By Lynn Saternow
Herald Herald Writer

Farrell High's 1998 season came to an abrupt halt Friday night at Hampton High stadium, but veteran Steelers' coach Lou Falconi had no regrets.

"Rochester is the best team in the state," said Falconi after seeing his team handed a 41-22 loss in the WPIAL Class A semifinals.

Actually, Rochester looked like possibly the best Class A team in the nation in the first half as they built a 35-0 lead over mistake-prone Farrell, dominating in all facets of the game.

"We put ourselves in too big a hole early," said Falconi. "They took advantage of big breaks and they are too good a football team to fall behind like that. But I don't think the outcome could have been any different ... unless maybe we scored first."

The Steelers had that opportunity as they took the opening kickoff and Fred Brown returned it to the Farrell 45 for good field position. But on a third-down play, quarterback J.J. Wilson's pass was intercepted by Kris Griffin, who returned it to the Farrell 28 before he was hauled down.

"J.J. was hit as he threw," said Falconi, "That interception set the tone for the first half." It set the tone for the whole game as well as the Steelers went on to allow five turnovers -- two interceptions and three fumbles.

From the 28, it took Rochester seven running plays to get on the scoreboard with pile-driving fullback Darrell Damon going the final yard. Brandon Matsook booted his first of three extra point kicks for a 7-0 lead with 7:36 remaining in the first period.

Farrell didn't seem phased by the early score, however, and after the ensuing kickoff moved to a first down at the Rochester 19-yard line.

But after a Terrence Gash run to the 12 on first down, a sack and two incompletions ended the threat and Rochester took over at the 20.

With the Steelers a bit frustrated, on the next play Rams running back Mookie Anderson broke loose on a 75-yard scamper to the Farrell 5 and two plays later Damon powered over for a score.

In the second quarter, the Rams tacked on three more touchdowns on runs of 1- and 4-yards by star running back Reuben Jackson and a 1-yard run by Anderson.

Just when things looked the worst for the Steelers late in the half, they got a boost from a Gash interception at the Rochester 40. Five plays later, Wilson hit Lamar Claiborne with a 28-yard scoring pass to cut the margin to 35-6 with 44 seconds remaining before intermission. A run for points after failed and that score stood at halftime.

Neither team could mount any scoring drives in the third period as Farrell gave up two fumbles and Rochester yielded a fumble (recovered by Gash) and an interception (by Brown).

And to make matters worse, Wilson was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury.

Jackson Jones replaced Wilson land early in the fourth frame, Jones found Lokey Howell for a 16-yard scoring pass. A PAT aerial from Jones to Frank Tamber cut the margin to 35-14,

But Rochester answered with a time-consuming 61-yard drive that ended in a 7-yard TD run by Kirby Griffin.

Farrell capped the scoring with 9 seconds remaining on an 18-yard run by Howell and a PAT run by Gash.

"Our kids never quit, even after they fell way behind," said Falconi. "There's no shame in losing to Rochester. They were primed tonight in that first half.

"They are the best team in the state; I can't see anybody beating them.

"We're proud of our kids. At the start of the year we weren't sure what kind of year we had. But we made the playoffs and won two games."

The Steelers, who finished in fourth place in the Big 7 Conference behind champion Rochester, lost to the Rams earlier in the season, 35-20.

Farrell finished at 8-4, while Rochester upped its mark to a perfect 12-0 heading into the WPIAL Class A title tilt against the winner of tonight's clash between Monaca and Riverview.

NOTES: Gash, a senior, finished with 124 yards on 13 carries to lead the Steelers .... Anderson had 104 yards on 8 carries to head the Rams, who amassed all of their 306 yards on the ground ... Farrell had 80 yards in the air, but allowed 59 yards in sacks.