Young Steelers have playoff hopes

''It could be the least (experienced) coming back, but its not because they couldn't play,'' said Falconi, who enters his 19th campaign with a 157-49-5 career mark. ''It's just that we had so many seniors the last two years. It was just one of those unfortunate things.''

Farrell returns only three starters and four letterwinners -- Robin Jacoway, Lee Barlow, Lamar Claiborne and Mike Zec.

''Those four kids are the key to the team,'' Falconi said. ''They're the leaders and are playing key positions. Then we've got new guys that have got to step up.''

Including projected starting quarterback, senior Jackson Jones, who has been known more for basketball exploits at Farrell.

''We're going to give him the first crack at quarterback,'' Falconi said. ''He's a senior, but has had his problems the last two years. He's a basketball player and is a great athlete. We think, so far, he has shown us nothing but positive things. He's here to play football. He's a nice-sized athlete and can pass and run. If he comes through for us, that's a big plus.''

Among the key losses from a team that finished 9-3, losing a 25-24 heartbreaker to Fort Cherry in the WPIAL Class A semifinals a year ago, were Jason Kennedy, Rennie Gash and Melvin Gregory, all of whom were Heralded 22 selections.

Kennedy, a first-team all-state selection last year, was one of seven Farrell seniors who moved on to the collegiate level this year.

Joining Jason and his brother Stan at Slippery Rock University are Ernie Somerset, James Pulliam and Derrick Newell. Gash went to Toledo and Falconi's son, Louie, is at Grove City College.

''Kennedy was a great running back and a great linebacker; he'll definitely be missed,'' Falconi said. ''And Rennie Gash will be missed a lot, because he did do a lot of things. More than anything, I think it's Jason and Rennie. Everything else I think we can accommodate.''

One thing Falconi can accommodate is a different attitude that has come with the team not coming off a state championship for the first time since taking back-to-back titles in Ô95 and Ô96.

''There's good points and bad points to it,'' Falconi said. ''The first thing you think to yourself is, ÔGeez, we're going to be so inexperienced that it's going to be a rough start, especially early in the season.' The positive side of it is the kids are hungry. There's a lot of kids that never played before, a lot of seniors that didn't play the last two years are primed. They want to play.

''The other big plus is the attitude. We've got a much better attitude this year than we had last year. Last year, you had that spoiled attitude where kids came off two state titles and a lot of them played, so they had some big heads around here and we had a hard time with that.''

''This year might be my best preseason, believe it or not, with the attitude with the kids and we're very, very pleased. And we have some talent, but it just hasn't been shown yet or tested. So we could be a surprise,'' Falconi forecasted.

Farrell's hopes in the Big 7 have been bolstered by the addition of Terrance Gash, who is back with the Blue and Gold after spending a year at Hickory. Falconi said the senior will play tailback, fullback and inside-linebacker.

''That's a big plus for us,'' Falconi said. ''And he's certainly a welcome addition to our team.''

The biggest question mark, perhaps, for Falconi is the offensive line where he must replace three starters, including tackles Rich Townsend and Somerset, who weighed a combined 650 pounds.

One answer has been to move Barlow, a 270-pounder, from center to tackle. In addition, Falconi will be counting on 230-pound Mark Rupnik at left guard and 225-pound Leon Smith at left tackle.

Smith is a Farrell native who resided in Cleveland for several years.

As far as the league race, Falconi expects a wide-open battle for the four playoff spots that are up for grabs in the 9-team league.

The Big 7 lost Shenango, which moved to AA this year, but has added former AA power Laurel and Summit Academy, a school for court adjudicated youngsters. Farrell opens at Laurel.

''The league's going to be tough again, it's always tough,'' Falconi said. ''Rochester is the team everybody's talking about being the best team. Western Beaver is going to be good.''

As is Monaca.

''Our goal is to make the playoffs and right now I think we can,'' Falconi said. ''I'm getting very optimistic about this team, even though we've been untested.''

And the keys to success, according to Falconi?

''The mental part of the game is going to be a handicap because the kids haven't played. Hopefully, we can keep down the mistakes, penalties and stuff like that. No. 2, we're not deep on the line at all. After our first-line guys, we're hurting, so we've got to stay healthy.''

In addition to its difficult league schedule, Farrell has an unusual Thursday evening contest in Week 2 at Wheeling (W. Va.) Central Catholic.