The question "What has happened since then?" should be rephrased to "What hasn't happened since then?"

It just so happens that Piccirilli took the head coaching position at Sharpsville two years ago and last year led the Blue Devils to the PIAA Class A Championship -- one of the sweetest Cinderella stories anywhere the latter half of the decade. His Blue Devils (2-0) are off to another strong start this season, opening with two routs. They have outscored opponents 68-7 and lead all area teams in averaging 365 yards per game.

Mercer, conversely, is searching for the success it had earlier in the decade when Piccirilli was an assistant. But gone is Makarevich and in is former Farrell standout Ed Klutcher.

The Class AA Mustangs have struggled early while adjusting to Klutcher's new system and are 0-2 after being outscored 80-18. Perhaps then it will be no surprise that defense will play a big part in the game. Mercer must stop the powerful running attack of Sharpsville, namely Justin Napotnik (105 yards/game, 5 TDs) and Scott Sigworth who had 78 yards on 6 carries in the absence of the injured Reggie Burns.

Then there is quarterback Brad Allen, who was 5 of 9 for 85 yards and a TD last week in a 41-0 romp over Reynolds.

Defense has never been a problem for the Blue Devils under Piccirilli's leadership. They were one of the best last year and have proved to be just as good, if not better, this season. They are second-best in the area in allowing 106 total yards/game.

Mercer's offense has managed just 351 total yards, including minus-2 passing.

• Grove City (0-2) at Sharon (1-1) -- Much to the dismay of coach Jeff Bell, the Class AAA Eagles have gotten off to a very slow start. After a last-second loss to Meadville the first week, Wilmington pummeled the Eagles last week, 51-16. The only bright spot was Julian Pierce's 101 yards and 2 TDs.

  Class AA Sharon also suffered a difficult loss in the first week to Woodland Hills, but was able to bounce back with a convincing 37-3 victory over Boardman last week. Star running back T.J. Phillips managed just 75 yards on 31 carries, but quarterback Jeff Valentino picked up the slack by completing 8 of 13 passes for 181 yards.

• Hickory (1-1) at Reynolds (0-2) -- The move up to Class AAA has proven fruitful so far for the Hornets under first-year coach Phil Annarella. Hickory gave the new mentor his first victory, 24-0, last week over AAA foe Slippery Rock.

  Marcus Horvath did the most damage for the Hornets, scampering for 131 yards and added a score. In two game he has 259 yards.

  Class AA Reynolds has yet to break onto the scoreboard in their two games, a 42-0 loss to Greenville and a 41-0 setback to Sharpsville.

• Wilmington (1-1) at Slippery Rock (0-2) -- So what if Wilmington loses a regular season game? For the first time since 1994, a span of 28 games, the Greyhounds dropped a game before the playoffs. But they rallied last week to rout Grove City.

  Leading the way was QB Matt Robison who went 6-for-8 for 85 yards and a pair of TD tosses to brother Adam. Then the Hounds piled up 298 yards on the ground.

  Class AAA Slippery Rock hasn't gotten a win yet for first-year coach Brendan Smith, although the Rockets just missed in their opener, falling to Strong Vincent, 29-22.

• Farrell (1-0, 1-1) at Monaca (1-0, 2-0) -- The Steelers have had plenty of time to recover from a 21-12 loss at Wheeling Central Catholic some eight days ago and will look to rebound against an undefeated Monaca squad.

  First-year quarterback J.J. Wilson has led the young Steelers in their two games, completing 12 of 23 passes for 222 yards and a TD. He has also rushed for 3 scores himself.

  Monaca trounced Laurel last weekend, 34-14, on the Spartans' home field. Todd DiBiacco led the way with 149 yards on 10 carries. Farrell knocked off the Spartans by a 20-12 count at home in Week 1.

• Franklin (1-0, 2-0) at Greenville (1-0, 2-0) -- The Trojans have dominated the Northwest Conference of late but got a scare last week and just slipped by Meadville, 10-0.

  Leading Greenville to its 31st consecutive league win was running back Todd Shimshock with a 37-yard TD run. In two games, Shimshock has run for 198 yards and 5 scores.

  Franklin runner junior Phil McKinley leads the NWC in rushing, cruising at a 142 yards/game clip. He nets 10.5 yards/carry and leads the league with 6 TDs.

• Lakeview (1-1, 1-1) at Maplewood (1-1, 1-1) -- The Sailors cruised by Union City a week ago, led by sophomore Justin George's 30-carry, 192-yard, 4-TD performance. What's more impressive is the Sailors rallied from a 25-6 second-quarter deficit. The victory also avenged a 41-0 loss to Union City in last year's final game.

  Maplewood lost to St. Marys 21-7 last week after getting by Union City 35-20 in the season opener. Brett Barickman leads the Tigers with 122 yards on 26 carries and has found the end zone three times.

• Kennedy Christian (2-0) at Dalton, Ohio (1-1) -- The Golden Eagles have kept pace with their Class A brethren and lead all local teams with 98 points over their first two games.

  Jason Cecil has emerged as the top runner in the area so far, cruising at a 169.5 yards/game rate. He also leads the area with 7 TDs.

  Quarterback Scott McClure is also a valuable weapon, going 9 of 14 for 177 yard and a score.

  Dalton, guided by 17th-year coach Bob Ramsay, is coming off a 28-0 loss to league foe Tuslaw last week. In the opening game of the year, although Bulldog quarterback Tyler Himes was 6 of 9 for 150 yards.

• Brookfield (1-1) at Beaver Local -- Brookfield fell to Girard last Friday, 34-14, but looks to rebound against Beaver Local in its final game before TAC-8 play begins.

  The switch from slotback to quarterback by Spike Bayus has proved fruitful for the Warriors, however. He is 12 of 16 for 169 yards and a TD and he has added a pair of rushing scores and a 2-point conversion.

• Hubbard (1-1) at Struthers (1-1) -- Hubbard failed to led a first-game setback dampen its hopes for another stellar season by rebounding for a 35-0 thrashing of Cleveland East in the second week.

  Carmen Tanferno rushed for 138 yards on 19 carries and backfield mate Ryan Caeser added 115 yards on 10 totes. Each scored twice to lead the Eagles.

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  SATURDAY

• West Middlesex (2-0) at Cochranton (0-2) -- Class A may prove to be the most competitive division in the MCAC this season. All three teams are at or near the top in every offensive and defensive category.

  The biggest surprise in the division, however, could by the Big Reds who are 2-0 for the first time since 1991. Quarterback Clint Doolin has led the resurgence by scoring 6 TDs and rushing for 277 yards in the first two games. He's picking up 19.8 yards/carry on average.

  He, and Ron Goodman with 3 TDs, have helped the Big Reds score 92 points the first two games. In 10 games last year West Middlesex managed the same total.

  The Cardinals Shaun Bortner leads the team with 100 yards on 27 carries. But Cochranton has been outscored 72-6 in its two losses.