The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1997
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    PHOTO
    Members of the Sharpsville High football team react after the Blue Devils score a touchdown against Wilmington last Friday. The Blue Devils recently won their second consecutive MCAC Class A championship. (Clem Marion/Herald)

    TEAM OF THE MONTH: Sharpsville Blue Devils

    Sharpsville gridders having Devil of a season

    By Jeff Greenburg
    Herald Assistant Sports Editor

    The pressure has been different, the results the same.

    A year ago, the upstart Sharpsville Blue Devils roared out of the gate with four consecutive victories, including a pair over West Middlesex and Kennedy Christian, to claim the Mercer County Athletic Conference Class A championship in coach Paul Piccirilli's first year at the helm.

    Despite much higher expectations this season, Piccirilli's ``Little Giants'' are at it again, having won their first four games and a second consecutive Class A title. Even a close loss to state Class AA power Wilmington this past Friday hasn't dimmed the hopes and spirit in this tight-knit Mercer County community.

    For winning their second league title in as many seasons, the Blue Devils have been selected as The Herald's Male Team of the Month.

    ``Our expectations for the year were to get back in the District 10 playoffs,'' Piccirilli said. ``Fortunately one game tells you that _ playing Kennedy _ not only do you win your league, but it puts you in the playoffs.''

    Which is exactly where ``Pic'' and his Blue Devils (2-0, 4-1) want to be. A year ago, Sharpsville advanced to the D-10 championship game before dropping a heartbreaker in overtime to Cambridge Springs.

    ``We were close last year and with everybody we have back this year we want to win District 10,'' Piccirilli said. ``I mean, that's the ultimate goal,'' before quickly adding, ``and then go as deep in the playoffs as we can.''

    And that certainly has to have made the pressure, both perceived and actual, far greater this season.

    ``Last year we had zero pressure on us,'' Piccirilli said. ``And I still say winning that first game last year (Union City) put our program in the right direction because the kids believed what we were trying to sell them. From that point on, it's been a big plus.

    ``But this year it's definitely a lot different because expectations are high. Our motto is, `Remember the last game of last year.' We sat in our lockerroom after losing to Cambridge Springs and we cried our hearts out for about an hour, well after the game, and we made it a point then that the weightlifting, the offseason and summertime, we were dedicating everything to getting back to the District 10 finals.''

    Having outscored their first five opponents by an aggregate margin of 158-20, it appears that's just where the Devils might end up, if not further.

    And the keys to that early success?

    ``Obviously it's the leadership we have at quarterback,'' said Piccirilli, citing senior John Napotnik, a starter since his freshman year. ``He's done everything we've asked of him.''

    Another key has been the play of the offensive line, comprising Josh Hamder, Jason Oman, Andy Lewis, Bryan Weber, Tony Petricini and tight end Brad Sarchet. Piccirilli also cited the play of Russ Adkins, who is filling in for the injured Hamder (broken foot, out 3 weeks).

    ``I've even commented to other coaches when they've asked the key to our success that this is the smartest team I've ever been around _ not one of the strongest maybe or not one of the fastest, but the smartest. We have about 5-10 players who can play three or four positions, so we never get hurt substituting.''

    That also has been a key to a defensive unit that's yielded only 20 points in five contests.

    ``We fly to the ball, which is a key to success at any level,'' Piccirilli said. ``And we're very fortunate to have Justin Napotnik. As a freshman last year he called our defense, which is unheard of by any standard. And we do have him back for two more years.''




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