District 10   Week 7 Summary

 by Todd Warner

As this second season since District 10 implemented a massive regional realignment based on enrollment classification and geographic location winds towards its conclusion, it appears at least to me that realignment has been a very successful venture.  The objectives of putting all teams on the most competitive playing field possible and of having teams "win their way" into the playoffs have for the most part been achieved.  If and when there is a "tie" for a regional title, there really is no tie because a head-to-head result determines who gets the automatic postseason berth accorded the region champion.  In Classes A and AA, my assumption is that the top two teams in each region will compete in the postseason; and that the top team in the north will open against the number two team from the south and vice versa.  In AAA, the Top 4 (of 9 teams) should make the postseason.  However, given the scrambled middle of the standings right now and after a quick look at the remaining schedules of several teams who are still in contention; there could be some really tense selection criteria applied to figure out who gets the 3^rd and 4^th spots. Class AAAA is typically McDowell and Cathedral Prep.  But this season could have a new twist as D9 has just one AAAA team, DuBois.  The Beavers are strong this year and own an impressive win in Erie over McDowell a few weeks ago.  DuBois will compete with the D10AAAA teams for a trip to the PIAA playoffs.

Given the above, congratulations are in order for four regional champions that clinched automatic trips to the postseason in Week 7.  All three remaining undefeated (7-0) teams in D10----Fairview Tigers (Class A Region 2); Wilmington Greyhounds (Class AA Region 3); and General McLane Lancers (Class AAA Region 5) clinched titles on Friday night.  Also, the Girard Yellowjackets (Class AA Region 4) won their sixth straight game and claimed a region crown in the process.

Class A Summary:   In the south, Region 1 Champion Kennedy Catholic leveled Linesville, 33-14, to cap a perfect season in region play.  KC got two rushing TDs each from Lee Plotts and George Kovac as Plotts ground out 196 yards and George picked up 117.  The Eagles rolled out to a 20-0 half time lead before Linesville rallied to cut the gap to 20-14 after three quarters.  KC re-established control in the final period as Plotts and Kovac each scored to ice the game.  In the biggest game of the week in the south, Sharpsville whipped West Middlesex, 32-7, and all but guaranteed the reigning D10A champs a trip to the playoffs and a chance to defend their title.  The rugged Blue Devil defense stopped the top passing attack in Region 1 cold by limiting WM to just one pass completion in 11 attempts for 19 yards.  Sharpsville picked off two Kolt Hoffman passes and Blue Devil Ian Brown made the Stat Star list by returning one of the INTs 20 yards for a TD.  Sharpsville also got a pair of short TD runs by Aaron Reddix; while QB P.J. O'Connor ran 25 yards for the game's opening score and then connected on a 62-yard scoring pass with Jarryd Summers late in the 2^nd quarter that gave Sharpsville a 19-7 lead at the intermission.  In an emotional game following the untimely death of their much-loved assistant Coach Bud Wehrer, Conneaut Lake edged Cochranton, 13-10.  In an inter-district game, Lakeview crushed winless D9A Union-Rimersburg, 53-8. Jon Hogue and Trev Stoops each scored three TDs for the Sailors.  Union-Rimersburg has now lost 28 straight games.  In the north, a packed house at Keck Field watched Fairview roll over Iroquois, 28-7, to claim their second straight Region 2 title and stake yet another claim for a spot in PFN's coveted Top Ten.  Coach Jerry Lightner's unbeaten Tigers got a terrific 40-carry, 251-yard, 3-TD rushing Stat Star performance from returning All-PFN RB Ty Perry in the victory.  Perry passed the 1,000-yard mark this season with his totals.  But this title clincher was a total team performance.  Several members of Fairview's heralded sophomore class made some big contributions in the game as 10^th grader Justin Haney returned the opening kickoff 55 yards to set up Fairview's first possession at the Iroquois-43.  Four carries by Perry put the ball in the end zone little more than a minute into the game.  Iroquois' defense, led by returning All-PFN LB Steve Barringer who was in on 18 tackles, kept Fairview scoreless for the remainder of the first half and the Braves tied the game on Jarryd Pearson's 56-yard burst up the middle late in the 2^nd quarter.  But, Fairview's defense and special teams put on a clinic after the intermission.  A swarming defense led by senior Michael Baer and sophomores Pat Michael and Matthew Sundberg kept Iroquois from recording a single first down in the second half.  Baer grabbed a fumble and recorded a pair of sacks on Iroquois's standout QB Dan Barringer.  Tyler Sargent's interception early in the 3^rd quarter gave Fairview the ball on the Iroquis-22 and a few plays later, Perry scooted in from 17 yards out for the TD that gave Fairview the lead for good.  Minutes after that score, Fairview's Alex Wagner broke clean up the middle and blocked an Iroquois punt.  Wagner covered the loose ball on the Iroquois-11 and three plays later, QB Kevin Stephenson looked to his left and laid a perfect 8-yard TD strike to WR Chris Delavern.  It was Delavern's 7^th TD reception of the year.  Fairview junior Zane Meeder returned a punt 29 yards to set up the final Tiger scoring drive capped by an 11-yard Perry TD run.  Meeder also was a perfect 4-for-4 on his PAT kicks and made a great over the shoulder interception near midfield that wiped out Iroquois' last chance to get back in the game. Dominating the second half, Cambridge Springs upended Union City, 21-12.  This was a huge win for the now 6-1 Blue Devils as they broke free from a 6-6 half time deadlock and remained very much alive in the hunt for a playoff spot.  Bullish RB Josh Hobson, who went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season in the game, caught a 30-yard TD pass from Clay Acker in the first quarter and RB A.J. Tapper scored both CS TDs in the second half on short runs.  The Blue Devil defense limited Union City to just 84 yards rushing and the Bears' two TDs were scored on short runs by Steve Miller and Tommy Dodd.   Snapping a five-game losing streak and picking up their first Region 2 win of the season, Saegertown slipped past Youngsville, 14-12.  This score did not coincide at all with the final game statistics as Youngsville actually outgained the Panthers by more than a 2-to-1 margin in total yardage.  Saegertown had a 7-6 lead at half time thanks to Brandon Crum's 17-yard TD pass to Dave Haskins and Alex Mesley' PAT kick.  The Panther's game-winning score came via PFN Stat Star Kyle Wilson who returned a 3^rd quarter INT 85 yards for a TD.  Youngsville cut the deficit to 14-12 on Casey Rickerson's 8-yard TD run.  But the Eagles dropped their 5^th straight game after starting out 2-0 when they failed to pick up the 2-point conversion.  Eisenhower romped past Conneaut Valley, 41-0, behind two rushing TDs and 183-yard effort from Jameson Curtis; who also made the PFN Stat Star list when he returned an INT 14 yards for a TD.

Class A Week 7 Key Games:  There are three big games for different reasons this week in D10A. First, in the south, Region 1 Champion Kennedy Catholic plays D9A powerhouse Clarion Area in a game that very well could be a preview of a PIAA playoff game on Thanksgiving weekend.  Second, in the north, Iroquois host Cambridge Springs in game that should decide who gets the 4^th and final playoff spot.  Third, Fairview has an all-time record of 13-0 in Region 2 games.  The Tigers will be looking to wrap up a second straight perfect season in Region 2 play when Youngsville comes to town.

Class A Unofficial Playoff Projections:  Expect Fairview to play Sharpsville in one semi final game and Kennedy Catholic to play the winner of this week's Iroquois/Cambridge Springs game in the other half the bracket.

Class AA Summary:  Wilmington knocked off Reynolds, 16-7, and clinched the Region 3 title in the process.  The scrappy Greyhounds stayed perfect on the year behind QB Jake Reiber's outstanding 7-for-8 passing, 145-yard, 2-TD passing performance and a great total team effort from their relatively small, but very quick and physical defense. Wilmington jumped out to an early 10-0 lead and Reynolds was unable to recover.  Reiber hit Dave Bruno with a 23-yard TD pass to open the scoring and PK Nick Riggall booted the PAT.  A few minutes later, Riggall hit a 24-yard field goal.  Reynolds opened the second half with their only scoring drive of the night and consumed half of the 3^rd quarter in doing so.  But two possessions later, the Raiders' best opportunity to take the lead fizzled when they lost a fumble deep in Wilmington territory early in the 4^th period.  The Greyhounds made Reynolds pay quickly.  Taking the snap at his own 29, Reiber shook free under heavy pressure and hit Jeremy Beatty deep downfield with the 71-yard scoring pass that gave the Hounds a 9-point lead that was more than secure in the hands of their fired up defense.  With new found momentum after an 0-4 start and picking up their 3^rd straight win, Slippery Rock shocked Hickory, 17-14.  Rocket RB Dave Bauer picked up 151 tough yards on 21 carries and his 5-yard TD jaunt late in the 3^rd quarter allowed the Rock to overcome a 14-10 deficit and hang on for a stunning win that all but guaranteed Hickory's elimination from postseason contention.  The lead changed hands several times as SR got a 5-yard Ben Collins TD run to take a 7-0 lead, but Hornet Josh Peagler tied it with a 49-yard scoring run later in the 1^st quarter.  The lone score in the 2^nd quarter eventually proved to be the difference in the game as Slippery Rock PK Craig Bicehouse boomed a 37-yard field goal that put the Rockets up 10-7 at the half.  Hickory's last lead of the game came in the 3^rd period when Dave Smith bolted 15 yards for a TD.  The news of both Reynolds and Hickory being knocked off on Friday had to be very well-received by fans of Coach Bob Fromm's Sharon Tigers.  Couple with those key results, Sharon's 37-12 rout of Greenville means that the all-time winningest program in D10 history should claim a playoff spot if they can beat defending D10AA champ Grove City on the road this week.  The Tigers roared back from an early 3-0 deficit to take a commanding 23-3 lead at the half.  QB Mike Snyderwine bolted 62 yards for a 1^st quarter TD that gave the Tigers a lead that they would never relinquish.  Sharon's A.J. Wilson had a great game rushing for two TDs and making the PFN Stat Star list with a 39-yard INT return for a TD in the 2^nd quarter.  Teammate Justin White made the same list when he raced 25 yards for a TD with a 4^th quarter INT.  Sharon dominated the stats with a 307 to 110 advantage in total yardage and the Tigers played turnover-free football, too.  Last year, many experts across the Commonwealth wrote the storied Sharon High program off for good after an extremely rare one win season.  But, the diehard fans who gather at Bianco Brothers Barbershop throughout the week and then head to Tiger Stadium on Friday nights kept up the faithful and loyal support of their young coach and a program that has now produced 566 wins in school history.  The Tiger fanatics kept telling me that this year's squad was young, but talented. So now if Sharon can pick up a win on Friday they should return to what Tiger fans believe in their hearts is their customary place in the D10 playoffs.  Grove City got past Mercer, 14-7.  The Eagles never trailed in the sloppily played game as the two teams put the ball on the ground more a dozen combined times.  GC star Jesse Alfreno tossed a 24-yard TD pass to Drew Bestwick in the 2^nd period and Chris Clark rambled 40 yards for a TD as time expired in the 3^rd period to give GC a 14-0 lead.  Mercer scored midway through the final period and saw a chance to tie the game and force overtime or win it in regulation vanish when they lost a fumble at the GC-15 in the closing minutes.  Just a little over 10 months since they played Lansdale Catholic for the PIAA Championship in Hershey, Grove City's biggest remaining goal this season and sole motivation this week is to knock Sharon out of a playoff spot on Friday.  Girard methodically chewed up Fort LeBoeuf, 27-0, to win the Region 4 title.  The always-powerful, but never-fancy Yellowjackets got a pair of short rushing TDs from lightning back Derrick Johnson (who rushed for 144 yards). Rick Ayers scored on a one yard plunge and A.J. Dohanic's lone carry of the game resulted in a 32-yard TD jaunt.  Girard's swarming, physical defense limited LeBoeuf to just 8 first downs and 122 yards on the ground in recording the playoff-clinching shutout.  North East stopped Harbor Creek, 9-7.  The Pickers win coupled with Northwestern's loss to Seneca put North East in solid shape to return to the D10 playoffs.  One week after Harbor Creek's all-stater Stephen Blose shattered the Pennsylvania single game rushing record by gaining 488 yards, he was shackled by the North East defense and held to 85 yards on 20 attempts.  North East led 6-0 at the half on Joe Rizzo's short TD run and expanded their lead to 9-0 on Troy Budziszewski's 24-yard FG.  Harbor Creek pulled to within 9-7 in the 3^rd quarter when Josh NcAnulty hit Josh Voelker with a 32-yard scoring pass and Blose added the PAT.  There was no scoring in the final period and Harbor Creek's last shot to win the game and return to the playoffs disappeared when Blose's long field goal attempt in the waning seconds just missed its mark.  Seneca battered Northwestern, 31-7, and the Bobcats kept their hopes to make the playoffs for the first time ever alive for at least another week.  Seneca QB Jim Stalford had a terrific PFN Stat Star game as he connected on 12 of 18 passes for 212 yards and 3 TDs.  WR Dan Goodman caught two of the scoring strikes (47 and 31 yards); while huge TE Shawn Giewont pulled in a TD toss from 10 yards out.  Goodman became a PFN Stat Star when his five catches added up to 129 yards.  Seneca got a pair of short 4^th quarter TD runs from Tim Griffin.  Northwestern played without sensational junior QB/DB/PK/Punter/

Specialist Cody Cipalla who was lost for the season in week 6.   Giewont led a ferocious Seneca defense which held the Wildcats to just 82 total yards and 5 first downs.  Mercyhurst Prep drubbed winless Maplewood, 57-0.  Mercyhurst Prep RB Buddy O'Leary made the Stat Star list before half time with 5 rushing TDs.  Mercyhurst Prep also got two TDs from Nick Arrigo and one from Jayson Nickson.  The Lakers outgained Maplewood by a 584 to 106 margin in handing the Tigers their 27^th straight loss.

Class AA Week 7 Key Games:    If you plan on getting your hair cut at Bianco's this Friday, get there early. The shop will probably be closing by mid-afternoon so the Sharon Tigers' most ferociously loyal fans can get on the road early to Grove City.  If the Tigers win at GC, they should get the second playoff spot from Region 3 in a decision that is likely to be the result of Sharon's week 6 win over then unbeaten Reynolds.  (Head-to-Head result should decide who gets in and who doesn't in the event of a tie).  If Grove City spoils the Tigers' postseason dreams, it then falls upon Reynolds to beat winless backyard rival Greenville to grab a playoff spot.  In the north, every game but one (Mercyhurst Prep vs. Fort LeBoeuf) could still have an impact on the Region 4 playoff race.

Class AA Unofficial Playoff Projections:  Look for Wilmington to face one of three northern teams in the semi finals.  Those candidates are North East, Northwestern, and Seneca.  A quick review of the head-to-head results, overall records, and remaining schedules indicates that the most likely match up will be Wilmington versus North East.  In the other half the bracket, look for a Girard versus Sharon rematch of the season opener (which Sharon won, 34-16).  If the Tigers fall to Grove City, it will be Girard versus Reynolds in the semis.

Class AAA Summary:   Mighty General McLane cruised past Corry, 39-6, to remain unbeaten and clinch the top spot in Region 5.  The powerful Lancers led 21-6 at the half and completely shutdown Corry in the second half.  McLane's deep arsenal of scoring weapons again showed how dangerous GM's offense is as Bob Stauffer scored on TD runs of 39 and 70 yards.  QB Ben Swank darted 13 yards for a score and also connected on a 40-yard scoring strike to Kelley Ponsol; while Drew Astorino (26 yards) and Brad Callan  (5yards) also got in the end zone for GM.  Corry's lone points came in the second quarter when Brenden Carney found Will McCray on a 14-yard TD pass.  McLane's ferocious defense led by LB Dan Skelton and 290-pound Division I recruit lineman Rob Stoner limited the Beavers to 105 yards on the ground.  Strong Vincent survived Titusville, 20-14.  Midway through the 3^rd period at Titusville, the Rockets held a shocking 14-0 lead over the Colonels and appeared poised to pull off the biggest upset of the year in D10.  But, SV came back as Donte Harden's 15-yard TD run in the 3^rd period cut the gap to 14-7.  The Colonels then scored twice in the final stanza to survive the Rockets' upset bid.  QB Maurice Williams, who is likely to be a highly recruited prospect next season, hit WR Gary Williams with a game-tying 56-yard TD pass and then Harden bulled in from a yard out with the score that won it for the Colonels.  Harden picked up 190 yards rushing in the game.  Franklin demolished Oil City, 46-0, as QB Nick Wested ran one yard for a score and passed for a pair of TDs to Nate Byham (45 yards) and Dave Williams (55 yards).  RB Sean Suanders picked up 130 yards on the ground and scored 16 points on TD runs of 1 and 14 yards and a 2-point conversion run.  Franklin's defense held the Oilers to 71 yards on the ground and grabbed four turnovers to secure the shutout.  With his team trailing 26-24 and riding a 15-losing streak, Willie Baker made the PFN Stat Star list by returning a 4^th quarter kickoff 80 yards for a TD that gave Erie East a 30-26 win over Meadville and snapped the Warriors' long run of futility.  Meadville's Nick Fedorka made the Stat Star list in the 3^rd quarter by scoring on a 74-yard KO return that followed East QB Sergio Elverton's 27-yard scoring toss to Daryl Lofton.  In an inter-region game, AAAA McDowell beat Warren, 33-7, to snap a two-game losing streak.  The heavily favored Trojans only led this game 12-7 through three periods as their two first half scores both came via Connor Kimball to Brian Ras TD passes (22 and 32 yards).  Warren's Ben Paul ran 42 yards for the Dragons' lone TD.  McDowell RB Anthony Weaver scored in the 4^th period on runs of 5 and 31 yards and Ben Griffith added a 46-yard TD jaunt to close the scoring.

Class AAA Week 7 Key Games:   General McLane hosts AAAA power Cathedral Prep in an inter-region game that fans have anticipated since last season.  All four region clashes could have some impact on the playoff posture (see standings and schedule chart below).

Class AAA Unofficial Playoff Projections:  General McLane and Strong Vincent are in already.  Four teams (Corry, Franklin, Titusville, and Warren) are still in contention for the final two spots; which might not be decided until week 9 game results are in.

Class AAAA Summary:     Cathedral Prep trounced Erie Central, 41-3, behind a 27-point explosion in a span of just a few minutes late in the 3^rd quarter.  Central actually had an early 3-0 lead on a 30-yard FG by Jim Nosant.  Ryan Causgrove and Jon Wentz each scored twice for Prep in the 3^rd quarter outburst that put the game away.