Published Saturday, Dec. 7, 1996
Steeler reign continues
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FARRELL HIGH REPEATS AS CLASS A King
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Steelers edge S. Columbia 2nd straight season
By Brad Isles
Herald Sports Writer
ALTOONA _ The critics can now rest, and so can Farrell coach Lou Falconi.
His Class A Steelers Friday afternoon earned a place in Pennsylvania's High school record book by becoming the only school other than Class AAA powerhouse Berwick to win two-consecutive state championships. Farrell accomplished that feat by beating Southern Columbia, 14-12, in front of 2,387 people at Altoona's Mansion Park Stadium.
It was a rematch of 1995's championship game, which the Steelers won 6-0, and to many it was a surprising win. The Tigers were the then-defending champs.
Farrell's Demarco Wilder hauls in a key interception. (David E. Dale/Herald)
``We didn't get enough credit for stopping them last year,'' said Farrell's Jason Kennedy. ``Everybody thought it was a big fluke, so we came in here and beat them up again.''
Many people didn't think the Steelers would even get the opportunity to defend their title, especially after an eighth-week loss to Rochester. In fact, that may have been extra motivation.
``We needed that loss,'' Chico Pinkins said. ``When we lost it was kind of a wake-up call, because we thought we were going to come in and blow them out.''
Anyway, the repeat win was a fitting end to a playoff run that began with an opening-game shutout to Duquesne, 14-0. The next three were decided by a total of seven points. Following the Duquesne game, Farrell beat South Fayette, 14-12 in overtime, beat Riverview in a shootout, 26-25, and came from a 10- 0 deficit to beat Moshannon Valley, 14-10.
``Those close games helped us out a lot,'' Pinkins said. ``We had to fight back to win.''
In a game predicted to be dominated by two strong running games, it turned out to be the opposite. Both teams passed effectively and each scored touchdowns through the air. But it also proved to be part of the Tigers' downfall.
Coming in, Southern Columbia (12-3) had rushed for more than 5,000 yards, averaging 360 yards per game. The Steelers' defense, which has asserted itself more than adequately since the end of the regular season, held them to 117 yards.
The Tigers were hampered by the absence of leading rusher Ricco Rosini who, coming into the game had over 1,800 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was cheering on his teammates from the sideline while leaning on crutches with a leg injury.
``I know how they hurt today without their big gun,'' Falconi said. ``Football's football and we certainly learned that the last few weeks with our injuries. I give them credit.''
Attempting to replace him was Mark Yurkiewicz, who led the Tigers with 52 yards on 11 carries, and Scott Bloom, himself a 1,200-yard rusher during the regular season. He had 51 yards on 15 attempts.
But with Rosini out, and getting nowhere on the ground, the Tigers tried to work a suspect Steelers' secondary by passing, completing 7-of-16 passes for 75 yards and one touchdown.
The biggest problem for the Tigers, however, was turnovers. They gave up the ball four times, including three interceptions.
A Southern Columbia fumble bounces past Steelers' James Pulliam (56). (David E. Dale/Herald)
``The turnovers definitely hurt us,'' said Southern Columbia coach Jim Roth. ``We had too many and they were critical in giving them opportunities.''
With just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter and Southern Columbia creeping to mid-field, Kennedy dropped back into coverage from his linebacker position and picked off Nick Slater's pass attempt and returned it to the 42.
Kennedy ran up the middle for four yards on first down, and quarterback Rennie Gash followed with a 9-yard scramble for a first down. Marino Harris and Kennedy combined for six yards the next two plays to make it third-and- four at the 23.
Gash then hit Pinkins on a swing pass to the right and he eluded three tacklers down the sideline for the first score of the game. Gash's extra point was blocked, but the Steelers were up, 6-0.
``That was a new play this week,'' Falconi said. ``The spread formation was new to us, but I figured we had to open it up to win. I think we caught them with that.''
Like the Tigers, Farrell too was missing a key player in its running attack. Fullback Keygen Bryant was out with an injured knee. Without his lead blocking the Steelers managed 115 yards on the ground, led by Kennedy's 67 yards on 17 carries.
In the air, Gash finished 3-of-6 for 113 yards and one score.
Southern Columbia came back to tie the game at 6-6 with a score mid-way through the second quarter.
On second-and-6 at Farrell's 25, Joe Murphy was stopped in the backfield by nose guard Jim Pulliam for a 1-yard loss. The next play Slater hit Matt Yancoskie for a 25-yard score. The extra point kick was wide right.
Farrell had a chance to regain the lead going into halftime after Louie Falconi hauled in a Gash pass for 59 yards before being tackled from behind at the 5. With two seconds to go, Gash lined up for a 22-yard field goal attempt. He took a direct snap on a fake and passed to a wide-open Willie Evans. But Evans slipped on the play and the ball fell incomplete.
Immediately before that sequence, Falconi caught a 47-yard pass from Gash for an apparent score, but a holding penalty negated the score.
The drive was set up when Pinkins picked up Farrell's second interception, grabbing a Slater pass before it went out of bounds. Demarco Wilder had the Steelers' other interception on the last play of the third quarter.
Before that play, another turnover, this time a fumble, hurt Southern Columbia.
Murphy got the call on a reverse, but couldn't hang onto the ball. He lost 18 yards on the play before Dante Newell recovered at the Tigers' 41.
``They were moving the ball nicely there, but that fumble cost them,'' coach Falconi said. ``That was a big turning point.''
On third-and-9, Gash hit Lamar Claiborne on a slant for a 31-yard gain. The next play Gash went right on an option, pitched to Kennedy and went into the end zone untouched. Gash, moments before hitting the turf, threw to Pinkins on the 2-point conversion to make the score 14-6 at the 6:13 mark.
``I thought Rennie played a great game today,'' Falconi said. ``He matured a lot over the year.''
Farrell's defense kept the Tigers at bay until the fourth quarter, when they took over at the Steelers' 39 after Gash fumbled away a snap.
On second down Yurkiewicz ran up the middle for an 8-yard gain and was facemasked by Claiborne to move the ball to the 13. Murphy ran right for 8, and Bloom followed with a 5-yard score.
Forced to go for a 2-point conversion to tie the game, Yurkiewicz tried to go off-tackle to the left but didn't make it back to the line of scrimmage as Harris tackled him in the backfield to preserve the lead with 8:13 left.
``I don't really feel frustrated,'' Roth said. ``This team came a long way from where it was in the middle of the season. They overcame a lot of adversity and almost pulled off a victory against a strong Farrell team.''
Farrell ate off six minutes of game clock on its next drive before stalling at mid-field. Falconi's punt pinned the Tigers at their own 12, and they didn't make it past the 25.
``I give them credit, they played us well but we came out on top,'' Kennedy said. ``It was a total team effort by us.''
The win gave Farrell High School its 18th state title, more than all other Mercer County schools combined. It has seven boys basketball titles, five girls volleyball titles, three wrestling titles, one girls track title, and now two football titles.
``I'm so happy for the kids and the community,'' Falconi said. ``This is something they can brag about.''
PIAA Class A Championship
SO. COLUMBIA 0 6 0 6 12
FARRELL 6 0 8 0 14
First Quarter
FARRELL _ Pinkins 23 pass from Gash (kick failed), 9:43
Second Quarter
SO. COLUMBIA_Yancoskie 25 pass from Slater (kick failed), 6:44
Third Quarter
FARRELL_Kennedy 9 run (Pinkins pass from Gash), 5:47
Fourth Quarter
SO. COLUMBIA_Bloom 5 run (run failed), 3:47
A_2,387
So. Farrell
First downs 12 8
Rushes-yards 38-148 39-126
Passing 75 113
Comp-Att-Int 7-16-3 3-6-0
Return Yards 29 25
Punts-Avg. 3-30.3 6-33.0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1
Penalties-Yards 7-56 8-66
Time of Possession 22:52 25:08
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING_Southern Columbia, Yurkiewicz 11-52, Bloom 15-51, Murphy 10-17, Slater 1-(minus 1), Bubnis 1- (minus 2). Farrell, Kennedy 17-67, Daniels 5-16, Gash 11- 15, Harris 4-15, Pinkins 2-2.
PASSING_Southern Columbia, Slater 7-13-3-75, Knorr 0-2-0-0, Murphy 0-1-0-0. F
arrell, Gash 3-6-0-113.
RECEIVING_Southern Columbia, Bloom 2-24, Murphy 2- 9, Yancoskie 1-25, Bubnis 1-16, Yurkiewicz 1-1. Farrell, Falconi 1-59, Claiborne 1-31, Pinkins 1-23.
SIDEBAR STORY: Seniors lead the way
SATERNOW COLUMN: Farrell is truly deserving of logo "City of Champions"
ANOTHER VIEW: How our sister paper in eastern Pa. covered the game
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Updated Dec. 8, 1996.
