Published Thursday, Nov. 6, 1997
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D-10 A finals: Devil of a time
Sharpsville, Springs clash in a rematch
By Brad Isles
Herald Sports Writer
Cambridge Springs put an abrupt end to Sharpsville's Cinderella season in 1996 when the Spa copped a 13-10 overtime victory in the District-10 Class A championship game.
Sharpsville has the perfect opportunity to avenge that loss when the two meet again in the D-10 finals at 8 p.m. Friday at Veterans Stadium in Erie.
``They know Cambridge Springs is pumped up,'' said Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli about his team. ``It's going to come down to whoever doesn't make mistakes and prevents the big plays.''
CLASS A
Cambridge Springs (9-1) vs Sharpsville (9-1)
The two met earlier in the regular season with Sharpsville copping a 29-14 victory. It could be a good omen as Cambridge Springs beat the Blue Devils twice last year, once in the regular season and then in the finals. Both decisions were decided by three points.Senior quarterback John Napotnik has been nothing short of spectacular in his final campaign, completing 98-of-141 for 1,485 yards with 13 TDs and 5 interceptions. He recently became the area's all-time leading passer.
Brother Justin has also had a stellar sophomore season on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he has 746 yards on 109 carries and 20 catches for 369 yards. He has 18 TDs.
Complementing the Napotniks in the backfield is Reggie Burns. The speedy junior has picked up his game late in the season and has 711 yards on 117 carries.
On the outside, senior wideouts Brian Watson (27 catches, 467 yards) and Mark Ramsey (22 catches, 272 yards) have seen the bulk of action.
As potent as Sharpsville's offense has been, averaging 37 points and 366.2 yards each game, the defense has been just as impressive.
The Blue Devils opened the season with three consecutive shutouts and currently are allowing 9 points/game while surrendering a measly 171.2 yards on average.
``I'm sure it is,'' Piccirilli said of his defense being underrated. ``We have given up some late touchdowns when we have our second and third teams in. I saw Cambridge Springs has only given up (53 points). But I don't think they go as deep as us.''
Sharpsville's defense will need to be at the top of its game against the Spa in order to stop quarterback B.J. Borsa.
Borsa is 47-of-91 for 851 yards with 14 TDs and a pair of interceptions. Borsa's favorite target is Matt Wheeler who has 16 catches for 281 yards with 4 scores.
The two top backs are Wesley Williams (74 carries, 578 yards) and Lucas Crowe (109 carries, 473 yards).
And there is Nick Hendershot, who leads the team in all-purpose yards with 127.4 total yards per game and in scoring with 68 points.
Hendershot is third on the team in rushing with 424 yards on 43 carries and has 15 catches for 279 yards. He also has over 550 yards in returns.
And like Sharpsville, the Spa's defense isn't too shabby either. The Blue Devils are the only team to score more than 8 points in a game against Cambridge this year. Its defense is allowing just 5.3 points per game and 138.3 total yards per game on average.
Devils vs. Devils
SHARPSVILLE
Offense
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.
79 Andy Lewis..........OT 6-0 255 12
52 Bryan Weber.........OG 5-11 215 11
72 Josh Hamder..........C 6-0 210 12
56 Terry Petricini.....OG 5-7 180 12
74 Jason Oman..........OT 6-4 305 11
12 Brad Sarchet........TE 5-10 150 12
9 John Napotnik.......QB 5-8 160 12
35 Reggie Burns........RB 5-11 160 11
32 Justin Napotnik.....FB 5-8 160 10
1 Brian Watson........FL 5-10 175 12
80 Mark Ramsey.........SE 6-2 185 12
50 Aaron VanZanten.....PK 6-0 190 11
Defense
12 Brad Sarchet........DE 5-10 150 12
89 Chris Cusick........DT 6-0 185 12
66 Russell Adkins......DE 5-9 160 12
72 Josh Hamder.........DT 6-0 210 12
1 Brian Watson........DE 5-10 175 12
22 Mike Germano........LB 5-5 140 12
39 Jim Tucker..........LB 5-11 175 12
32 Justin Napotnik.....LB 5-8 160 10
25 Brad Watson.........CB 5-10 160 11
28 Willie Friday.......CB 5-7 175 12
9 John Napotnik.......FS 5-8 160 12
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS
Offense
76 Mark Boylan.........OT 6-1 195 12
56 Larry Cornelius.....OG 5-9 160 12
50 Jake Crowe...........C 5-8 180 11
75 Jrmy Hitchcock......OG 5-10 220 12
62 Ron Harrison........OT 6-2 230 11
10 Adam Shearer........TE 5-10 170 12
8 B.J. Borsa..........QB 6-4 180 11
6 Lucas Crowe.........RB 5-8 160 12
20 Nchls Hendrsht......HB 5-10 160 12
42 Jim Applebee........FB 5-8 195 10
9 Matt Wheeler........SE 6-5 180 11
Defense
83 Jeff Ball...........DE 6-3 185 12
75 Jrmy Hitchcock......DT 5-10 220 12
56 Larry Cornelius.....NG 5-9 160 12
76 Mark Boylan.........DT 6-1 195 12
44 Wes Williams........DE 5-10 185 12
34 Keith Troutman......LB 6-1 175 12
6 Lucas Crowe.........LB 5-8 160 12
42 Jim Applebee........LB 5-8 195 10
9 Matt Wheeler........DB 6-5 180 11
20 Nchls Hendrsht......DB 5-10 160 12
10 Adam Shearer.........S 5-10 170 12
Statistics
SHARPSVILLE CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS
OFFENSE
2135.........Rushing yards.........2402
213.5........Per game.........240.2
1567.........Passing yards.........851
156.7........Per game.........85.1
163-103-5....Att-comp-int.........93-49-2
3662.........Total yards.........3253
366.2........Per game.........325.3
370..........Points scored.........324
37.0.........Per game.........32.4
DEFENSE
913..........Rushing yards allowed.........949
91.3.........Per game.........94.9
832..........Passing yards allowed.........434
83.2.........Per game.........43.4
149-62-13....Opp. Att-comp-int.........N/A
1712.........Total yards allowed.........1383
171.2........Per game.........138.3
90...........Points allowed.........53
9.0..........Per game.........5.3
Rushing
SHARPSVILLE _ Justin Napotnik 109-746,
Reggie Burns 117-711, John Napotnik 39-248.
SPRINGS _ Wesley Williams 74-578,
Lucas Crowe 103-473, Nick Hendershot 43-424, B.J. Borsa 49-305.
Passing
SHARPSVILLE _ John Napotnik 141-98-5-1485, 13 TDs.
SPRINGS _ B.J. Borsa 91-47-2-851, 14 TDs.
Receiving
SHARPSVILLE _ Brian Watson 27-462, Mark Ramsey 22-272,
Justin Napotnik 20-369.
SPRINGS _ Matt Wheeler 16-281, Nick Hendershot 15-279,
Adam Shearer 5-86.
Scoring
SHARPSVILLE _ Justin Napotnik 18 TDs, 108 pts;
Reggie Burns 9 TDs, 54 pts; John Napotnik 7 TDs, 44 pts,
Mark Ramsey 7 TDs, 42 pts, Brian Watson 7 TDs, 42 pts.
SPRINGS _ Nick Hendershot 11 TDs, 68 points;
Wesley Williams 9 TDs, 59 points; Lucas Crowe 8 TDs, 48 points.
Scores
NOTE:The incorect Sharpsville team and opponent scores
were published in Thursday's Herald. These are the correct figures:
SHARPSVILLE (9-1)
38.........Union City..........0
35.........Conneaut Lake.......0
47.........West Middlesex......0
31.........Kennedy Christian...7
7.........Wilmington (OT)....13
43........Mercer..............16
29.......Cambridge Springs....14
53.........Saegertown.........24
56.........Cochranton..........8
DISTRICT 10 A PLAYOFFFs
31........Linesville.......8
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS (9-1)
17.........Conneaut Valley.....0
48.........Lakeview............6
33.........Saegertown..........0
34.........Union City..........3
27.........Maplewood...........0
27.........Linesville..........7
14.........Sharpsville........29
42.........Cochranton..........0
33.........Conneaut Lake.......0
49.........Iroquois............6
