little poor as well. But in the third and fourth quarters, especially on the offensive end, I thought we stepped it up and did a nice job."
The Big Reds scored all the points they would need for the win on their first possession when quarterback Kolten Hoffman went in from nine yards out for the score, Hoffman's scoring effort capping a 75-yard, 9-play drive.
Iroquois answered with a 25-yard field goal off the foot of Jeremy Ditzler, but that was as close as the Braves would be to Middlesex as the Big Reds outscored their opponents 35-2 over the final three periods to pull away.
The Braves came out throwing the ball all over the field, and that was something new to the Big Reds.
"I sort of had the feeling they would try and throw the ball on us," Hoffman said. "That is something that in the first 10 weeks of the season we really hadn't seen much of. It took us a little to adjust to it and we made some changes at halftime and that allowed us to be much better defensively in the second half."
One of the reasons Iroquois had more than its share of problems in the final three periods was the play of Steve Andrusky who came up with at least three sacks of Brave quarterback Andy Wallen and numerous other tackles while scoring a pair of touchdowns on offense.
"He was all over the field tonight. Every time I looked up all I saw was number 11," said Hoffman. "Whether it was making big hits on defense or running the ball hard between the tackles, he got the job done for us. He looked like a Mack truck running up the middle."
Andrusky agreed with his coach that his performance might have been his best of the season.
"I have been slacking a little bit on defense so I had to make a comeback," said Andrusky. "I had a good night, but it wasn't just me. Everybody did what they had to do and we got the job done."
While the Big Red defense took care of its responsibilities, the Middlesex offense featured a balanced attack led by quarterback Kelton Hoffman. All Hoffman did was rush seven times for 46 yards and a pair of scores while also completing 11 of 16 passes for 202 yards and a third touchdown.
"We ran the ball pretty successfully tonight and our game plan going in was to open up the run with the pass," explained (Kolten) Hoffman. "It wasn't the cleanest game we played all year with a few missed opportunities and some of the penalties, but I guess that is all part of the game of football. Things aren't always going to go the way you might hope they would, but you have to stick to it and keep plugging away."
In addition to the 202 yards passing by Hoffman, the Red's running game featured four backs who rushed for at least 46 yards as Lucas Allen finished with 83, Andrusky totaled 80, Josh Brown was close behind with 76 and Hoffman posted another 46.
"That is what we try to each week. We try to have a balanced attack," said coach Hoffman. "We try to spread the ball out and get it into people's hands who can make plays and we were successful in doing that tonight."
With the win, the Big Reds will face Kennedy Catholic for the second time this season, the Golden Eagles advancing to the semifinals with a 41-14 win over Saegertown. West Middlesex posted a 28-21 win over the Golden Eagles in the regular season meeting.
"I am not one bit surprised that Kennedy won tonight," said Hoffman. "Now that this one is over, we can focus on that game."
Iroquois 3 0 2 0 -- 5
West Middlesex 7 14 14 7 -- 42
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Kolten Hoffman 9 run (Josh Brown kick)
IROQUOIS -- Jeremy Ditzler 25 FG.
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Hoffman 5 run (kick failed)
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Steve Andrusky 18 run (Hoffman to Tyler Barris pass)
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Brown 4 run (Brown kick)
IROQUOIS -- Team Safety (Snap went our of end zone in punt formation).
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Lucas Allen 58 pass from Hoffman (Brown kick)
WEST MIDDLESEX -- Andrusky 1 run (Brown kick)
District 10 Football Standings Through Games of October 21
Compiled by Bill Albright
October 22, 2006
Region 1-A
West Middlesex 8-0 6-0
Sharpsville 6-2 5-2
Kennedy Catholic 4-4 4-2
Mercer 5-3 4-2
Lakeview 6-2 4-2
Linesville 4-4 2-4
Farrell 1-7 1-5
Conneaut Lake 2-6 1-5
Cochranton 2-6 1-6
Region 2-A
Mercyhurst Prep 8-0 6-0
Cambridge Springs 5-3 5-1
Saegertown 5-3 4-2
Eisenhower 5-3 4-3
Iroquois 3-5 3-3
Maplewood 2-5 2-4
Conneaut Valley 2-6 2-4
Youngsville 2-6 2-5
Union City 0-8 0-6
Region 3-AA
Wilmington 8-0 5-0
Grove City 5-3 4-1
Sharon 6-2 3-2
Greenville 5-3 3-2
Hickory 3-5 2-4
Northwestern 3-5 1-4
Reynolds 0-8 0-5
Region 4-AA
Harbor Creek 7-1 4-1
Fairview 7-1 4-1
Seneca 5-3 3-2
Corry 6-2 3-2
North East 5-3 3-2
Girard 2-6 1-4
Fort LeBoeuf 0-8 0-6
Region 5-AAA
Titusville 7-1 5-0
Warren 3-5 2-1
Oil City 3-5 2-2
Slippery Rock 2-6 2-2
Franklin 4-4 2-3
Meadville 0-8 0-5
Region 6-AAA
Erie Cathedral Prep 7-1 5-0
General McLane 6-2 3-2
Erie McDowell 4-4 2-2
Erie Strong Vincent 5-2 2-2
Erie Central 2-6 1-3
Erie East 1-6 0-4
Kennedy Catholic Edges Lakeview, 25-18
By BILL ALBRIGHT
September 23, 2006
HERMITAGE, PA - Kennedy Catholic tailback Lee Plotts rushed for 205 yards and four touchdowns and Ross Gargano added 115 yards as the Golden Eagles outlasted the Lakeview Sailors, 25-18, Saturday afternoon at Butala Stadium.
Trailing by 12-6 at halftime, the Golden Eagles scored 19 unanswered points to take a 25-12 lead before holding off the Sailors.
The Golden Eagles entered the game as the 7th-ranked team in Pennsylvania by the Harrisburg Patriot. Although happy with the win, Kennedy coach Mike Donato was a little less pleased with the way his troops played in the first half.
"I think the biggest difference for us in the game today was that we decided to come out in the second half and play football," said Donato. "We told the guys that sooner or later, they are going to have to realize they do have a bullseye on their back. They have to come out and realize that whoever they are playing, the other team is going to play their best game against us. I don't know if we are in that frame of mind right now."
While leading Kennedy to the big District 10, Region 1 victory, Plotts scored on runs of 29, 67, 15 and two yards to score all but one of his team's points.
"We just had a lot to pick up in the second half," said Plotts of the comeback. "I didn't think we executed as well in the first half as in the second half, but we knew what we had to do in the second half to get the job done."
Plotts was also quick to point out the job done by his offensive line.
"It takes good blocking for me to run the way I did today, and I just thank them for stepping it up in the second half," Plotts said. "I am just thankful they came out and played the way they did in the second half and it was just a pleasure to run behind them today."
Donato also had some good words about Plotts.
"He came out and did what he was supposed to do," said Donato. "We did a great job and we are extremely proud of him. We always knew he could do those types of things. It was not a surprise to us, but it sure was a welcome sight."
Trailing by the 12-6 score heading into the second half, the Eagles set the tone of the final half as on the first play of the half, Wade Savage intercepted an Adam Koontz aerial and returned it to the KC 33. On the first play following the turnover, Plotts ripped off his 67-yard scoring run to tie the game at 12-all.
After an exchange of punts, the Eagles took advantage of the short field when they took over on the Lakeview 29.
Six plays later, Plotts went in from 15 yards out for the score to make it 18-12 Kennedy before the two teams traded scores in the fourth period to set the final.
With the win, Kennedy moves to 3-1 overall, unbeaten at 3-0 in regional play.
Lakeview 0 12 0 6 -- 18
Kennedy 0 6 12 7 -- 25
KENNEDY -- Lee Plotts 29 run (kick failed)
LAKEVIEW -- Scott Shilling 2 run (kick failed)
LAKEVIEW -- Jon Switzer 5 run (pass failed)
KENNEDY -- Plotts 67 run (rush failed)
KENNEDY -- Plotts 15 run (rush failed)
KENNEDY -- Plotts 2 run (Dan Donofrio kick)
LAKEVIEW -- Shilling 1 run (not attempt)