By Ed Farrell

Herald Assistant Sports Editor

While it may not be as brutal an opener as Alabama at Clemson or as ambitious as Youngstown State journeying to Columbus to take on Ohio State, there’s no more appropos manner with which Mercer Countians can kick off the scholastic football season than Sharon vs. Farrell.

The Tigers travel to Anthony J. Paulekas Stadium tonight at 7 to face Farrell for backyard bragging rights, a year-long claim to the Steel Bowl, and kick-start the 2008 season in the District 10 inter-regional affair.

Tonight’s other openers include Sharpsville at Hickory, Greenville at North East, Central Tech at Grove City, Mercer at Mercyhurst Prep, Reynolds at Northwestern, Brentwood at Wilmington, and across the Buckeye State border, Crestview at Brookfield. All begin at 7 p.m., while West Middlesex meanders to Union Twp., Lawrence County at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Kennedy Catholic welcomes Neshannock and Lakeview travels to Union City.

Sharon at Farrell

According to available Herald records, Sharon leads the all-time series 34-21-7. Sharon secured a 10-7 triumph at Tiger Stadium in the teams’ 2007 lidlifter, then the pair of proud programs procured postseason playoff berths in AA and A, respectively.

Seven Sharon successes took the Tigers of taskmaster Bob Fromm, where they lost in the D-10 tourney’s opening round to Harbor Creek. Farrell forged 9 wins for new head coach Jarrett Saumels and advanced to the semifinals before bowing to Mercyhurst Prep.

The Steelers suffered a trio of losses last season (Sharon, Mercer, Prep) by a total of 8 points; conversely, Sharon surrendered 140 points during its final 5 games (losing to Grove City, Wilmington, Harbor Creek).

Both programs’ traditionally tailback-oriented offenses now try to put potential game-breakers out in space by spreading the field — for example, Farrell’s run-pass dual-threat quarterback Danny Odem. However tonight’s tilt could be won at the point of attack, as both boast big, experienced lines, led by Leon Avery of Farrell and Sharon’s Cody Tolonie, both of whom top out at 300-plus pounds.

The game will be broadcast by Mark Slezak and Bob Greenburg on NewsTalk 790 (WPIC AM). And Sharon AD Paul Torr reported the game will be broadcast (tape-delay) on Fox 17/62 at 10 p.m.

Sharpsville at Hickory

Another pair of once vaunted Valley programs — both boast commonwealth crowns in recent memory (Hickory, ’89; Sharpsville, ’97) — which fell to 2- and 3-win seasons, respectively, a year ago.

Only 30 players (3 seniors) dot the Blue Devils’ roster, approximately half the size of Hickory’s. But 2nd-year Hornets’ headmaster Frank Antuono aspires to place his program on the same status of Sharpsville skipper Paul Piccirilli’s, whose teams have averaged 8-plus wins per season during his dozen years at the helm.