Published Friday, Nov. 21, 1997
BACK TO HERALD...
SHORT WEEK IS A CONCERN AS TEAM PREPS FOR `A' TILT
Herald Sports Writer
Erie Veterans Stadium has been a second home for the Sharpsville High football team during the playoffs.
The Blue Devils are 2-0 so far on the turf field and will look to make it 3-0 Saturday afternoon against Bellwood-Antis (10-2) in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals. Kickoff is 2 p.m.
Sharpsville, which is in the midst of its best season ever with an 11-1 record and ranked fourth in the state by the Harrisburg Patriot-News, certainly took advantage of the quick surface in running over Clarion, 27-6, Monday night.
However, playing after a short week is certainly a concern for Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli. He gave his team Tuesday off and went through a light workout Wednesday, but it was back to hitting as usual for the team on Thursday.
``As far as the kids being ready to play, they'll be ready,'' Piccirilli said, while noting that the coaches might have a problem in terms of preparation. ``Hopefully we'll be able to get everything in.''
The Blue Devils' speed was too much for the Bobcats as Sharpsville runners amassed 340 yards rushing en route to a 431 total-yard output. The foursome of Justin Napotnik (20 carries, 145 yards), John Napotnik (9-100), Brian Watson (4-62) and Reggie Burns (4-41) averaged an astounding 9 1/2 yards per carry.
``There's no doubt it helped us,'' Piccirilli said regarding the turf.
John Napotnik also showed his senior leadership by bouncing back from a lackluster game against Cambridge Springs in the District 10 finals in which he went 0-for-2. Against Clarion, he was 4-of-10 for 91 yards and three touchdowns.
``We sort of got accustomed to him having good games,'' Piccirilli said. ``It's a nice thing for the team that everybody helped out. He was a class act, giving everybody else the credit. I'm proud of him for way he picked it up. He bounced back like any good athlete would.''
Bellwood-Antis quarterback Matt Miller is no slouch himself, despite being in charge of a mostly-running attack. Miller is 60-of-114 for 1,093 yards with 6 TDs and 8 interceptions.
Jeremy Guyer is the ground leader with 1,427 yards on 220 carries and is tops on the state's sixth-ranked team with 21 TDs. Don Ligenfelter has added 640 yards on 121 totes.
Sharpsville's defense, however, did a good job of containing Clarion runners, and Tom McMath's return to the defensive line from a knee injury was a big reason.
``After we played Wilmington, that seemed like the last really great defensive game we had. Then it seemed like we slacked off a little,'' Piccirilli said. ``The last two or three weeks we didn't seem to be getting after the ball. When Tom came back and said the doctor gave him permission to play, everybody's attitude picked up. He's made a heck of a lot of difference. He's the big sparkplug. Even with the knee brace, it's amazing how much quicker he is than the average person.''
No matter the outcome of the game, the Blue Devils have put together the best two-year run, as far as total wins, in school history. Members of this team are 19-4 the past two seasons. It's a string they hope to continue.
``I told our players, we're not looking back on their senior year,'' Piccirilli said. ``This class has accomplished a lot, but we're focusing on the game at hand. We told them, when the time comes and if they do lose, we'll look back on their accomplishments. Right now, it doesn't mean squat to me. I do know my coaching staff has done one heck of a job this year.''
Notes: Last Monday night's game was a tough one emotionally for Blue Devils offensive lineman Tony Petricini, who attended the funeral of his grandmother, Lucille Falconi, earlier in the day. It capped a rough weekend for the entire Falconi family as Tony's uncle Lou Falconi coached the Farrell squad (including son Louie) on Friday, the day of Mrs. Falconi's death.
Sharpsville-Bellwood-Antis 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 Tony 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
BELLWOOD-ANTIS
Offense
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.
58 Brent Hescox........OT 6-1 210 12
62 P.J. Bobak..........OG 5-11 182 12
64 Sean Riggle..........C 6-0 200 11
65 Tim Noonan..........OG 5-10 225 12
75 Vince Torsell.......OT 6-1 260 11
90 Zack Fay............TE 6-3 221 12
10 Matt Miller.........QB 6-0 178 12
18 Jim Gwinn...........SB 5-10 183 12
28 Jeremy Guyer........HB 5-11 173 12
30 Don Ligenfelter.....FB 5-8 183 12
80 Dan Tubbs...........SE 5-10 170 12
Defense
90 Zack Fay............DE 6-3 221 12
75 Vince Torsell.......DT 6-1 260 11
65 Tim Noonan..........DT 5-10 225 12
58 Brent Hescox........DE 6-1 210 12
30 Don Ligenfelter.....LB 5-8 183 12
60 Nick Stephens.......LB 5-9 204 11
86 Adam Cherry.........LB 6-0 170 11
42 Travis Garner.......LB 5-9 155 11
80 Dan Tubbs...........CB 5-10 170 12
7 Jason Shura.........CB 5-8 145 11
82 Tim Tyler............S 6-0 168 11
STATISTICS
TEAM
SHARPSVILLE BELLWOOD-ANTIS
OFFENSE
2568..........Rushing yards..........2917
214.0..........Per game..........243.1
1658..........Passing yards..........1176
138.2..........Per game..........98.0
175-107-5..........Att-comp-int..........N/A
4186..........Total yards..........4093
348.8..........Per game..........341.1
411..........Points scored..........406
34.3..........Per game..........33.8
DEFENSE
1201..........Rushing yards allowed..........1326
100.0..........Per game..........110.5
1013..........Passing yards allowed..........1382
84.4..........Per game..........115.2
181-75-16..........Opp. Att-comp-int..........N/A
2181..........Total yards allowed..........2708
181.8..........Per game..........225.7
103..........Points allowed..........171
8.6..........Per game..........14.3
INDIVIDUAL
Rushing
SHARPSVILLE _ Justin Napotnik 140-940,
Reggie Burns 135-811, John Napotnik 53-328.
BELLWOOD-ANTIS _ Jeremy Guyer 220-1427,
Don Ligenfelter 121-640.
Passing
SHARPSVILLE _ John Napotnik 153-102-5-1576, 16 TDs.
BELLWOOD-ANTIS _ Matt Miller 114-60-8-1093, 6 TDs.
Receiving
SHARPSVILLE _ Brian Watson 29-510, Mark Ramsey 22-272, Justin Napotnik 21-398.
BELLWOOD-ANTIS _ Dan Tubbs 19-412, Zack Fay 18-335.
Scoring
SHARPSVILLE _ Justin Napotnik 21 TDs, 126 pts; Reggie Burns 9 TDs, 54 pts; John Napotnik 7 TDs, 44 pts, Mark Ramsey 8 TDs, 48 pts, Brian Watson 7 TDs, 42 pts.
BELLWOOD-ANTIS _ Guyer 21 TDs, 126 pts; Ligenfelter 17 TDs, 106 pts; Tubbs 3 TDs, 14 PATs, 32 pts.
Game-by-game scores
SHARPSVILLE (11-1)
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
PIAA A FIRST ROUND
27..........Clarion...............6
BELLWOOD-ANTIS (10-2)
20..........Tyrone...............27
47..........Everett..............12
20..........Bishop Guilfoyle......7
26..........Southern Huntingdon..16
40..........Bald Eagle Nittany...13
28..........Penns Valley.........29
40..........Mount Union..........22
58..........Juniata Valley.......27
46..........Curwensville..........0
REGION 3 A PLAYOFFS
18..........Laurel Valley.........2
28..........Southern Huntingdon..10
35..........West Branch...........6
