ERIE _ With an offense as potent as Sharpsville's, it is easy to overlook the team's defense. But not anymore.

Sharpsville's defense held Cambridge Springs on eight plays within the 5- yard line late in the fourth quarter and the Blue Devils escaped the Class A District 10 finals with a 14-7 victory.

``It's unbelievable, 15 plays or something down there,'' said Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli. ``Our defense has been doing it all year. I just thank God that it worked out.''

The victory both avenged a 13-10 overtime loss to the Spa last year in the finals and gave Sharpsville its first district title in 11 years. The Blue Devils last won the District 10 championship in 1986. Ironically, it was a 7-6 decision over Cambridge Springs.

``It's something for the whole community,'' Piccirilli said.

Sharpsville entered the game averaging 366 yards per game but could manage just 93 against the Spa. Therefore, it was up to the defense to keep any sort of victory within reach.

Brad Sarchet, up to the task, returned a B.J. Borsa interception 55 yards for what proved to be the deciding score with 1:33 left in the third quarter.

Immediately following Sarchet's score, Cambridge Springs embarked on what amounted to a 19-play drive encompassing 8 minutes.

A long Nick Hendershot kickoff return gave the Spa quality field position at their own 42. Wes Williams, who led all rushers with 76 yards, quickly got Cambridge Springs (9-2) into Sharpsville territory with a 12-yard gain.

Cambridge Springs methodically made its way to the Sharpsville 9 before it ran into trouble, literally. Borsa held the ball on a keeper and lost three yards. On second down, Lucas Crowe got them back. Then on third down, Willie Friday apparently intercepted Borsa's pass in the end zone but a pass interference flag flew, setting the Spa up at the 4-yard line.

Crowe went off right tackle for a yard. On second down, Borsa got stopped for no gain. On third, Crowe had the call again but was dropped for a loss of one. On fourth-and-goal, Brad Watson wrapped up his player before Borsa's pass got there, resulting in another flag.

The second chance for Cambridge Springs wasn't much better. Borsa, who had 51 yards on 12 carries, went up the middle from the 2-yard line on consecutive keepers but barely made it to the 1. After a timeout, Borsa scrambled wide to the right on third down but lost 2 yards.

Cambridge Springs called another timeout prior to fourth down. Then on the play Justin Napotnik picked off Borsa's pass and the Blue Devils were celebrating.

But the game wasn't over.

Sharpsville got the ball at the 20 with just under five minutes to go and was on its way to a three-and-out. However, a roughing the punter call on fourth down gave the ball back to the Blue Devils. From there, they ran out the clock.

``I thought we had the right game plan,'' said Cambridge Springs coach Walt Nottingham. ``I thought we dominated the line of scrimmage, we just couldn't score. They did what they had to do to win.''

Cambridge Springs, which lost both of its games to Sharpsville this season, thoroughly dominated play in the first half, outgaining the Blue Devils 180 total yards to just 4.

The majority of the Spa's 260 yards came on the ground and led directly to its first score, a 6-yard run by Jim Applebee with just over five four minutes into the game on the first drive of the game. It came two plays after Borsa scrambled for an 11-yard gain on fourth-and-3 at the Sharpsville 17. Sharpsville, on the other hand, could go nowhere when it had the ball, countering positive gains with negative.

The Blue Devils defense was there to answer, however, just as it was in the fourth quarter.

Midway through the second frame, Borsa hit Matt Wheeler for a 32-yard gain down the sideline to put the Spa at the Sharpsville 4. Two runs went nowhere and an incomplete pass followed, setting up a field goal try. Cambridge Springs attempted a fake but Borsa's pass fell incomplete under heavy pressure.

Sharpsville's offense went three- and-out on its next possession and a poor punt gave Cambridge Springs the ball back at the Blue Devils' 24.

Borsa scrambled for 19 yards to set up first-and-goal at the 5 with 30 seconds on the clock. Again Sharpsville's defense held, stopping a run and two passes, setting up a 23-yard field goal. Sophomore Brad Dunton's kick went wide left and Sharpsville took momentum into the half despite trailing 7-0.

``We went in at haltime after we stuffed them and it felt like we were head by 14 or 21,'' Piccirilli said. ``We knew they had that fake that didn't surprise us. We were just praying that he missed the second one.''

The Sharpsville offense sprung to life, powered by the inspiring running of Justin Napotink and Reggie Burns. After a slow start, Burns finished with 59 yards on 14 carries and Napotnik had 54 yards on 11 totes.

Five minutes into the third quarter, Sharpsville took over at its own 41 after a Cambridge Springs punt. Three carries by Burns netted 28 yards and gave the Blue Devils their best field position of the night at the Spa's 31. Justin Napotnik carried for a loss of one on first down but made up for it on the next play.

Napotnik, seemingly stopped at the line of scrimmage, broke free from a would-be tackler at his ankles and sprinted 32 yards for the Blue Devils' first score of the game. Aaron Van Zanten's kick knotted the game at 7- all.

On the ensuing possession, Cambridge Springs continued running the ball well, aided by a Borsa 14-yard gainer. Then, faced with second-and-9 near mid-field, Borsa committed his biggest mistake of the night.

Borsa, a 6-foot-4 junior who entered the game with just two interceptions all season, threw his second of the game. Under heavy pressure, Borsa escaped the collapsing pocket but lobbed up a pass directly into Sarchet's waiting arms. He bolted 55 yards untouched for the deciding score.

``The coaches made super adjustments at halftime,'' Piccirilli said. ``It was an unbelievable break. We finally got the quarterback to throw off his heels and he threw a bad pass.''

Cambridge countered with its 19- play marathon drive yet could not score. In all, the Blue Devils held Cambridge Springs scoreless on 15 plays within the 5-yard line and on 17 plays within the 10 after the first-quarter touchdown,

``We just didn't execute properly when we had to,'' Nottingham said. ``We beat ourselves, but give them credit too.''

Cambridge Springs did execute well in one respect _ it held Mercer County's all-time passing leader, John Napotnik, to an 0-for-2 night.

``Honestly, I knew I could have bad games and we could still win,'' Napotnik said. ``It just wasn't working tonight. We've got other athletes and they played their hearts out. My teammates picked me up.''

Notes: Sharpsville will play the District 9 championship at a date and time yet to be determined. ... Sharpsville won both games against Cambridge Springs this season. The Spa did the same last year.