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PLAYOFFS PREVIEW
Hang on, it's playoff time
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State champ Blue Devils ready to go
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ALSO OPENING ON FRIDAY: KC AND FARRELL
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At a glance
Following is a brief look at Friday's playoff games involving Sharpsville, Kennedy Christian and Farrell (Saturday's games with Sharon, Wilmington and Greenville will be previewed in Friday's Herald):
SHARPSVILLE-IROQUOIS
Who: Sharpsville (9-0) vs. Iroquois (8-1)
What: District 10 Class A Semifinal
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Franklin High School
How qualified: Sharpsville won the Mercer County Athletic Conference A title; Iroquois as an at-large team out of the Erie County League
Top players: Sharpsville -- Justin Napotnik, 5-9, 175-pound Jr. RB-LB, (122 carries, 1,070 yards, 23 TDs); Brad Allen, 6-3, 205-pound Jr. QB-LB, (61-of-104, 940 yards, 7 TDs, 6 INTs); Reggie Burns, 6-0, 170-pound Sr. RB-DE, (81 carries, 683 yards, 9 TDs); Jason Oman, 6-4, 305-pound Sr. OT-DT; Justin Lucas 5-11, 185-pound Sr. RB-LB, (14 receptions, 234 yards, 8 TDs). Iroquois -- Brian Peters, 5-9, 160 Sr. RB, (144 carries, 741 yards, 4 TDs, 8 catches, 156 yards, 3 TDs); Matt Glass, 6-0, 180 Sr. QB, (98 carries, 535 yards, 4 TDs, 34-of-94 for 516 yards, 10 TDs, 7 INTs); Scot Flick, 6-3, 175-pound Sr. RB, (40 carries, 269 yards).
Winner will play: Kennedy Christian-Linesville winner in the D-10 finals.
Extra points: Sharpsville has won 18 consecutive games overall and its last five in the postseason. ... Napotnik rushed for 243 yards on 23 carries and scored 3 TDs in a 32-3 win over St. Mary's last week. He now has 2,570 career yards and 55 career touchdowns. ... Coach Paul Piccirilli is 30-4 in three seasons and has led the Blue Devils to the playoffs all three years. ... The Blue Devils are averaging 39.8 points/game and 368.8 yards/game. Their defense is the area's best having allowed just 38 points thus far. ... Sharpsville is ranked first in the latest AP poll, the first week it's been in that spot this season. ... Iroquois is an honorable mention in the state rankings. ... Iroquois' only loss came to ECL champion General McLane in their third game, 41-9. They are currently on a six-game winning streak. ... The Braves are averaging 273.2 yards/game and only given up 157.6 yards/game. ... Glass is their leading scorer with 7 TDs, 1 FG and 17 PATs for 64 points. ... Matt Cadden is a sophomore fullback used in short-yardage situations and has scored 7 TDs.
KENNEDY-LINESVILLE
Who: Kennedy Christian (7-2) vs. Linesville (8-1).
What: District 10 Class A semifinals.
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Where: Greenville High School's Stewart Field.
How qualified: Kennedy as an at-large; Linesville as the French Creek Valley Conference champion.
Top players: Kennedy Christian -- 5-9, 185-pound Sr. RB-DB Jason Cecil (150-1,398, 9.3, 25 TDs, 152 points); 6-0, 200-pound Sr. FB-LB Brian Trimboli (69-675, 9.8, 14 TDs, 90 points); 6-3, 195-pound Sr. QB Shawn McClure (34 of 76, 573 yards, 6 TDs, 4 INT); 5-10, 160-pound Jr. WR Nick Rapone (12-223, 18.6 yards/catch); 6-0, 185-pound Sr. WR Jason Monsman 8-156, 19.5); 6-0, 205-pound Sr. LB Travis Shirley. Linesville -- 5-9, 150-pound Jr. QB Joe Hruska (51 for 96, 53.1 percent, 759 yards, 5 TDs, 5 INT), and 49 carries, 397 yards, 8.1 yards/carry, 7 TDs; 5-7, 170-pound Jr. FB Pat Harakal (146-995, 6.8, 14 TDs); 5-9, 180-pound Sr. WB Todd Greenawalt (91-383, 4.2, 6 TDs); 5-9, 145-pound Fr. WB Dan Hruska (20 catches, 388 yards, 19.4 yards/catch, 2 TDs); 6-1, 175-pound Sr. TE Pat Crum (20-205, 10.2, 1 TD); 6-1, 245-pound nose guard Eric Bice (FCVC-leading 10 QB sacks).
Winner will play: Sharpsville-Iroquois winner in the District 10 championship game.
Extra points: Linesville's lone loss occurred in its lidlifter, a 27-7 setback to Sharpsville. ... 25th-year mentor Dan McCullough (90-54-8 in the league) has more career wins than any other FCVC grid coach. ... Joe Hruska (102-207, 1,524, 13 TDs, 11 INT) is third all-time in Lions' passing yardage behind Tim Haworth (3,517) and Lenny McCullough (2,838). ... Linesville has outgained nine opponents, 316.2 to 208.8 yards/game and outscored them 29.6-10.2, including a 62-3 first-quarter bulge. ... The Lions have won 12 of their last 14 games and 11 consecutive FCVC contests and led the FCVC in rushing yards, yards/game and points. ... Harakal (1,231) and Greenawalt (1,094) both have surpassed the career, 1,000-yard plateau. ... Crum (104), Greenawalt (90) and Jo Hruska (71) lead Linesville in tackles, and the Lions have pilfered 11 enemy passes, led by Joe Hruska's three thefts. ... Turco is 32-21 in his fifth year at the Golden Eagles' helm ... Kennedy is averaging 37.2 points and 357.8 yards/game and yielding 11.3 points and 198.2 yards per outing.
FARRELL-CARMICHAELS
Who: Farrell (6-3) vs. Carmichaels (8-1)
What: WPIAL Class A First Round
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Carmichaels High School
How qualified: Farrell finished fourth in the WPIAL Big Seven Conference; Carmichaels finished first in the Tri-County South Conference
Top players: Farrell -- J.J. Wilson, 5-9, 160-pound Jr. QB-DB, (54-of-114, 1,243 yards, 12 TDs, 10 INTs); Lokey Howell, 5-8, 176-pound Sr. HB-SS, (23 receptions, 764 yards, 9 TDs); Terrence Gash, 5-11, 205-pound Sr. FB-LB, (56 carries, 324 yards, 6 TDs). Carmichaels -- Rocky Doman, 5-11, 180-pound Sr. RB, (193 carries, 1,433 yards, 18 TDs); Scott Krajanak, Sr. QB, (27-of-67, 638 yards, 7 TDs).
Winner will play: Greensburg Central Catholic-Monessen winner in the WPIAL Class A second round.
Extra points: Farrell, which was upset in the WPIAL semifinals last year after winning back-to-back state championships in 1995 and 1996, is making its fourth consecutive playoff appearance. ... The Steelers lost to South Side Beaver last week, 16-6, to fall to fourth place in the Big Seven. A win would have given them second place and a home field in the first round. ... Wilson is in his first year as a starter and is second in the area in passing at 138.1 yards/game. ... Farrell coach Lou Falconi is 163-52-5 in 19 seasons. ... Gash returns after missing the last two games due to suspension. ... Two-way lineman Frank Tamber also returns to action for the first time in two weeks after an ankle injury. ... Wilson wasn't even penciled in as a starter prior to the season opener. ... This is Carmichaels' first playoff appearance since 1992. ... Offensively, Carmichaels averages 33.6 points/game while allowing 14.2 defensively.
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By Brad Isles
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
Pardon Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli and his Sharpsville Blue Devils if they are a little bit irked.
They are the defending state Class A champions, yet this week were ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll for the first time this season.
Sharpsville (9-0) also won the Mercer County Athletic Conference A title, yet must travel to Franklin for their first-round District 10 game against Iroquois (8-1) Friday night. And there they will be the visiting team.
In other playoff games Friday, Kennedy Christian (7-2) plays Linesville (8-1) at Greenville High School in the other District 10 Class A semifinal and Farrell (6-3) travels to Carmichaels (8-1) for its WPIAL Class A first-round clash.
But no matter where the game is played, the Blue Devils are ready to defend their title. Sharpsville won five straight games last year, several after long bus rides to Erie, en route to the state title and are poised to make another run through the playoffs.
Kennedy Christian is making its third playoff appearance under coach John Turco and go up against Linesville, which won the French Creek Valley Conference.
"People around here don't give the French Creek Valley Conference a lot of respect," said Kennedy Christian coach John Turco. "Anyone who saw them play Sharpsville (a 27-7 Blue Devil win) knows they have a great football team. We expect to be in the game of our lives."
Speaking of Sharpsville, on the horizon is rematch with the Blue Devils, to whom the Golden Eagles have lost three consecutive meetings. That is, if both teams win Friday.
Therefore, Turco insists his team is not looking ahead, because if it does, there will be no rematch.
"Our kids are wise enough and smart enough not to look ahead and take it one step at a time," Turco said. "We're not the defending state champs or the defending league champs. We're 7-2 and good enough to get into the playoffs. We're not looking ahead."
Of the three local playoff teams, Farrell has the farthest to go, some two-plus hours to Greene County and Carmichaels.
"As far as the kids, as long as we don't get there too late, it shouldn't be a problem," said Farrell coach Lou Falconi.
This is the fourth consecutive playoff appearance for the Steelers, meaning most of the players have made it to the postseason. But few have actually played.
However, a team that entered the 1998 season with little game experience now consists of players who have a full regular season under their belts. And the rigors of playing in the Big Seven Conference age a team considerably.
"We hope it's an advantage," Falconi said. "It's going to be a benefit. I've always said it has been. Even if we've lost a game, in the long run it's proven to be a benefit. I feel we have a team that could make a run. Coming into the year I said we wanted to make the playoffs, now we're here."
But come this time of year, everybody's record is even at 0-0 and neither team really has an advantage over the other, at least on paper.
"Everybody's equal," Falconi said. "Now you start from scratch."
Saturday's playoff games, featuring Sharon, Wilmington and Greenville, will be previewed in Friday's Herald.
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Published Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998
