Published Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1997
BACK TO HERALD...
Blue Devils 27, Bobcats 6
Well worth the wait
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Postponed games don't bother Devils
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SHARPSVILLE RIPS CLARION IN INITIAL PIAA PLAYOFF TILT
Herald Sports Writer
ERIE _ Three days and a field change later, the Sharpsville High football team finally got to face off against Clarion in the PIAA Class A interdistrict playoffs.
The Blue Devils didn't mind the wait, skating to a 27-6 victory over the Bobcats at Erie Veterans Stadium.
Sharpsville (11-1) will take on Bellwood-Antis Saturday at a site and time to be determined. Hopefully there won't be a replay of this past weekend.
Clarion (9-3) and the Blue Devils were to play Friday night at Brookville, but due to the rainy weather, the game was moved to Saturday afternoon. Late Friday the game was moved once again, this time to Monday night at Brookville. But with that field being natural grass and the heavy rain and snow throughout the weekend, the game was moved to Vets Stadium's artificial turf.
``I'll tell you one thing, this is one of the most bizarre weekends we've ever had,'' said Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli. ``The only thing I'm worried about now is going on the short week.''
Veterans Stadium resembled the ice hockey rink at Erie Civic Center, rather than a football field. Waist-high snow banks, remnants of last weekend's 8-plus inches of the white stuff, encircled the slick surface and the only thing missing was advertisements.
The Blue Devils made the most of the quick surface by rushing for 340 yards. Justin Napotnik led the way with 145 yards on 20 carries and had a pair of TDs, the second of which iced the game with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter.
Napotnik drove up the middle on a third-and-goal play from the 1-yard line after quarterback John Napotnik set up the Blue Devils inside Clarion territory with a 24-yard run. John Napotnik finished with an even 100 yards on just 9 carries.
Sharpsville half back Reggie Burns heads for the end zone in a touchdown drive in the second quarter. (Gene Paulson/Herald)
``(John) Napotnik was the difference in the game,'' Clarion coach Larry Wiser said. ''His scrambling ability at different times got them some key first downs to keep drives alive.''
Mark Ramsey added to the rushing attack with 62 yards on 4 totes, and Reggie Burns had 41 yards on 4 carries.
``I think our speed helped out tonight, instead of playing in the mud,'' Piccirilli said.
John Napotnik also was able to find time to pass, completing 4-of-9 attempts for 91 yards. Three of the completions were for TDs.
The final one came with 7:23 remaining on a 14-yard fade pattern to Ken Miller in the left corner of the end zone. The score, along with an Aaron VanZanten kick, made it 27-6 and capped a 9-play, 88-yard drive after the Blue Devils took over at the Clarion 12-yard line.
After a Ramsey fumble at the 38, Clarion had an opportunity to cut into the Sharpsville lead with time winding down in the third quarter. The Bobcats made it down to the 1-yard line after Tom Burleigh hit Ryan Lewis for a 24-yard gain.
However, penalties did in the Bobcats. An illegal substitution call followed an illegal-procedure penalty to set Clarion up with first-and-goal at the 11. A sack by Jason Oman made it second down at the 15. A run got three yards back, but then a pair of passes fell incomplete.
Burleigh finished the game 9-of-18 for 120 yards.
``I'm not sure what happened when we were down there at the 1-yard line,'' Wiser said. ``The turn of events down there really hurt us.''
Entering the game, Piccirilli was worried about the Bobcats' size up front on the offensive line. Sharpsville's defense was up to the task, aided by the return of Tom McMath from a knee injury. The Blue Devils gave up 209 yards, including just 89 on the ground. The Bobcats had three second-half first downs.
Sharpsville's offense, however, jumped out of the gate quickly, showing no ill effects of the long layoff. The Blue Devils held Clarion on its initial possession and then embarked on an 8-play, 78-yard drive which consumed 4:30 off the game clock.
John Napotnik, who went 0-for-2 in the District 10 title game, connected with Ramsey on a 12-yard fade for the game's first score. VanZanten made it 7-0 with the PAT.
If Napotnik, Mercer County's all-time leading passer, was frustrated from having no completions against Cambridge Springs, he took it out by running the ball. He set up the first score with an 18-yard scamper on fourth-and-8 from the Devils' 32.
Napotnik finshed the first half leading all rushers with 83 yards on 8 carries as Sharpsville outgained the Bobcats, 207-127.
Napotnik completed just two first-half passes, but both were for scores. He hit Justin Napotnik on a screen pass with no time left in the first quarter. He then eluded a pair of would-be tacklers for a 29-yard TD. VanZanten's kick put the Blue Devils up 14-0 after the first frame.
Not wanting to be outdone, Burleigh then led his team on a 13-play, 70-yard scoring drive over a 6:16 span to open the second quarter.
Burleigh went 5-of-7 on the drive for 59 yards. On third-and-3 on the Blue Devils' 5, Burleigh hit Ryan Lewis a yard into the end zone for the Bobcats' only score. After a muffed snap, a pass failed, giving Sharpsville a 14-6 halftime lead.
Notes: On the first play of the third quarter, Watson took the ball on an end around and went 65 yards before being tackled at the 1-yard line. As Watson was hitting the turf, the ball bounced loose into the end zone where Clarion's Nate Kapp recovered ... Next week's game between the Blue Devils and Bellwood-Antis was rumored to be scheduled for either Sharon High or back in Erie.
SHARPSVILLE 14 3 6 7 27
CLARION 0 6 0 0 6
Scoring plays
S _ Ramsey 12 pass from Jo. Napotnik (VanZanten kick)
S _ Ju. Napotnik 29 pass from Jo. Napotnik (VanZanten kick)
C _ Lewis 5 pass from Burleigh (pass failed)
S _ Ju. Napotnik 1 run (kick failed)
S _ Miller 14 pass from Jo. Napotnik (VanZanten kick)
Team stats
SHARPSVILLE CLARION
19....First downs....13
340....Rushing yards....89
91....Passing yards....120
10-4-0....Att-comp-int....19-8-0
2-15....Sacks-yards lost....3-15
431....Total yards....209
3-3....Fumbles-lost....4-2
3-25....Penalties-yards lost....5-37
Individual stats
Rushing:
SHARPSVILLE _ Ju. Napotnik 20-145, Jo. Napotnik 9-100,
Ramsey 4-62, R. Burns 4-41, Sigworth 2-0,
Braithwaite 2-(-4), D. Burns 1-(-4);
CLARION _ Fawcett 16-59, Finotti 1-24,
Pope 10-10, Miller 1-2, Kapp 1-3, Burleigh 4-(-13).
Passing:
SHARPSVILLE _ Jo. Napotnik 10-4-0-91, Braithwaite 0-0-0-0;
CLARION _ Burleigh 18-9-0-120, Martin 0-0-0-0.
Receiving:
SHARPSVILLE _ Watson 2-48, Ju. Napotnik 1-29,
Miller 1-14;
CLARION _ Lewis 7-83, Martin 1-23, Kifer 1-14.
