District 10 "Desert Observations"  Week 4

 by Todd Warner

Class A Summary:  In the north, all four games were played on Friday night.   Region 2 co-leaders Iroquois and Fairview both picked up impressive road wins and widened the gap between their top spot and the rest of the pack.  Iroquois jolted Youngsville, 30-14.  Coach Phil Glass’ Braves picked up their 3^rd straight win as Jarryd Pearson’s 2 early TD runs (25 and 13 yards) sparked Iroquois to a 20-0 lead in the 2^nd quarter.  Iroquois also picked up a short TD run from Jeremy Dornhoefer, a 30-yard scoring jaunt by ALL-PFN HM QB Dan Barringer, and 30-yard FG from Jeremy Ditzler.  The physical Iroquois defense led by 3^rd Team All-PFN LB Steve Barringer limited the Eagles to just 70 yards rushing.  Making a strong case to join PFN’s Elite Top Ten, unbeaten Fairview hammered Union City, 35-8.  Coach Jerry Lightner’s Tigers have won all 10 of the Region 2 games they have played since D10 realigned last year.  This one was over early thanks to a fast and furious scoring flurry before halftime.  PFN Stat Star Zane Meeder bolted 86 yards for a TD on the opening kickoff.  Meeder, who converted from soccer to football this fall, also booted a perfect 5 for 5 PAT kicks.  Fairview’s left-handed standout senior QB Kevin Stephenson added another gem to his string of outstanding career performances.  He scored on a 1-yard keeper in the first quarter and then put the game away with a trio of second quarter TD passes to PFN Stat Star Chris Delavern.  The scoring strikes covered 62, 59, and 18 yards and those three TDs gave Delavern 139 receiving yards. Eisenhower blew out Saegertown, 49-13.  So much for this game being the toss-up I figured it would be.  A 28-point second quarter did the damage for Eisenhower as the Knights had 100+ yard rushing efforts and 2 TDs a piece from Joey Riel and Jameson Curtis.  Excellent Eisenhower QB Dave Hoisington connected on a pair of long TD passes to Brad Adams and Jordan Tutmaher. Ike PK Jake Sharp was 7 for 7 on his PAT kicks.  Cambridge Springs crushed Conneaut Valley, 45-14.  The vastly improved Blue Devils got a PFN Stat Star 229-yard, 3-TD rushing performance out of Josh Hobson and put the game away by building at 33-0 lead at the half.  In the south on Saturday, Kennedy Catholic knocked the West Middlesex Big Reds from the ranks of the unbeaten, 35-21.  The victory puts KC right where our preseason forecast predicted they would be—in the driver’s seat to the Region 1 title.  Other than the score, no other game details reached my location halfway around the world from Mercer County.  Sharpsville methodically shutout Cochranton, 24-0.  The defending D10A champions put points on the board in each quarter and their defense limited the Cardinals to just 3 first downs and 95 yards in total offense.  Linesville stopped Lakeview, 13-0.  The Lions moved into sole possession 2^nd place in Region 1.  They do not play this week; but can certainly use the “off week” to rest and prepare for back to back clashes with Sharpsville and Kennedy Catholic.  Those games will decide whether or not the Lions return to the playoffs this year.  Conneaut Lake beat D9 opponent A-C Valley, 12-0, for their first win of the year.

Class A Week 5 Key Games: In the South, West Middlesex is at home where the Big Reds must rebound from their loss to Kennedy Catholic and beat Lakeview.  If they don’t, their playoff hopes will pretty much be over.  In the North, Eisenhower is certain to be fired up for their trip to unbeaten Fairview.  Some Knight fans are still seething over the 327-yard rushing performance Fairview’s All-PFN RB Ty Perry recorded on Ike’s field last year in the Tiger’s 42-7 romp.  But, Eisenhower has a lot of other motivation for this game, too.  They also want to spoil Fairview’s unbeaten season and perfect all-time record in Region 2 play, the Tigers’ homecoming festivities, and most of all, put themselves in the lead for the Region Crown and automatic playoff berth.  Cambridge Springs will stay alive in the playoff hunt if they can pick up a “must win” at Youngsville.

Class AA Summary: In the south (again---the only details that reached the Middle East were game scores)……… Wilmington stopped winless Greenville, 13-3.  The Hounds have to be happy to be unbeaten, but you have to wonder about their consistency.  A week after rolling up 69 points against then-unbeaten Hickory, Wilmington wins what appears to be a pretty much defense-dominated game against the struggling Trojans.  If the Hounds score just 13 points this week against Sharon, they might be unbeaten no longer.  Reynolds beat Hickory, 22-18.  The surprising Raiders remain unbeaten and almost certainly eliminated Hickory from playoff contention at the mid-season mark.  The Hornets could still get into the postseason, but with losses already to the top two teams in the region, they have to win out and get lots of help from other teams.  Not likely. Sharon squashed Mercer, 27-0.  This should be a really lively week of football talk at Bianco Brothers Barbershop.  The Tiger faithful who congregate there on a daily basis  to talk strategy and Sharon gridiron history and lore are very well aware that their team has to win Friday at Wilmington to stay alive in the playoff race.  Defending D10AA champion and last year’s PIAA Runner-Up Grove City beat hard-luck Slippery Rock, 34-31, in double overtime.  GC has a tough remaining schedule and may have to win all of their remaining Region 3 games just to get a chance to defend their D10 crown.  Slippery Rock, one year removed from back-to-back D10AA titles, is still looking for their first win of the season.  In the north, Girard’s 17-0 shutout of Northwestern gave the Yellow Jackets sole possession of first place in Region 4.  Coach Mina George’s physical team is in terrific shape and the region crown is literally “theirs to lose.”  In the next four weeks, they play opponents who right now have a combined record of 5-11.  Girard will be favored in all of those games, but only has to win three of them to clinch the Region 4 title and automatic playoff berth.  After a scoreless first period, Girard scored in each of the final three quarters and defensively manhandled the Wildcats.  Lightning bolt RB Derrick Johnson rushed for 180 yards and scored both Jacket TDs.  The first on a 10-yard pass from R.J. Myers gave Girard a 7-0 halftime lead.  Then, a 51-yard burst in the 3^rd quarter to clinch it.  Outstanding PK Conner Billings tacked on the final Girard points with a 23-yard FG in the 4^th quarter.  Defending Region 4 champ North East laid a solid 27-7 beating on Seneca.  The Pickers stayed alive and well in the playoff race behind two short TD passes from QB Brian Elchynski (8 yards each to Kyle Kirsch and Greg Bush) and a pair of TD runs and 128 yards rushing from Joe Rizzo.  The Picker defense allowed the Bobcats to pick up just 5 first downs.  Harbor Creek’s 24-21 win over incredibly improved Mercyhurst Prep was a showcase performance for one of the Top Five all-around football playing athletes in District 10.  Four year starter Stephen Blose is not big in stature, but he is a bonafide Division 1 prospect as a defensive back, kick/punt returner, and place kicker.  He runs, throws, catches, kicks, punts, tackles, causes fumbles, picks off passes, and blocks downfield better than many college players.  He made the All-PFN team a year ago and should be in line for a repeat selection this season.  Against the Lakers on Friday, Blose rushed for 247 yards and scored all 24 of Harbor Creek’s points on three short TD runs, 3 PAT kicks, and a 40-yard FG that ended up being the margin of victory in a game that kept the Huskies still in the thick of the race for the second playoff spot from Region 4.  Fort LeBoeuf hung on for a 35-34 win over Maplewood.  This season has been disappointing to say the least in Waterford. The Bison narrowly avoided becoming the first team since 2002 to lose to Maplewood when the Tigers went for a late 2-point conversion and the win only to be stopped short.  LeBoeuf’s Steve Weryha rushed for 201 yards to make the PFN Stat Star list.

Class AA Week 5 Key Games:  In the South, it’s just like old times---the Sharon Tigers and the Wilmington Greyhounds meet in New Wilmington and the winner gains an inside track to the Region 3 crown.  Grove City travels to Hickory.  GC must win that one or they are likely to miss a chance to defend their D10AA crown.   In the North, Northwestern travels to Mercyhurst Prep and Harbor Creek hosts Seneca in must win games for all of those teams who still harbor postseason dreams.

Class AAA Summary:  Two-time defending D10AAA champion Strong Vincent belted Erie East, 55-20.   The winless Warriors actually grabbed an early 7-0 lead before powerful SV exploded for 28 points in the first quarter and three more TDs in the second to take a 49-7 halftime lead.  Coach Tom Cacchione’s unbeaten Colonels went with the reserves in the second half and are still looking to crack PFN’s Top Ten. General McLane literally ran over Warren, 41-21.    The unbeaten and PFN #10-ranked Lancers fell behind 7-0 very early before exploding for 6 straight TDs.  GM rolled up 425 yards in total offense and every single yard came on the ground.   Meadville upended Corry, 7-6.  It was the Bulldog’s first win and an enormously painful loss for the Beavers’ and their playoff hopes.  Meadville trailed 6-0 at the half, but got the winning points on a 10-yard TD pass from Rob Jensen to Ben Kittka and Mike McGinnity’s PAT kick in the 3^rd quarter.  Franklin shutout Titusville, 14-0, thanks to a pair of 1^st quarter TDs and a ferocious defensive effort that held the Rockets to 2 first downs and 35 total yards of offense.  D10AAAA Erie Central beat Oil City, 7-0, in a cross-regional game when Mike Cooley scooted 8 yards for a 3^rd quarter TD.

Class AAA Week 5 Key Game:  In what may very well be the game of the year in D10 (any class), state-caliber powers Strong Vincent and General McLane collide in front of thousands of fans and a bunch of college scouts at Edinboro in what looks like a preview of the D10AAA title game in November.

Class AAAA Summary:    McDowell knocked off Cathedral Prep, 27-21, when Anthony Weaver bolted 8 yards for a TD in overtime.  Weaver paced McDowell’s offense with 178 yards rushing and another TD from 34 yards out.  McDowell’s Aaron Fitzpatrick made the PFN Stat Star list when he raced 64 with an INT for a TD.  Expect Round 2 between these two in November when the D10AAAA title is on the line.

Class AAAA Week 5 Key Game:  Cathedral Prep travels to Rochester (NY) Aquinas.