Sharon vs. Farrell tonight as 2008 football season kicks off

August 28, 2008 09:13 pm

— 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.
Despite the Blue Devils’ dearth of depth they still have one of the area’s best athletes in Josh Taylor, who could have several close encounters with stinging Hornets’ linebacker Joey Manilla.
According to available Herald archives, the last time the two programs met Sharpsville secured a 19-7 win in 2001.
The game will be broadcast on The River (WLLF, 96.7 FM).
Greenville at North East
Trojans’ taskmaster Brian Herrick has to sort out his quarterback situation following last season’s 7-win, D-10 playoff berth that ended in an opening-round loss to Fairview. But prepping for the potentially powerful ’Pickers will be a chore.
According to The Meadville Tribune, 15th-year head coach Matt Shesman returns signal-caller Curtis Bailey (943 yards passing, 9 TDs) and running backs Jeff Carniewski and Louis Neff (who combined for 1,300-plus yards and 13 TDs) from a 7-4 squad.
Herrick has to choose from a trio of newcomers under center, two of whom are freshmen, though he has backs R.J. and Taylor Malson and athletic wide-out Nate Houpt, as well as an enormous line, led by Cody Hogemiller, and a testy tight-end twosome in Dillon Sarcinella and Andy Bayer.
Central Tech at Grove City
As camp commenced, coach Jeff Bell’s Eagles were hoping to ease back into Class AAA action, but that’s not a given. Reportedly, starting signal-caller Mike Burk (foot) will not be returning before midseason, and other preseason injuries depleted Bell’s depth. However he does have speedster Dwayne Martin — equally dangerous as a runner or receiver — at his disposal.
Central Tech 2nd-year head coach Jason Beer bid adieu to only 4 seniors from last year’s 1-9 squad according to The Tribune, led by the “X-man,” quarterback Xavier Hollamon. Other contributors for the Falcons could be two-way performers Kaylon Mims, Davone Stoval, Damone Mathis and Demetrius Stevenson.
Mercer at Mercyhurst Prep
On paper, this is a rematch of last season’s D-10 A title tilt, but Lakers’ head coach Matt Morgan admitted to The Tribune, “this is probably the youngest team that I’ve had in my five years as head coach.”
Prep’s prodigious ground game graduated approximately 2,900 yards and 27 TDs, though quarterback Marshall Huntsman (731 yards passing, 8 TDs) will attempt to approach last season’s 13-win success that included the district crown.
Similarly, Mercer mentor Pat McClearn must make up for several standouts graduated from last year’s school single-season standard 11-win showing. Quarterback Andrew Erdos enjoys the protection provided by a veteran line that features a foursome (Ray Dominguez, Nick Nan, Nick Ream and Rich McCullough) ranging from 250 to 305 pounds.
Reynolds at Northwestern
These two teams combined for 1 win a year ago — that being Reynolds’ 35-6 midseason success — so a semblance of improvement is sought by both. Actually, 1st-year head coach Jerry Pacifico, a disciple of legendary Frank Amato, wants to restore Reynolds’ respectability with the Raiders’ running game. Two-hundred, twenty-five pound Cory Augustine anchors both sides of the line.
Similarly, 2nd-year Wildcats’ head coach Aaron Shaw said, in remarks to The Meadville Trib, he already has seen improvement from the Wildcats’ 1st (Conneaut Valley) to 2nd (Oil City) scrimmages.
Brentwood at Wilmington
Whether or not Wilmington will be able to approach last season’s success (13 wins, D-10 AA title, western regionals finals berth) will hinge on QB Shane Wagner, running back Derrick Burns, and a trio of tall targets in Dallas Hartman, Matt Wagner and Carson Sharbaugh, all of whom are in the 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-5 range.
Venerable veteran Terry Verrelli (218-101-3) enters his 30th season at the Hounds’ helm 5 wins shy of surpassing Greenville’s Bob Stone as the winningest prep grid coach in The Herald’s coverage area.
WPIAL Century Conference member Brentwood was ranked 9th in The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s preseason poll following a 10-2 overall, WPIAL semifinals season a year ago.
West Middlesex at Union
A step shy of the PIAA Class A commonwealth crown two years ago, West Middlesex mustered a 4-6 mark last season. However, the Big Reds will rely on a new wing-T offensive look, led by athletic Kyle Wimer at QB and running backs Kyle Allen and Mark Saylor.
Scotties’ skipper Stacy Robinson will rely on only two-dozen players, led by QB Mike Pelto (87 of 150, 1,218 yards, 11 TDs, 8 interceptions according to The New Castle News). Union utilizes a 4-3 defensive front. A year ago, after allowing 27-plus points per game through the season’s first two-thirds, the Scotties surrendered only 16 in winning 2 of their last 3 games, according to The News, ending 6-4 before being belted by Aliquippa (54-0) in the WPIAL 1st round.
Crestview at Brookfield
Crestview copped a 20-19 overtime win over Monroe Central in southern Ohio last week. Versatile back Corey Hill headlines a group of 9 returning lettermen from a 7-3 team for head coach Paul Cusick.
In losing to loaded Liberty (56-21), Brookfield boasted a trio of big-play scores from Mack O’Brien (87-yard kickoff return), Matt Palumbo (65-yard run from scrimmage) and a 31-yard pass play on which the pair collaborated.
Saturday
Neshannock at Kennedy Catholic, noon
Second-year KC coach Joe Kenneally can only hope improvement is on Butala Stadium’s horizon following last fall’s winless season. And if the likes of linemen Evan Mihlo and Jay Leipheimer and fullback Richard Ellebie can provide running room for tailback Marlon Davis, that’s possible, even probable.
Neshannock nose-dived to 2-7 last season and the Lancers left the WPIAL’s Tri-County North and joined the Big Seven Conference, one of the PIAA’s most powerful single-A alignments.
Leading the Lancers of coach Pat Cuba is quarterback Josh Brown (26 of 60 attempts, 342 yards, 4 TDs passing; 63 carries, 279 yards rushing, 2 TDs) according to The News. His top target is tight end Stephen Perrott (9 catches, 182 yards, 2 TDs a year ago).
Lakeview at Union City, 7 p.m.
Sailors’ skipper Dan York’s yeoman will be 320-pound two-way tackle Cory King, bound for the University of Pittsburgh. He’ll have plenty of poundage joining him along Lakeview’s line, and the beneficiary could be the latest in a long line of Lakeview 1,000-yard luggers (7 in the past 10 years) is Kyle Scott.
While York & Co. expressed disappointment in last year’s break-even 5-5 ledger, 3rd-year head coach Brian Patten’s Bears boast numerous returnees from a 1-win team, led by quarterback Eric Albrecht (1,130 yards passing plus 11 TDs and 273 yards rushing and 4 scores), and wide-out Brett Smith (20 catches, 483 yards, 24.2 yards/catch, 4 TDs, according to The Trib).

Herald sports writer Rob Malsom contributed research for this preview.

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