HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

SHARPSVILLE -- There's something to be said for being in big games. And the simple fact is over the last five years the Sharpsville Blue Devils have been in plenty, while the West Middlesex Big Reds haven't.

And while it might not have been the overriding factor in Sharpsville's 12-0 victory over West Middlesex Friday night before a standing-room-only McCracken Field crowd, that experience certainly didn't hurt the Blue Devils.

"What people don't understand is five years ago we were in their same situation," said Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli. "You have to win first to get the feeling. At least they're in the big game. ... Yes it was an advantage for us being in the program, being in these big games and understanding what it's all about."

What also was an advantage for the Blue Devils, who were missing their emotional leader Ron Haywood (Grade 2 concussion), was a smothering defense that limited the Big Reds (0-1, 7-1) to 51 yards and four first downs while extending West Middlesex's scoreless streak against Sharpsville to 19 quarters. The Big Reds last scored in the first quarter of a 34-6 loss in 1996.

"They were just all over the place," Big Reds coach Rick Resatar said of the Sharpsville defense, before facetiously adding. "I tried to check with my (assistant coaches) up in the press box to see if they were playing with more than 11 guys. They did a real good job."

As did the West Middlesex defense, which proved equal to the task for a good portion of the game, holding Sharpsville to 99 yards, six first downs and a pair of Ray Rotell field goals (28 and 29 yards) through three quarters before the Blue Devils finally got on track in the fourth, finishing with 168 yards and 15 first downs. Included in that fourth-quarter barrage was a 3-yard dive at the 7:34 mark by Sharpsville quarterback Bill Stiger that closed the scoring.

"I give them all the credit; they did everthing they had to do to win the game. They played very hard," Piccirilli said of the Big Reds. "I give Coach Resatar a lot of credit for what he's done."

The Blue Devils (1-1, 5-2), who kept their playoffs hope alive in what was a must-win situation, also extended their winning streak over West Middlesex to seven games while improving their series advantage to 18-8-1.

The Big Reds haven't been eliminated from post-season contention yet, as they must face first-place Kennedy Christian (1-0, 7-1) next Friday.

A win would force a three-way tie, leaving the selection process to a tiebreaker system.

"For us to be where we're at with our record from where we were at the beginning of the season, I would have told you you're crazy," Piccirilli said of his team that features only four seniors. "But I'm as happy with this team as I've been with any the past four years."

West Middlesex's offensive whizzes, tailback Chad Fette, quarterback Jake Buzard and wideouts Rob Long and Jeremy Baker -- all among the county leaders in their respective categories -- were completely shut down.

Fette, who entered the game as the area's second-leading rusher with 1,111 yards, was limited to eight yards on 12 carries; Buzard, the area's top statistical signal-caller, with 972 yards on 75-of-114 passing, finished 4 of 13 for 38 yards; while Long and Baker, who had combined for 53 receptions and 659 yards as the area's top two receivers, could muster only three catches for 25 yards.

"Defensively, our guys flew to the ball like they have in the past," Piccirilli said. "We surrounded both Fette and (Buzard), so everything worked out well. Our schedule being tougher than theirs also worked to our advantage. And this was probably the first time they've seen somebody as quick as us."

Sharpsville's running backs, Randy Veccia, filling in for the injured Haywood, and Eric Major, came alive in the second half after being virtually shutout in the first two quarters. After being held to 32 yards on his first 17 carries, Veccia managed to finish with 84 yards on 25 carries. Major, held to three yards on three first-half carries, finished with 61 yards on nine carries, including a 40-yard third-quarter scamper that set up Rotell's second field goal. In fact, Major's 40-yard run was 14 yards more than both teams had combined for up to that point.

Sharpsville made things interesting in the first half with a trio of interceptions that gave the Blue Devils possession at the West Middlesex 17-, 30- and 13-yard lines, respectively, but the Big Reds defense allowed only a Rotell field goal.

"We did a great job of preparing for them," Resatar said. We knew what to do defensively. It's just that we were not better than they were tonight. You can only ask so much out of a defensive squad."

Notes: Sharpsville's interceptions, all of which came on tipped passes, were made by Veccia, Stiger and Rotell. ... West Middlesex last beat Sharpsville in 1994 by scores of 25-14 and 29-6, the former snapping a 28-game losing streak. From 1990-95, the three Class A schools in Mercer County played each other twice. ... After losing 34-6 to the Blue Devils in 1996, West Middlesex has been blanked by scores of 47-0, 38-0, 42-0 and this year's 12-0 final.

Sharon shakes, rattles and rolls past 'Hounds

Perhaps it was appropos that the Vocal Group Hall of Fame celebrated its induction ceremony with an open-air concert on Friday night. Because just a couple miles away, there was some hip-swinging, pelvic-contorting, whole lotta shakin' goin' on at Tiger Stadium, the likes of which hadn't been seen since Elvis ruled as Rock 'n roll's king.

Carmone Parchman, limited to 20 yards on his first eight carries, exploded for a game-breaking 76-yard scoring sprint just a scant second prior to intermission, highlighting the Sharon High football team's 16-0 win over Wilmington.

"That's all he needs, is a little crack,'' ruefully acknowledged Wilmington head coach Terry Verrelli, regarding Parchman, who turned in a 21-carry, 150-yard performance and who has accumulated more than 3,000 yards rushing in the last season-and-a-half.

"I told him when he came out in the first quarter,'' related Sharon mentor Jim Wildman (194-77-6). " 'Remember Carmone, we've had a lot of great tailbacks here, and the one characteristic that they've had is they're patient. Just be patient and be positive with your offensive line. You know something's gonna break, so just keep working.' And it happened.''

In a game that featured great defense from both squads -- there was only 311 total yards, combined -- the Tigers parlayed Parchman's run and quarterback Mike Schneider's 29-yard sprint into the Mercer County Athletic Conference interclassification victory.

Sharon (5-0, 7-1) amassed only 194 yards, as Schneider turned in a 3-for-8 passing performance that netted only 26 yards, and he was intercepted once and sacked on three occasions. Conversely, Wilmington (3-1, 7-1) was limited to 64 yards rushing -- the Greyhounds' ground game entered the contest with an area-best 1,955 rushing yards -- and quarterback Matt Coad was pressured into 1-for-8 passing and, like Schneider, was intercepted once and sacked three times.

"I think it was a great defensive effort on both sides,'' observed Verrelli (150-82-3). "We knew they were as good defensively as they are offensively, and we knew it was gonna be difficult to move the ball, and we had to stop them. And we did a good job, other than a few minor breakdowns -- or major, I guess.''

Schneider shattered a scoreless stalemate with 3:30 remaining in the first half when, on a second-and-1 play, he attempted to sneak ahead for a drive-sustaining first down and instead continued, head bowed and legs churning, 29 yards for a shocking score.

Then after coercing the second of Craig Mackaness' seven punts, Sharon regained possession with 19 seconds remaining until intermission, but was set back five yards to its own 24-yard line for illegal procedure on first down.

However Parchman, after taking Schneider's handoff, changed direction three times -- cutting back diagonally across the field after initially juking Chad Harper, then doing likewise to Jon Hall at the sideline -- and sprinting untouched to the end zone.

In lieu of placekicker Jim Morocco -- sidelined by a Thursday-night practice sprained ankle -- the Tigers went for two on both occasions, with Schneider running in the first, then tossing to James Barnett following the second score.

But defense was on the minds of most.

"That's what we were worried about coming in,'' acknowledged Sharon defensive coordinator Mike Donato.

"We thought, running the ball, they were a very good football team. So, quite honestly, to shut them down and get the shutout, we're extremely happy.

"I told the (Sharon) kids that (the Greyhounds) were a big-play offense, and I that I didn't believe that they could drive the ball all the way down the field on us. Hopefully, I thought maybe they'd get impatient if we got ahead of them. That's what we were hoping for, and that's, pretty much, what happened.

"I think our kids, really, were playing for a little bit of pride,'' Donato emphasize, explaining, "They were a little bit tired of hearing 'Hammer this and hammer that,' and I think they wanted to put the 'hammer' on, and I think they did.''

In his post-game remarks, Wildman told his Tigers, " ... the sacrifices are great, but the rewards are greater,'' and he related, "It was my job to coach coaches this week and I said, 'Lean on your leaders, pay attention to detail, practice the game plan,' and these guys did it. ... My hat is off to my coaches and to a group of unselfish players here tonight.

"You've got a lot of God-given talent on this team and a lot of unselfishness tonight, and we did what we had to do to beat a good football team,'' Wildman added, concluding,

"We got used to reading about the 'Hounds and the 'Hammer and all that stuff, and I kind of think our kids took it to heart and wanted to prove tonight that, maybe, we had a pretty good defensive football team, too.''

Verrelli said his club, ultimately, could benefit from the loss.

"We're gonna go back to work. We've got the playoffs coming up and we just feel that this is a great preparation for what you're going to see in the playoffs -- you know, 'Are you mentally ready to play the game?' so it was a very good game for us this time of year.

"We needed to find out if these kids could hang in there with (a team with speed), and I honestly believe we proved that,'' Verrelli said of his 'Hounds. "This is a great team -- I don't know if people realize exactly how good Sharon is -- but I'm real proud of how (the 'Hounds) played.''

Notes: Barnett recorded back-to-back sacks and Kevin Harris one for the Tigers, while Fromm intercepted a pass. Jason Lane registered a pair of sacks and Harper one for Wilmington, while Whiting pilfered a pass.

Trojans remain perfect

The Greenville Trojans of Coach Bob Stone rapped Oil City, 42-7, to up their season mark to 7-0.

Hickory snapped a three-game losing streak and kept Mercer winless and scoreless with a 43-0 romp. Farrell ripped Neshannock, 46-0, behind a 323-yard rushing performance by Davis.

Other local winners were Kennedy Christian, Reynolds and Hubbard.

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