District 10 "Desert Observations"  1-2

 by Todd Warner

My apologies to what looks like a fine Hickory team and their fans.  I received word from 7,000 miles away that the Hornets had been routed in their opener last week against Fort LeBoeuf.  It turns the opposite was true and that news did not catch up to me in the desert until this week.  Looks like Hickory is very strong this year and will have an impact in Region 3.

Class A Summary:  In the south (Region 1), Defending D10A champion Sharpsville moved to 2-0 by rolling over D9 opponent Karns City, 35-14.  The rugged Blue Devils will open Region 1 play at home this week against an explosive Kennedy Catholic team that hammered Conneaut Lake, 40-14, on Saturday afternoon.  That one very well may decide the top playoff seed from the south just three games into the season.  The West Middlesex Big Reds, D10A champs in 2002 and 2003, seem to be rejuvenated after a down year in 2004.  They’ve surprised me a little bit with their solid 2-0 start which includes Friday’s 29-0 shutout of last year’s D10A runner-up Linesville in the Region 1 opener for both teams. Cochranton and Lakeview both opened the season with losses in cross-regional games, so both entered week 2 looking for a big win to open Region 1 play.  Cochranton prevailed, 14-0, in that one.  In the north (Region 2), the Fairview Tigers still have never lost a Region 2 game.  Coach Jerry Lightner’s team moved to 2-0 overall and picked up a tough 28-21 road win over Cambridge Springs in the region opener for both teams.  Fairview has won all 8 of their Region 2 clashes dating back to the beginning of last season when D10 class realignment created the six current regions.  The Tigers also have the schedule luxury of playing 5 of their final 7 games at home.  Last year, a week 2 upset loss at home to Eisenhower sent Iroquois’ great season expectations into a tailspin.  On Friday, the Braves traveled to Russell and narrowly avoided a repeat scenario.  This time, they held off the Knights, 7-6, in the region opener and that one point verdict could have huge ramifications several weeks from now when the playoff race heats up.  How ‘bout Da Bears?  The Union City Fightin’ Green Bears rallied from a 13-6 deficit in the 3^rd quarter and knocked off Saegertown, 18-13, in a classic meeting of old French Creek Valley rivals.  For now, I’ll consider that one to be an upset.  UC is 2-0; while Saegertown fell to 1-1.  The Youngsville Eagles were held in pretty high regard in our preseason forecast.  So far, so good as Youngsville is now 2-0 following a 48-6 rout of winless Conneaut Valley.

Class A Week 3 Key Games:  In the south, Kennedy Catholic plays at Sharpsville in what very may decide the Region 1 title.  In the north, Iroquois hosts Union City and the winner will remain at the top of Region 2 while the loser falls back into the middle of the pack.  Youngsville (2-0) travels to Warren County arch-rival Eisenhower (0-2)—expect a close, physical game.

Class AA Summary: In the south (Region 3), a platoon of Hickory running backs racked up well over 300 yards on the ground and chewed out an impressive 33-13 win over Sharon.  It marks the 3^rd straight year that the Hornets trounced the Tigers in a series that until recently was dominated by Sharon, the all-time winningest program in D10 history.  In any case, Hickory at 2-0 looks like the real deal. The Hornets are likely to be key factors in the D10AA playoff race.  Wilmington remained unbeaten thanks primarily to their defense.  The unbeaten ‘Hounds held off the surprisingly competitive Mercer Mustangs, 14-7, on Friday.  Defending D10AA champ Grove City fought off a Greenville rally in the second half and posted a 27-12 win in the region opener for both teams.  GC is now 2-0.  Greenville, my preseason pick to grab the top seed out of the region, is now 0-2 and faces a huge uphill battle the rest of the way.  Reynolds has surprised me thus far.  The Raiders (2-0) recorded their second straight impressive defensive outing and picked up a 15-2 win over Slippery Rock (0-2).  All Reynolds’ points came in the 3^rd quarter.  In the north (Region 4), so far one of the most surprising teams in any class of D10 football is Seneca.  The Wattsburg-based Bobcats have never been to a postseason game and have recorded an average of about one winning season per decade dating back more than 30 years.  They are now 2-0 after picking up a solid 27-7 win over still winless Fort LeBoeuf.   Seneca’s big Shawn Giewont is a total wrecking crew on both sides of the ball.  Neither Greenville in week 1 nor Fort LeBoeuf had much success in blocking the ferocious defensive lineman.  And he uses his huge frame and excellent speed very well to put points on the board, too.  He hauled in a pair of TD passes from his TE position against LeBoeuf and then wiped out any Bison comeback hopes by scoring a 3^rd TD on a reverse.  Another team came within two points of surpassing Seneca as the biggest surprise through the first two weeks.  Mercyhurst Prep won big in their opener and on Friday, the Lakers came painfully close to pulling off a true shocker as they fell to defending Region 4 champ North East, 21-20.  Mercyhurst Prep’s program appears to have turned the corner dramatically.  Last season, the Lakers snapped a losing streak that dated back to the final game of 2001.  Northwestern got back on track and routed Maplewood, 45-8, in the region opener for both teams.  The Wildcats are always dangerous and could make some noise in the playoff race this fall.  Maplewood is still looking for their first win since 2002.  Girard won their Region 2 opener by steamrolling Harbor Creek, 35-14.  The loss drops Harbor Creek to 0-2 on the season.  I am not necessarily surprised that Coach Mina George’s always-physical Yellowjackets beat HC.  But I really never, ever expected that three of the four teams I predicted would make the D10AA playoffs (Harbor Creek, Fort LeBoeuf, and Greenville) would all be 0-2 and on the brink of playoff elimination before the middle of September.  D10AA is always tough and deep.  This year, so far, it has also proven to be very unpredictable and in some cases, completely upside down.

Class AA Week 3 Key Games:  In the south (Region 3), four unbeaten teams at the top will be reduced to two as Hickory’s high powered offense goes on the road to face the rugged Wilmington defense; and PIAA Runner-up Grove City travels to Transfer to face surprising Reynolds.  In the north (Region 4), Girard goes to North East and the winner has an early inside track toward a playoff berth.  Seneca rolls into Erie’s Veterans Stadium with hopes of remaining unbeaten against much-improved Mercyhurst Prep.

Class AAA Summary:  Two-time defending D10AAA champion Strong Vincent (2-0) crushed Meadville, 48-0.  The explosive Colonels have outscored their first two opponents by a 90-7 margin.  On the other hand, Meadville’s brutal opening schedule has seen the Bulldogs yield 103 points in two weeks, while still looking for their first points.  This year’s D10AAA title favorite and current PFN #10, General McLane struggled at times on the road but still came away with a 27-12 win over Franklin.  Corry is the surprise team in AAA so far.  The Beavers were obviously not at all happy to be picked last in the region in my preseason forecast.  On Friday, they moved to 2-0 with an 18-14 win over Titusville.  Corry is in a three-way tie with powerhouses GM and SV for the region lead and the Beavers are truly major contenders for one of the four AAA playoff spots.  Warren’s wild 41-35 win over Oil City was a surprise and moved both teams to 1-1 on the year.  It also shows how much parity exists in the region. The Dragon defense stopped what may have been a game-winning Oiler drive inside the Red Zone in the final minute.    At least 6 of the region’s 9 teams look like they will remain in the race for 4 playoff spots until deep into the season.  Each team in AAA plays 8 region games and one game against a AAAA opponent.  On Friday, that opportunity to play up a class went to Erie East and the winless Warriors got clobbered by powerful Cathedral Prep, 51-0.

Class AAA Week 3 Key Games:  Corry hosts Warren in a meeting that will have far-reaching playoff implications.  Oil City has the unenviable task of trying to rebound from their loss to Warren by venturing to Erie on Saturday afternoon to face the powerful Strong Vincent Colonels.

Class AAAA Summary:    Then only benefit unbeaten Cathedral Prep may have picked up from their rout of AAA Erie East was that a bunch of young Ramblers got some game experience.  It is tough to gauge how much Prep might have improved since their season opening win over Austintown (Ohio) Fitch, but a few more wins might be enough to move the Ramblers into the PFN Top Ten.  McDowell also moved to 2-0 by virtue of a 47-33 win over Chaminade-Julienne.  Erie Central fell to 0-2 after losing at home against Buffalo (NY) Bishop Timon, 35-28, on Saturday night.

Class AAAA Week 3 Key Game:  McDowell is at home against state ranked AAA powerhouse Perry Traditional Academy.