District 10 "Desert Observations"  Week 3

 by Todd Warner

We’re now three weeks into the season and the playoff picture is taking shape already across the different classes and regions.  Some of the teams’ positions in the standings are right where we thought that they would be.  But some others have really surprised me by finding themselves at the opposite end from where I thought they would be in the standings.  Some nice surprises mixed with some disappointing starts have made this an intriguing year in D10 so far.

Class A Summary:  In the north, all four (Region 2) games were played on a soggy, muggy Friday night.  Fairview and Iroquois, the two projected Region 2 playoff teams in our preseason forecast, both recorded home shutouts to emerge from Week 3 as the co-leaders.  Unbeaten Fairview crushed winless Conneaut Valley, 63-0.  Fairview star DB/QB Kevin Stephenson had a 54-yard INT return for a TD.  He also fired a long TD pass to soccer standout-turned-wonderful wideout Zane Meeder.  Fairview’s returning 3^rd Team All-PFN RB Ty Perry rushed for over 100 yards and scored three TDs while only touching the ball in the first quarter.  The Tiger defense recorded grabbed five turnovers in the rout as Fairview moved their all-time record in Region 2 play to 9-0.  Iroquois scored in each of the last three quarters to cruise past previously unbeaten Union City, 21-0.  The storyline was pretty typical for Coach Phil Glass’ teams the past few years.  Standout QB Dan Barringer connected on a pair of TD passes to his favorite receiver Adam Van Hooser; while twin brother Steve Barringer, a returning 3^rd Team All-PFN LB, led a swarming Iroquois defense with another double-digit tackle performance.  He also scored the final Iroquois TD on a 7-yard run.  Iroquois opened up their offense a little more that usual against the Fightin’ Green Bears and the Braves picked up a big win in region play.  Saegertown went to the playoffs last year.  But, the Panthers will need a small miracle to return this year as Cambridge Springs gave Saegertown their second region loss, 35-26.  Two longtime Warren County rivals squared off and previously winless Eisenhower knocked Youngsville from the unbeaten ranks with a solid 16-7 decision.  In the south (Region 1) on Saturday night, Kennedy Catholic took a huge step toward the region crown with a 21-20 overtime win over Defending D10A champ Sharpsville.  Unfortunately, the only details I received about what must have been a thriller was that the teams went to overtime tied at 14.  Sharpsville scored a TD on their possession but missed the PAT attempt.  KC then answered with a TD and won the game and maybe the Region 1 title with the PAT.  In West Middlesex, “Go Big Reds” is being heard loud and clear as WM remained undefeated by hanging on for a 14-13 win over previously unbeaten D9AA opponent Redbank Valley on Friday.  The Big Reds got a pair of first half TD passes from Kolt Hoffman (32 yards to Josh Brown and 25 yards to Lucas Allen) and that was enough to move them to 3-0 on the season.  Brown’s two PAT kicks made the difference.  Linesville rebounded from a Week 2 shutout loss to West Middlesex by picking up a 19-0 shutout over Cochranton in the first-ever Friday night game played at Cochranton.   Lakeview picked up a hard-fought 21-14 win over Conneaut Lake in a game between two teams who were both seeking their first win of the season.

Class A Week 3 Key Games: In the South, West Middlesex and Kennedy Catholic will meet for sole possession of 1^st place in Region 1.  In the North, Fairview must beat Union City and Iroquois must win at Youngsville to remain unbeaten in Region 2 and on a collision course for the Region title on October 14^th.

Class AA Summary: In the south (Region 3), the Wilmington Greyhounds are back!  Friday seemed like the late 1980’s and 1990’s glory days at Wing-T Wilmington as the lightning-quick Hounds exploded for 5 second half TDs and blew out Hickory, 69-28.  Wilmington’s Scott Lewis rushed for 240 yards and three long TD runs in the rout of the previously undefeated Hornets.  Wilmington was my pick to claim the D10AA crown this year and so far, the Hounds look like they are relishing that role.  While Wilmington’s 3-0 start is no surprise to me, I must admit that I am totally shocked by Reynolds’ 3-0 start.  Once again, the Raider defense was physical and nasty.  This week the victim was none other that defending D10AA champ and PIAA Runner-up Grove City.  The Raiders opened up a 12-0 halftime lead and went on to beat the Eagles 19-12.  The Raider offense was paced by RB Jake McBride who churned out 205 yards on 24 carries.  Meanwhile, the Reynolds defense tormented Grove City all night long and held the powerful Eagles to just 7 first downs and 40 yards rushing.  The Sharon Tigers claimed a 14-9 win over Slippery Rock in a game that kept the Rockets winless and kept Sharon and their rabid fans at Bianco Brother Barbershop and Tiger Stadium still able to talk about postseason possibilities for at least another week.  A season unlike many ever seen in Greenville continues to come unglued as Mercer QB Devin Wasser connected with Karl Swanson on a 15-yard TD pass with under a minute to play and the Mercer Mustangs stunned winless Greenville, 21-14.  In the north (Region 4), the gang that follows the ball up and down the field along the line of scrimmage in Albion is thinking about the playoffs as Northwestern stayed unbeaten in region play with a 20-0 shutout of Fort LeBoeuf.  Ben King scored all three Northwestern TDs as the Wildcats continued a shocking season of misery for the winless Bison.  Girard got a 30-yard TD catch by Derrick Johnson and a PAT from outstanding PK Conner Billings in the second quarter against North East.  It wasn’t much, it wasn’t pretty----but to Girard Coach Mina George--it was probably just plain beautiful at the Yellowjackets’ 7-6 win not only put Girard in terrific shape for a postseason berth; it also gave the rugged Pickers their first-ever defeat in Region 4 play.  Who would have ever believed that the Mercyhurst Prep/Seneca game might have huge postseason implications?  Well, it probably will as Mercyhurst Prep rumbled over Seneca, 18-7, behind a rejuvenated ground game that chewed up 350 yards of Veterans Stadium turf and dominated time of possession.   Harbor Creek was off to a disappointing 0-2 start and the Huskies narrowly avoided being the victims of what would have been an enormous upset.  HC picked up their first win with a 13-7 verdict over a Maplewood team that has not won a game since 2002.

Class AA Week 3 Key Games:  In the South, Reynolds at Hickory is the marquee match up that will further settle or scramble the Region 3 standings.  In the North, Northwestern travels to rival Girard and the winner gets sole possession of the top spot in Region 4.

Class AAA Summary:  Two-time defending D10AAA champion Strong Vincent routed Oil City, 41-12.  A couple big play TDs by Donte Harden in the first few minutes sealed the Oilers’ fate early on Saturday afternoon.  Tom Cacchione’s explosive Colonels are looking to return very soon to the PFN rankings that they occupied the past two seasons.  Current PFN #10, General McLane crushed Erie East, 48-12, behind a second straight 4 TD game from marvelous athlete Drew Astorino.  Warren beat Corry, 27-22, on a last minute, 60-yard TD pass from Ben Paul to Jeff Eaton.  That connection not only gave upstart Corry their first loss; it put Warren in excellent early position for the D10AAA playoff race.  Titusville mauled Meadville, 37-13, in a meeting of winless old rivals.  AAAA power Cathedral Prep cruised past winless Franklin, 49-14, in a special Thursday night edition of D10 football.

Class AAA Week 3 Key Games:  General McLane tries to stay unbeaten on the road against much-improved Warren.  Corry must avoid a letdown and handle winless Meadville to stay in the top half of the playoff race pack.

Class AAAA Summary:    For the second straight week, Cathedral Prep ran roughshod over a winless AAA opponent.  The Ramblers have a wealth of bigtime talent and are very, very good.  But, their early schedule has done nothing to get them ready to return to the PIAA elite.  McDowell picked up a big come-from-behind win at home against perennial AAA powerhouse Perry Traditional Academy, 35-32.  The Trojans rallied from a 32-20 deficit in the final six minutes.  McDowell’s successful execution and recovery of an onside kick led to the winning score.  Like Prep, the Trojans are now 3-0.  Erie Central traveled halfway across the state to Clinton County to knock off D6AAAA Central Mountain, 16-14.  It was the Falcons’ first win.

Class AAAA Week 3 Key Game:  Cathedral Prep meets McDowell in THE GAME.  But, one that is not near as important as when they meet again in November for the D10AAAA title and a trip to the PIAA playoffs.