The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Friday, Oct. 3, 1997
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  • WEEK 6 PREVIEW
    Trojans look to move into conference driver's seat

    By Brad Isles
    Herald Sports Writer

    The high school football season has reached its midway point and for all intents and purposes, the Northwest Conference title could be decided tonight when Titusville hosts Greenville.

    Both teams are tied at 4-0 in league play. Greenville, however, is undefeated overall at 5-0, while the Rockets are 4-1.

    Trojans' running back Joe Korcinsky continues to march his way up to the top of the area record books. Last week he ran 20 times for 112 yards and sits at 711 yards for the season. Korcinsky also scored three TDs and has 81 points so far. That puts him in third place on both the all-time rushing list with 4,024 yards and scoring list with 417 points.

    On the ground, he trails Sharon's Mike Archie (5,136) and Reynolds' Ron Park (4,537). For scoring, Korcinsky is just three points behind former Greenville great Andy Blatt (420). Archie tops the list with 456 points.

    But the other side of the ball is where the Trojans have been excelling. In five games, they have allowed just 18 points and are giving up a scant 84 total yards/game on average. Only one touchdown has been scored against the Trojan defense.

    Hoping to overcome that are a pair of talented running backs who are virtually neck-in-neck for the team lead. Junior Rusty Atkins has rushed 89 times for 483 yards and 6 TDs, while Adam Clark has carried 42 times for 454 yards and 5 scores.

    Titusville quarterback, T.J. Wiley, is also a veteran and has put up solid numbers (41 of 81, 782 yards, and 3 TDs).

    The Rockets' lone defeat came in the first week of the season against Brookville, 20-19.

    In other games:

    TONIGHT
    Reynolds (0-1, 1-4) at Sharon (1-0, 4-1)

    Both Class AA teams are entering this game, the only Mercer County Athletic Conference league matchup of the evening, on a high after impressive wins last week. Sharon, ranked 5th in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette statewide poll and 6th in the Harrisburg Patriot-News', romped over rival Hickory, 63-6, while Reynolds garnered its initial victory of the season, 29-14, over Slippery Rock.

    The Tigers dominated in every facet of the game, racking up 487 total yards to just 45, while running back T.J. Phillips accumulated 252 yards on 26 carries. Oh yeah, he also scored five TDs. Phillips leads the MCAC in rushing with 166.2 yards/game and has 62 points.

    Right behind him at third in the MCAC is Reynolds' Josh Hauser with 109.4 yards/game and 7 TDs. Against Slippery Rock, Hauser carried 22 times for 176 yards and 3 TDs.

    Wilmington (5-0) at Grove City (3-2)

    Wilmington looks to take out its frustration on the Eagles after what some might consider a humbling 13-7 overtime victory over Class A Sharpsville that cost the 'Hounds their No. 1 ranking in the state.

    Despite the win, the high-octane Greyhounds fell to No. 2 in the Harrisburg Patriot-News poll. They remained at No. 2 in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's.

    Speedy wideout Demetrious Rich scored both TDs for the 'Hounds last week and had an incredible 171 yards receiving after hauling in 8 Todd Smargiasso passes. He leads all local receivers with 456 yards through the air and has a 25.3 yards/reception average.

    Class AAA Grove City held on for a narrow 15-12 victory over Brookville last week. It was the Eagles' third consecutive win after disappointing losses in their first two games.

    Anthony Errera has led the resurgence with 293 yards on 51 carries and found the end zone five times.

    Farrell (1-2, 3-2) at Union (0-3, 2-3)

    Farrell, faced with its first must-win situation of the season last week after consecutive WPIAL Big Seven losses, crushed Neshannock, 38-7.

    And the Steelers did it the old-fashioned way _ by running the ball. The Steelers amassed 358 yards on the ground, led by Jason Kennedy's 12-carry, 184 yard performance. Khalil Cotton contributed 91 yards on 17 carries and scored on runs of 7 and 34 yards.

    Kennedy Christian (3-2) at Pymatuning Valley (4-1)

    The Golden Eagles rebounded nicely from a disappointing loss to Sharpsville for a 20-7 win over Mercyhurst Prep last Saturday. Meanwhile, the Lakers had an easy time in defeating first-year program Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, 63-14.

    Jason Cecil, apparently fully recovered from an ankle injury, had a big 14-carry, 193-yard performace against Prep, and is averaging 116.7 yards/game in three games. Scott Renninger leads the team with 5 TDs and with 404 yards for an 80.8 yards/game average.

    Jared McNeilly leads PV on the ground, rushing 72 times for 525 yards and 64 points. Quarterback Jim Darby is 39 of 61 for 760 yards and a pair of TDs, and his favorite target is Anthony LaCute, who has hauled in 16 passes for 313 yards.

    West Middlesex (0-5) at Lakeview (0-5)

    West Middlesex is in the precarious position of giving up first wins in consecutive weeks while remaining winless itself. Mercer pounded the Big Reds, 55-21, last week for its first victory of the year, but the Sailors weren't much better, falling 48-0 to Conneaut Valley in the French Creek Valley Conference.

    Franklin (0-5) at Hickory (3-2)

    Winless Franklin may just be the perfect remedy for the Hornets, who have been on a freefall without a parachute the past two weeks after opening the season with three straight wins. Hickory has been outscored 112-6 in losses to state-ranked Class AA foes Wilmington (49-0) and Sharon (63-6).

    Deer Lakes (0-5) at Slippery Rock (1-4)

    The Rockets dropped their third straight game, 29-14, to Reynolds last week, though fullback Adam Kniess had a big game, scoring Slippery Rock's two TDs and gaining 117 yards rushing on 17 carries. Their only win came in the second week of the season against Mercer.

    Deer Lakes is a Class AA team playing out of the WPIAL Allegheny Conference.

    Newton Falls (0-2, 2-3) at Brookfield (0-2, 1-4)

    The Warriors enter this Trumbull Athletic Conference matchup after suffering a 30-12, setback to Lakeview (Ohio) last week. Tim DeMay maintained his stellar play at wideout, with 5 catches for 75 yards. For the season he has 15 catches for 224 yards.

    DeMay is quarterback Steve Blasko's favorite target. Although the Warriors have been struggling, Blasko has put up solid numbers: 36 of 69 for 498 yards and 4 TDs.

    Liberty (1-0, 3-2) at Hubbard (2-0, 4-1)

    Want efficiency? Hubbard's Frank Harris carried the ball 5 times for 148 yards and Carmen Tanferno had 8 totes for 214 yards in the Eagles' 53-7 rout of LaBrae last week.

    That's a 29.6 yards/carry average for Harris and 26.8 ypc. norm for Tanferno. Harris also scored on runs of 70 and 65 yards, while Tanferno did so from 68, 71 and 29 yards. The duo have combined for more than 1,200 yards rushing this season.


    SATURDAY
    Mercer (1-4) at Sharpsville (4-1)

    The Mustangs finally broke out with a solid game for their first win, while Sharpsville surprised many with a 13-7 overtime loss to Class AA Wilmington a week ago. The Blue Devils are still ranked No. 7 in the state Class A despite the loss.

    Sharpsville quarterback John Napotnik is in some elite company. After his outing last week, Napotnik is 47 of 78 for 614 yards this season, and has upped his career totals to 275 for 556 for 3,307 yards. He is currently third on the area's all-time passing list behind Brookfield's Rob Davies (3,691) and Grove City's Brian Cavanaugh (3,534).

    This will be the third different starting time for a home game this season for Sharpsville, which is somewhat unusual. They've played on a Friday night, Saturday night and, this week, Saturday afternoon because of homecoming.




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    Updated Oct. 3, 1997
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