Published Thursday, Nov. 13, 1997
BACK TO HERALD...
Farrell out to stop Fort Cherry star
By Jeff Greenburg
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
One would be accurate in saying the Farrell Steelers have met many challenges _ and conquered them _ during a 3-year run that has seen them win 12 consecutive postseason games en route to back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA Class A championships.
What and who the Steelers (9-2) meet this Friday in a 7:30 p.m. WPIAL semifinal clash at Rochester High School, however, will present them with a challenge even they haven't faced _ a sophomore who before he's through could become the most prolific running back in state history.
That would be Fort Cherry sensation Mike Vernillo.
Mercer County has had its share of great tailbacks, but none has matched what Vernillo has been able to accomplish in his first two years of varsity ball.
In those two seasons, Vernillo is already approaching 4,000 career rushing yards. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder has carried 249 times for 2,229 yards this season, leaving him at 3,842 yards on 457 carries in two years.
Even more remarkable is the fact Vernillo, who has 29 touchdowns this season and 45 in his career, didn't break into the starting lineup offensively last season until the fifth game, so approximately 1,400 of his 1,613 freshman yards came in 6 1/2 games. That equates to an average of 213 yards per game over his last 17.
``I wish I knew what made him go,'' said Fort Cherry coach Jim Garry. ``His strength is his field of vision. He also has real quick moves and once he gets the opening he has the speed to break it.''
No back in state history has reached 4,000 yards before the end of their sophomore season. And, certainly, if Farrell has anything to say about it, Vernillo won't either, although Steelers coach Lou Falconi, as is his style, has tried to downplay that fact to his team.
``We really haven't mentioned his name more than twice,'' Falconi said. ``We try to dwell on doing our job and everybody doing their job, no matter who we're playing.''
But, at the same time, Falconi added, ``they know he's a good back and they have too much pride to have anybody break a record against them.''
Fort Cherry (9-2), the Ohio Valley Conference runner-up, has never advanced to a WPIAL championship game under Garry, in his 39th year at the helm. But the Rangers pulled off one of the bigger upsets in the WPIAL quarterfinals with a 15-0 victory over previously once-beaten Clairton in the rain and mud.
``It's almost the exact situation that we had with Char-Houston, but this team has a good running back and a good fullback (Brandon Chiera),'' Falconi said. ``They have a much better power game. And if the weather and playing conditions are similar to last week's, we're expecting a little bit more problems.''
Chiera, also a sophomore, has gained 798 yards on 99 carries. The Rangers also feature Division I prospect, Tim Bennett, a 6-4, 285-pound two-way lineman.
The teams have faced common opponents in Western Beaver and Char-Houston, the Ohio Valley Conference champion. Farrell owns 33-3 and 28-3 victories, respectively, while Fort Cherry has been defeated by 31-7 and 21-0 counts. No matter, according to Falconi, overconfidence will not be a problem for the Steelers.
``They've got the scent in their noses and they know what it's all about,'' Falconi said. ``... They just want to get to Three Rivers, then get to state and three-peat.''
Following back-to-back league losses to Monaca and South Side Beaver some two months ago, those were goals many believed were unattainable. Since then, the Steelers have reeled off seven consecutive victories by an aggregate margin of 272-68.
Leading the resurgence has been senior Jason Kennedy, who pushed his season totals to 1,430 yards on 162 carries following a 238-yard outburst in the rout of previously undefeated Chartiers-Houston. He has been especially impressive during the 7-game run, collecting 1,107 yards, including three 200-yard outings.
``It's not just Jason Kennedy,'' Falconi said. ``He has come on strong in the last few weeks and is playing much better than he did earlier, but along with him everybody else has, too. And that's the key to our success: Everybody has improved at their positions.''
The offensive line, featuring Sterling Austin, Richard Townsend, LeeBarlow, Ernie Somerset and James Pulliam, as well as tight ends Melvin Gregory and Derrick Newell, was mostly new at the beginning of the season, but has begun to jell. Quarterback Rennie Gash has also continued to provide steady numbers along the way.
The defense also underwent some radical changes after the South Side Beaver loss, but has been equally impressive during that 7-game stretch.
And as a result Farrell's opponents have been doing most of the shaking in recent weeks.
Notes: Falconi (157-48-5) surpassed Reynolds' Frank Amato (156-67-9) as the county's third-winningest coach with the victory over Chartiers-Houston. He trails only Sharon's Jim Wildman (165-67-6) and Greenville's Bob Stone (164-40-6). ... Keygan Bryant, who had offseason knee surgery, saw his first extensive action of the season last week, carrying 7 times for 29 yards out of the fullback slot. He also will play some linebacker and defensive end this week. ... Fort Cherry might be familiar to area fans as Ranger graduate Brad Tokar is Westminster College's career rushing leader with more than 5,000 yards. ... Garry has a 221-149-25 career mark in 38 years at Fort Cherry and one at McDonald, which along with Hickory and Midway, merged in 1959 to form Fort Cherry. Garry would not reveal his age, but said with a laugh, ``I'm not as old as Joe Paterno, but I'm getting close to it.''
Farrell-Fort Cherry at a glance Starting lineups FARRELL Offense No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 70 Ernie Somerset.........OT 6-0 330 12 56 James Pulliam..........OG 5-9 215 12 57 Lee Barlow..............C 6-0 250 11 50 Sterling Austin........OG 5-10 260 12 79 Rich Townsend..........OT 6-2 290 12 25 Derrick Newell.........TE 6-0 205 12 80 Melvin Gregory.........TE 6-1 200 12 5 Rennie Gash.........QB/PK 6-1 205 12 22 Louie Falconi..........HB 5-7 160 12 3 Marino Harris..........FB 5-10 175 12 9 Jason Kennedy..........TB 5-11 210 12 Defense 26 Demetreus Darden.......DE 5-9 180 12 50 Sterling Austin........DT 5-10 260 12 56 James Pulliam..........NG 5-9 215 12 58 Robin Jacoway..........DT 5-11 205 11 25 Derrick Newell.........DE 6-0 205 12 9 Jason Kennedy..........LB 5-11 210 12 3 Marino Harris..........LB 5-10 175 12 23 Lamar Claiborne.......LCB 5-8 170 11 22 Louie Falconi.......RCB/P 5-7 160 12 20 Ed Nicastro............SS 5-8 165 12 5 Rennie Gash............FS 6-1 205 12 FORT CHERRY Offense No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 33 R.B. Hursh..........LE/PK 6-1 195 10 71 Brad Schultz...........LT 6-1 280 11 58 Louis Ryan.............LG 6-0 250 10 61 Ken McGregor............C 5-11 200 12 55 Tim Bennett............RG 6-4 285 12 75 John Scott.............RT 6-4 235 12 83 Adam Timko.............RE 6-2 210 12 1 Mike Maroni............QB 6-0 175 12 32 Mike Vernillo..........TB 5-10 180 10 34 Brandon Chiera.........FB 6-0 200 10 24 Sean Keslar............FL 6-3 215 12 Defense 83 Adam Timko.............LE 6-2 210 12 55 Tim Bennett............LT 6-4 285 12 71 Brad Schultz...........RT 6-1 280 11 74 Jim Fender.............RE 6-3 200 10 33 R.B. Hursh............OLB 6-1 195 10 24 Sean Keslar...........ILB 6-3 215 12 61 Ken McGregor........ILB/P 5-11 200 12 82 Jeff Denny............OLB 5-11 175 12 32 Mike Vernillo...........S 5-10 180 10 34 Brandon Chiera.........CB 6-0 200 10 10 Justin Blanchon........CB 5-11 180 10
Statistics TEAM FARRELL FORT CHERRY OFFENSE 2517..........Rushing yards......N/A 228.8..........Per game..........N/A 1218..........Passing yards......N/A 110.7..........Per game..........N/A 143-66-6..........Att-comp-int...N/A 3698..........Total yards........N/A 336.2..........Per game..........N/A 332..........Points scored.......336 30.2..........Per game...........30.5 DEFENSE 1318..........Rushing yards allowed....N/A 119.8..........Per game................N/A 723..........Passing yards allowed.....N/A 65.7..........Per game.................N/A 168-56-16..........Opp. Att-comp-int...N/A 2009..........Total yards allowed......N/A 182.6..........Per game................N/A 98..........Points allowed.............144 8.9..........Per game.................13.1
INDIVIDUAL Rushing FARRELL _ Jason Kennedy 162-1430; Rennie Gash 79-351; Marino Harris 50-214; Lamar Claiborne 25-160. FORT CHERRY _ Mike Vernillo 249-2229; Brandon Chiera 99-798. Passing FARRELL _ Gash 142-65-6-1211, 16 TDs. FORT CHERRY _ Mike Maroni 70-23-NA-347. Receiving FARRELL _ Melvin Gregory 25-661; Derrick Newell 11-112; Kennedy 10-142; Falconi 8-94; Claiborne 6-70. FORT CHERRY _ Vernillo 8-85; Adam Timko 5-143. Scoring FARRELL _ Kennedy 17 TDs; Gregory 11 TDs; Gash 5 TDs, 16 PATs. FORT CHERRY _ Vernillo 29 TDs, Chiera 9 TDs.
Game-by-game scores FARRELL (9-2) 36..........Kennedy Christian..0 12..........Aliquippa..........6 0..........Monaca.............7 12..........South Side Beaver.20 38..........Neshannock.........7 39..........Union..............0 33..........Western Beaver.....3 37..........Rochester.........19 58..........Shenango..........19 WPIAL A PLAYOFFS 39..........Wilkinsburg.......14 28..........Chartiers-Houston..3 FORT CHERRY (9-2) 7..........Western Beaver....31 1113FGL 355..........West Greene........6 29..........Avonworth..........0 26..........South Fayette.....14 37..........Northgate.........35 37..........Cornell...........19 41..........Brentwood..........0 0..........Chartiers-Houston..21 49..........Avella.............6 WPIAL A PLAYOFFS 40..........Monessen..........12 15..........Clairton...........0
