Published Thursday, Nov. 13, 1997
BACK TO HERALD...
Sharpsville vs. huge Clarion
By Brad Isles
Herald Sports Writer
What is Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli's biggest concern heading into Friday's PIAA interdistrict showdown with Clarion? Field condition.
The two teams are to do battle at Brookville High School field, a track that was reportedly under water as recently as Tuesday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be at that field no matter what. It is in the best condition out of any other in District 9.
If either team gains an advantage out of a sloppy field, it could be Clarion. The Bobcats (9-2) were a 7-3 surprise winner over Smethport last week en route to the District 9 Class A title.
Unlike Sharpsville's game, which was played on the turf at Vetrans Stadium in Erie, the field was a quagmire due to virtually non-stop rain from Thursday until kickoff Friday. The result was a late field goal by Smethport and an even later TD pass from Tom Burleigh to Ryan Lewis. Lewis caught the game-winning score off a tip.
The Blue Devils (10-1) also pulled out a late victory, 14-7 over Cambridge Springs, despite being outplayed much of the game, except when the outcome was on the line.
The field conditions Friday will determine how Sharpsville goes after the Bobcats.
``If the field is in good shape, we're going to spread out the offense,'' Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli said. ``If it's muddy we're going to be conservative and put our power against their power.''
Going toe-to-toe with Clarion could be a problem for the Blue Devils. At least on paper, the Bobcats are a bigger team and have an offensive line that averages approximately 240 pounds. Clarion likes to run behind it, led by Kirk Pope who had 1,137 yards on 164 carries.
The Sharpsville defense played flawlessly last week and will look to do so again against Clarion. It will get a boost as noseguard Tom McMath, originally expected to miss the remainder of the season after a tear of the medial colateral ligament, has practiced this week and is likely to start Friday. He missed two games with the injury.
Last week against Cambridge Springs, the Blue Devils didn't need him.
With the game winding down, Sharpsville's underrated defense held the Springs on a 19-play drive. Ten of the final 11 plays of the drive where from within the 10-yard line, yet they couldn't score.
``Defensively, we've been consistent all year,'' Piccirilli said. ``I don't see any changes this week. This time of year most games are won defensively.''
What may be more remarkable, at least in last week's victory, is that Sharpsville won the game even though the county's all-time leading passer, John Napotnik, went 0-for-2. Cambridge Springs' changed coverages and blitzes kept Napotnik scrambling the entire night.
Napotnik entered the game 98-of-141 for 1,485 yards, a 148.5 yards/game average. His career totals are now 326-of-621 for 4,178 yards with 35 TDs and 39 interceptions.
Despite the gaudy numbers, Napotnik could not get anything going against Cambridge Springs.
``It just wasn't working tonight,'' Napotnik said after the game. ``We've got other athletes and they played their hearts out. My teammates picked me up.''
Actually, it was the defense, which is the third-best in the county in points allowed (97) and third-best in yards allowed per game (179.3). The Blue Devils trail D-10 Class AAA champion Greenville and D-10 Class AA champion Wilmington in both categories.
No matter what the outcome of the game is, this Sharpsville team is the most successful in school history, netting 10 wins. It has also made it farther into the playoffs than any other.
``This is a first for the coaches, the players and the community,'' Piccirilli said. ``We're looking forward to playing even later into the year.''
Sharpsville-Clarion at a glance
Starting lineups 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 66 Russell Adkins.....DT 5-9 160 12 24 Tom McMath.........NG 5-7 150 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 CLARION Offense No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 50 Shawn Lerch........OT 6-0 240 12 72 Ron Peters.........OG 6-1 255 12 55 Andy Balough........C 6-0 220 12 63 Adam Dean..........OG 5-9 205 12 60 Ron Lerch..........OT 5-10 180 12 24 Adam Rathfon.......TE 6-1 185 11 10 Tom Burleigh.......QB 6-0 190 12 88 Christian Fawcett..WB 5-9 155 12 84 Kirk Pope..........HB 5-10 195 12 44 Andy Miller........FB 6-0 215 12 83 Ryan Lewis.........SE 5-10 150 12 Defense 85 Jordan Kilfer......DE 5-11 180 12 55 Andy Balough.......DT 6-0 220 12 44 Andy Miller........NT 6-0 215 12 50 Shawn Lerch........DT 6-0 240 12 84 Kirk Pope..........DE 5-10 195 12 42 Cory Cathcart......LB 5-10 155 11 40 Nate Kapp..........LB 6-0 180 11 83 Ryan Lewis.........CB 5-10 150 12 22 Derek Martin.......DB 5-7 140 12 88 Christian Fawcett..SS 5-9 155 12 10 Tom Burleigh.......FS 6-0 190 12
TEAM SHARPSVILLE CLARION OFFENSE 2228..........Rushing yards......N/A 202.5..........Per game..........N/A 1567..........Passing yards......N/A 142.5..........Per game..........N/A 165-103-5....Att-comp-int........N/A 3755..........Total yards........N/A 341.4..........Per game..........N/A 384..........Points scored.......292 34.9..........Per game...........26.5 DEFENSE 1112......Rushing yards allowed..N/A 101.1..........Per game..........N/A 893.......Passing yards allowed..N/A 81.2..........Per game...........N/A 163-66-16...Opp. Att-comp-int....N/A 1972......otal yards allowed.....N/A 179.3..........Per game..........N/A 97..........Points allowed.......102 8.8..........Per game............9.2 INDIVIDUAL Rushing SHARPSVILLE _ Justin Napotnik 120-800, Reggie Burns 131-770, John Napotnik 44-228. CLARION _ Kirk Pope 164-1137. Passing SHARPSVILLE _ John Napotnik 143-98-5-1485, 13 TDs. CLARION _ Tom Burleigh 108-41-6-651, 7 TDs. Receiving SHARPSVILLE _ Brian Watson 27-462, Mark Ramsey 22-272, Justin Napotnik 20-369. CLARION _ Ryan Lewis 24-430. Scoring SHARPSVILLE _ Justin Napotnik 19 TDs, 114 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. CLARION _ Lewis 5 TDs. Game-by-game scores SHARPSVILLE (10-1) 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 PLAYOFFS 31..........Linesville........8 14.......Cambridge Springs....7 CLARION (9-2) 28..........Redbank Valley....0 14..........Karns City.......28 21..........Union............14 39..........Moniteau..........0 48..........Shannock Valley..12 39..........A-C Valley........6 21..........Brockway..........8 7..........Keystone..........18 46..........Clarion-Limestone..7 22..........Coudersport........6 DISTRICT 9 A PLAYOFFS 7..........Smethport..........3
