Published Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1997
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1997 season preview
THREE-PEAT? Farrell Steelers hope to make run for a 3rd state title
The Farrell Steelers, already in elite company among Pennsylvania schools as the reigning two-time PIAA Class A state champions, will be looking to join an even more exclusive club this season in their quest for a third consecutive state title.
Should the Steelers prevail, they would join legendary Berwick as the only schools in state annals to claim three straight titles. Berwick has won the last three AAA championships and five overall to lead all Commonwealth schools.
``It's still setting in,'' said Farrell coach Lou Falconi, who enters his 18th season with a 148-46-5 record. ``When you hear people _ strangers _ say, `Do you realize what you've done _ winning two championships in a row when some schools never get one?' When you think of it as a coach _ you work all your life and your goal is to win a state championship _ now you're sitting on two, you might say to yourself there's nothing else to accomplish.
``When you think about two state championships, it's gratifying. What else can you have for a high school team?''
Perhaps a third straight title?
``It's catchy,'' Falconi said. ``Now the people and kids expect to do it again. And realistically I think we have a good shot, we've got a lot of people back.''
Falconi welcomed 48 players, including 20 seniors, 12 juniors and 16 sophomores, into camp this season, making the Steelers one of the largest Class A programs in the state.
Success can be a two-edged sword, however, and Falconi finds himself with the difficult task of motivating athletes, especially the seniors, who have already tasted plenty of success in their careers.
``One of the things we have here, and I guess most schools and teams have it, is this pride in your own class,'' Falconi said. ``I have a group of seniors coming up that look at this state title thing as the last two years wasn't their state titles. I kind of imbedded that in their minds. They want a state title for their senior class. We really build on that idea and it seems to be working.''
A third consecutive championship would certainly confirm that.
And unlike many coaches who prefer, at least publicly, to take it one game at a time, Falconi isn't afraid to talk to his kids about winning a state championship.
``We have high expectations every year,'' he said. ``We set our goals high and the highest goal to attain is a state championship. Sure it puts a lot of pressure on me and it puts a lot of pressure on my coaches and, naturally, on the players. But the kids at this school, the kids in football anyway, react to that kind of pressure. They expect to win a conference championship, they expect to go to Three Rivers and win the WPIAL championship, and I think it works here. We have something they can build on and that's the tradition. They see it, we talk about and they've got to add to the tradition that we've established.''
Before adding to it, however, this year's squad most certainly will have to overcome a big bull's eye that most, if not all, opponents will place on their backs.
``We always talk to the kids about how they're the top guns now and how everybody's coming after them,'' Falconi said. ``Every team we play, if they should beat us, it's a Super Bowl win for them. And we can't relax.
``The thing we're stressing this year more than in the past is we've got to be mentally smart. We figure physically we'll match anybody, talent-wise we can match anybody we play, but the edge has to be in the mental toughness _ no mistakes on the field, no penalties and do what's necessary offensively.''
What will be necessary offensively, according to Falconi, is a new audible package. And one reason for that package is the return of starting quarterback Rennie Gash.
``He's pretty bright, has a lot of talent and we just want to give him something extra to keep him motivated,'' Falconi said. ``And this has worked.''
Working with Gash has been first-year volunteer assistant Vernon Stewart, Falconi's first quarterback at Farrell and later a standout at the University of Akron.
``He's been an asset all summer with the audible package,'' Falconi said of Stewart. ``He's been working with Rennie real close. So you're going to see us doing a lot of audibling at the line.''
As a result, fans can also expect to see the Steelers spread the offense a bit more than in the past.
``We won't be as good defensively as we were the last two years, but we expect to be good,'' Falconi said. ``We did lose some key players, so we're trying to harp on the offense to score more points. We can't rely on defense. And to score more points we have to do some things different, so you'll see us throwing the ball a lot more this year and you'll see us spread out a lot more.''
Despite the lofty preseason rankings, Farrell does have to replace seven two-way starters from last year.
Among those key losses were Heralded 22 picks Bucky Newell, Sim Harrison, Carlos Daniels, Chico Pinkins and Willie Evans. Daniels, Newell and Pinkins were named first-, second- and third-team all-state, respectively, last season.
``The two key kids are Newell and Harrison,'' Falconi said. ``Defensively is where we're going to miss them the most. They were probably the two best defensive tackles I've ever had.''
Leading the returnees are linebackers Jason Kennedy, whom Falconi believes is ``one of the best linebackers we've ever had,'' and Marino Harris and nose guard James Pulliam. Kennedy and Pulliam are starting for the third consecutive season.
``Those three have got to make up for the lack of experience at defensive tackle and also at defensive end,'' Falconi said. ``Kennedy will also be a real force on offense and the combination of him and Rennie should really make us a good offensive team.''
Other returning starters are: seniors Derrick Newell, a third-year starter; Keygan Bryant and Ernie Somerset, the 6-0, 330-pound mountain who will start on both sides of the ball at tackle and for the first time at nose guard.
Bryant had offseason knee surgery to repair an injury suffered in the Moshannon Valley game a year ago, but is expected to be ready by the opener.
Projected offensive starters are: tackles _ senior Sterling Austin, Somerset and Rich Townsend; guards _ junior Robin Jacoway and Pulliam; center _ senior Sam Glenn or junior Lee Barlow; tight end _ Newell and senior Melvin Gregory; split ends _ senior Louie Falconi and junior Lamar Claiborne, the team's only sophomore letterwinner a year ago; tailback _ Kennedy and Claiborne; fullback _ Harris and Bryant; quarterback/placekicker _ Gash.
Defensively, the Steelers should look like this: ends _ Jacoway and senior Demetreus Darden; tackles _ Pulliam and Austin; nose guard _ Somerset; linebackers _ Harris, Kennedy, Claiborne and Bryant; cornerbacks _ Falconi and Claiborne; free safety _ Gash; strong safety _ Newell; punter _ Falconi.
The Farrell coaching staff features: Don Scarvel, first assistant, defensive coordinator, offensive line and defensive interior line; Tony Molinari, offensive line and linebackers; Brent Shrawder, tight ends and defensive ends; Jim Cardamon, quarterbacks and defensive backs.
Volunteer coaches include: Frank Scarvel, offensive and defensive backs; Brian Sanders, strength coach; Stewart; Frank Tamber, linemen; and Al Szakach, head scout. Junior high coaches, who will also help on the varsity level, are Tony Retone and Billy Michaels.<
