Two years ago Piccirilli's Blue Devils parlayed a midseason performance and rode it to the PIAA Class A title, and although the circumstances are not exactly the same, his sentiments are.

Sharpsville (10-1), the Mercer County Athletic Conference and District 10 titlist, commences PIAA Class A playoff action today with a 7 p.m. meeting with District 9 champion Cameron County (11-0) in DuBois.

"It's the drive that keeps us going,'' Piccirilli, regarding the PIAA playoffs. "Every Thursday night, when we practice, we close Thursday night out by saying, 'We want to be at this spot next week.' ''

During the school's first state-championship run in '97, however, Piccirilli recalled having practiced almost too intensely.

"We're having a great time this week; we're not hitting as much,'' Piccirilli, who has a 42-6 mark in five seasons, said. "Two years ago when we won state, it was a big thrill and the thrill of winning and going for a state championship is still there, but the kids are getting banged up and you don't want to hit as much.

"We're taking it easy on them. The first time, we went hard all the way through state, and there's no need to do that. The kids know where they have to be and what they have to do. Plus, we have so many players going two ways, they need more time to rest, especially after 14, 15 weeks of ball.''

Other than the expected bumps and bruises, Piccirilli reported his club as being healthy and primed.

"Eveybody that's banged up will play and I'm sure they'll give 110 percent, and we'll see where the cards fall,,'' he said.

Being at full strength will be crucial, as the Blue Devils are taking on a Cameron County team that may be physically as big or bigger than any team Sharpsville has met thus far.

"We're undersized no matter who we play, but all of our guys are unbelievable little athletes, and I think the world of them,'' Piccirilli said. "Cameron County) averages about 6-2, 225 and all 11 guys are clones of each other. Their quarterback (Adam Bickford) and his brother (running back John) are twins. Their quarterback throws the ball as well as anybody I've seen throwing the ball and he hasn't thrown an interception. It's gonna be tough for us to stop a team that runs and throws equally well."

So is this squad the best the Devils have faced to date?

"I don't know if they're the best team we've played -- it's hard to tell because I don't know, with the exception of Smethport, too much about the competition they play," Piccirilli said. "It's just someting we have to play hit-and-miss until the first quarter goes by to see, then see what adjustments we have to make."

Piccirilli characterized Cameron County as using pro-set and slot-I offensive formations and a 4-3 defensive scheme that sometimes features 2-deep zone coverage.

As for that old mojo, two years ago, a midseason overtime loss to Wilmington -- ultimately Sharpsville's lone blemish -- served as the springboard to a school-record 14-1 season that ended in an appearance at Altoon's Mansion Park and a 10-7 win over Riverside, and Piccirilli sees some similarities. He terms a midseason setback to Slippery Rock as "the best thing that's ever happened to us."

Piccirilli also sees some similarities between the '97 and '99 squads.

"As far as speed goes, as fars as that ('97) team, that's one (similarity)," he said. "Defensively, we're about the same size; we're not very big like that team. Offensively, our line is not as big and by the same token, our inside-outside (running) game and passing game is as good. We have three quality weapons this year. When (Scott) Sigworth gets outside, it opens up Justin (Napotnik) inside, and vice versa, and Brad Allen's coming along throwing as well. If you stop one of out three or even two out the three, there's still the other third to work to keep us in the game.''

There's also one other similarity: That feeling.

"This is unbelievable. This is why we coach and the kids play -- to get the opportunity to be in this position,'' Piccirilli said. "I've told the kids it takes four perfect games from here on out to win it all, and it's something we're very capable of, but so are the other 15 teams involved. We just have to eliminate the mistakes, do what we do best, and execute."

And if that happens, it could be deja vu all over again in Sharpsville.

"The nice thing about the playoffs is that every week could be your last week," Piccirilli said. "Tension runs high and you get that queasy feeling, just like when you were an athlete and playing. And the nice thing about this team is that when it comes time to play, they will be able to play as well as they have and be as focused as they've been all year.''