By Lynn Saternow

Herald Sports Editor

CLARION — They say that defense wins playoff games. That certainly bodes well for the Farrell High Steelers.

The defense stood tall again in leading Farrell to a 31-0 win over District 9 champion Cameron County Friday night at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium.

The Steelers completely shut down the Red Raiders offense in yielding just 59 yards with most coming late in the game against the second-team defense.

“Our defense has really stepped up in the playoffs,” said Farrell coach Jarrett Samuels about the unit that has allowed only one TD in four playoff starts. “They’ve been carrying us. If we’re going to win the (state) championship the defense is the key.”

For the Raiders it must have seemed like Farrell had 20 players on defense since there were so many in the Cameron backfield every play. Ron Jackson, Ramon West, Dan Odem, Jamar Whitman, Donté Pinkins and Corey Talley were constantly breaking through the Raiders front line. Throw in the solid play of defenders James Strozier, Robert Trudo, Kevin Brodie, Preston Jefferson and others and it was no contest.

The victory was the 12th in a row for Farrrell after two season-opening losses. But this win was a little different than the others where Farrell dominated with a strong ground game. This time the offense only produced 38 yards rushing, but the aerial game amounted to 166 yards and 3 touchdowns.

“We need to get our running game going again,” said Samuels, whose team will take on District 7 champion Clairton next weekend at a site and time to be announced. “We couldn’t get our run game going so we had to go to the pass.”

Cameron County came out intending to stop the run, putting 9 men in the box. While the Red Raiders managed to halt Farrell’s first drive, it didn’t take the Steelers long to learn how to move the ball. On the next possession, Farrell zoomed 49 yards in only five plays to score on a 7-yard pass from Dan Odem to Norman Blue. Big plays on the drive were 16- and 17-yard runs by Terrell Jackson and a 20-yard connection from Odem to Blue. Ramon West kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 2:39 remaining in the opening stanza.

The entire second quarter was a defensive standoff until less than 2 minutes remaining when Farrell took over at the Cameron County 36 after a nice punt return by Dion Eilam. Eilam then took the ball on an end around and passed to quarterback Odem for a 16-yard gain. A short time later, Odem found Eilam for 16 yards to the CC 2. Then Odem carried in for a score. The point-after was blocked, but Farrell led 13-0 with 35 seconds remaining before intermission.

The Steelers controlled all aspects in the half. While they didn’t chalk up their usual rushing totals, netting only 28 yards, they racked up 82 through the air. The Raiders couldn’t move the ball at all and totaled only 9 yards for the half. Their lone first down came on a roughing-the-kicker penalty when Farrell went for a punt block.

The second half got off to a fast start for Farrell as Eilam pulled in the opening kickoff, cut to the right sideline and sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown behind a wall of blockers. A pass for points after failed.

“It was electrifying,” said Samuels. “And we weren’t even setting up for a runback. We had the good hands team out there, expecting an onside kick.”