CLASS A
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Farrell
FAVORITE: Farrell
OTHER CONTENDERS: Mercyhurst Prep, Sharpsville, Linesville, Mercer
THE FIELD
FARRELL STEELERS (10-0) HEAD COACH: Jarrett Samuels
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: earned automatic berth as Region 1 Champion
OFFENSE: Averaged 38.2 points per game in the regular season (second amongst all District 10 Class A teams and teams in field)
DEFENSE: Allowed 5.5 points per game in the regular season (first amongst all teams District 10 teams, regardless of classification)
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STAT LEADERS
Passing: Dan Odem 38-68-650-10-4
Rushing: Jamar Whitman 78-680-8
Receiving: Dion Eilam 16-358-4
RECORD AGAINST OTHER TEAMS IN FIELD: 3-0 (beat Linesville 40-0, beat Mercer 21-14, beat Sharpsville 12-7), also beat D-10 Class AA playoff qualifier Sharon 46-7
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: last year
Beat Union City 25-0 in District 10 Quarterfinals
Beat Saegertown 31-0 in District 10 Semifinals
Beat Linesville 28-7 in District 10 Championship
Beat Cameron County 31-0 in PIAA Quarterfinals
Lost 21-24 to Clairton in PIAA Semifinals
OTHER PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN LAST FIVE YEARS: 2007 (lost 20-21 to Mercyhurst Prep in District 10 Semifinals)
DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 1 (last year)
PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 3 (all as member of WPIAL)
1997: beat Southern Columbia 14-12
1996: beat Southern Columbia 6-0
1990: lost 12-13 to Marian Catholic
NOTES: Along with being one of only three undefeated teams in all of District 10, Farrell has won 22 of its last 23 games dating back to last year. Last week’s 57-6 win over Kennedy Catholic was the sixth time this season that the Steelers scored at least 40 points and the ninth occasion that they held the opposition to no more than a touchdown.
MERCYHURST PREP LAKERS (10-0)HEAD COACH: Matt Morgan HOW THEY QUALIFIED: earned automatic berth as Region 2 Champion
RECORD AGAINST OTHER TEAMS IN FIELD: 4-0 (beat Cambridge Springs 48-0, beat Eisenhower 41-0, beat Mercer 28-14, beat Union City 41-26)
OFFENSE: Averaged 43.1 points per game in the regular season (first amongst all District 10 Class A teams)DEFENSE: Allowed 10.4 points per game in the regular season (second amongst all District 10 Class A teams and teams in field) INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STAT LEADERSPassing: Tony Cordovano 24-49-356-3-1Rushing: Aaron Horton 133-1398-22Receiving: Rob Kaiser 9-103-2 LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2007Beat Linesville 21-20 in District 10 QuarterfinalsBeat Farrell 21-20 in District 10 SemifinalsBeat Mercer 21-19 in District 10 ChampionshipLost 7-12 to Kane in PIAA Quarterfinals OTHER PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN LAST FIVE YEARS: 2006 (lost 17-20 to Sharpsville in District 10 Semifinals)DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 1 (2007)PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: none NOTES: Since dropping to Class A before the 2006 season, Mercyhurst Prep has a cumulative record of 39-7 and 2009 was the third time during that span that the Lakers finished the regular season undefeated. Last week’s 41-26 victory over Union City was the first time in eight weeks and just the third time this year that the Lakers had a game decided by fewer than 26 points. SHARPSVILLE BLUE DEVILS (8-2)HEAD COACH: Paul PiccirilliHOW THEY QUALIFIED: at-large berth (tied for second with Linesville and Mercer in Region 1)RECORD AGAINST OTHER TEAMS IN FIELD: 1-2 (beat Linesville 42-7, lost 7-12 to Farrell, lost 14-28 to Mercer), also had 28-0 victory over District 9 Class A playoff qualifier Clarion OFFENSE: averaged 31.8 points per game (fourth amongst all District 10 Class A teams and teams in field)DEFENSE: allowed 12.0 points per game during the regular season (third amongst all District 10 Class A teams and teams in field) INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STAT LEADERSPassing: Frank Joseph 30-67-420-4-6Rushing: Nate Titus 111-973-13Receiving: Chad Piccirilli 14-182-1 LAST POSTSEASON APPEARANCE: last season
Lost 28-49 to Saegertown in District 10 Quarterfinals
OTHER POSTSEASON APPEARANCES IN LAST FIVE YEARS: 2006 (lost 13-35 to West Middlesex in District 10 Championship game), 2005 (lost 12-34 to Kennedy Catholic in District 10 Championship game), 2004 (lost 6-34 to Curwensville in PIAA Quarterfinals)DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 4 (1999-2001, 2004)PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 11997: beat Riverside 10-7 NOTES: After dropping consecutive games to Mercer and Farrell, Sharpsville finished the year with three straight wins, including triumphs over Linesville and D-9 Class A playoff qualifier Clarion, and outscored the opposition 132-19 in that time. The Blue Devils are making their ninth postseason trip in 11 years and during that stretch the team has appeared in the district title game six times and captured four crowns. UNION CITY BEARS (7-3)HEAD COACH: Brian PattenHOW THEY QUALIFIED: at-large berth (finished second in Region 2)RECORD AGAINST OTHER TEAMS IN FIELD: 2-1 (beat Cambridge Springs 14-8, beat Eisenhower 22-21, lost 26-41 to Mercyhurst Prep) OFFENSE: averaged 22.5 points per game during regular season (eighth amongst all District 10 Class A teams, sixth amongst teams in field)DEFENSE: allowed 17.7 points per game during regular season (eighth amongst all District 10 Class A teams, seventh amongst teams in field) INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STAT LEADERSPassing: Ryan Myers 20-46-190-2-7Rushing: Jared Burger 223-1470-14Receiving: Robbie Hollis 8-69-0 LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: last yearLost 0-25 to Farrell in District 10 Quarterfinals OTHER PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN LAST FIVE YEARS: 0DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 0PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 0 NOTES: Union City has won as many games over the past two seasons (14) as it did in the previous seven. Before last week’s 41-26 loss to Mercyhurst Prep, the Bears had won five straight games, which was their top win streak since opening the 2000 campaign with seven consecutive victories. LINESVILLE LIONS (8-2)HEAD COACH: Pat GouldHOW THEY QUALIFIED: at-large berth (tied for second with Mercer and Sharpsville in Region 1)RECORD AGAINST OTHER TEAMS IN FIELD: 2-2 (beat Cambridge Springs 35-6, beat Mercer 27-13, lost 0-40 to Farrell, lost 7-42 to Sharpsville) OFFENSE: averaged 31.3 points per game (fifth amongst all Class A teams in District 10 and teams in field)DEFENSE: allowed 18.1 points per game (ninth amongst all District 10 Class A teams, eighth amongst teams in field) INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERSPassing: Trevor Litwiler 82-139-1361-16-6 Rushing: Litwiler 145-1076-15Receiving: Walt Litwin 23-485-2 LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: last yearBeat Cambridge Springs 21-7 in District 10 QuarterfinalsBeat Mercer 35-7 in District 10 SemifinalsLost 7-28 to Farrell in District 10 Championship OTHER PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN LAST FIVE YEARS: 2007 (lost 20-21 to Mercyhurst Prep in District 10 Quarterfinals), 2004 (lost 14-21 to Sharpsville in District 10 Championship game)DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 0PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 0 CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS BLUE DEVILS (7-3)HEAD COACH: Walt NottinghamHOW THEY QUALIFIED: at-large berth (finished third in Region 2)RECORD AGAINST OTHER TEAMS IN FIELD: 1-3 (beat Eisenhower 35-0, lost 6-35 to Linesville, lost 0-48 to Mercyhurst Prep, lost 8-14 to Union City) OFFENSE: averaged 23.2 points per game (10th amongst all District 10 Class A teams, seventh amongst teams in field) DEFENSE: allowed 15.1 points per game (fifth amongst all District 10 Class A teams and teams in field) INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STAT LEADERSPassing: Stephen Kargol 23-61-250-4-4Rushing: Corey Dunton 167-1046-14Receiving: Dunton 8-85-1 LAST POSTSEASON APPEARANCE: last yearLost 7-21 to Linesville in District 10 Quarterfinals OTHER POSTSEASON APPEARANCES IN LAST FIVE YEARS: 2006 (lost 14-35 to Sharpsville in District 10 Quarterfinals, 2005 (lost 6-49 to Sharpsville in District 10 Quarterfinals)DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 0PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 0 NOTES: Cambridge Springs closed the year with five straight wins, including a forfeit victory over Harborcreek Youth and posted shutouts in three of those wins (not including the forfeit). The Blue Devils join first round opponent Sharpsville as the only two teams in this year’s field that have qualified for the postseason four times in the last five years. MERCER MUSTANGS (7-3)HEAD COACH: Pat McLearnHOW THEY QUALFIED: at-large berth (finished tied for second with Linesville and Sharpsville in Region 1)RECORD AGAINST OTHER TEAMS IN FIELD: 1-3 (beat Sharpsville 28-14, lost 14-21 to Farrell, lost 13-27 to Linesville, lost 14-28 to Mercyhurst Prep) OFFENSE: averaged 32.9 points per game during regular season (third amongst all District 10 Class A teams and teams in field)DEFENSE: 12.3 points per game allowed (fourth amongst all District 10 Class A teams, fourth amongst teams in field) INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STAT LEADERSPassing: Andrew Erdos 19-60-377-6-5Rushing: Kyle Mariacher 141-973-14Receiving: Andy Reda 10-246-4 LAST POSTSEASON APPEARANCE: last year Beat Iroquois 28-14 in District 10 QuarterfinalsLost 7-35 to Linesville in District 10 Semifinals OTHER POSTSEASON APPEARANCES IN LAST FIVE YEARS: 2007 (lost 19-21 to Mercyhurst Prep in District 10 Championship game)
DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 0PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 0 NOTES: Mercer closed the year by winning six straight and seven of its final eight, including a 35-6 week 10 win over Lakeview, in what was essentially a play-in game. The Mustangs have won 26 straight games when holding the opposition to no more than 20 points and in that same time period they are just 2-6 when giving up more than 20. EISENHOWER KNIGHTS (5-5)HEAD COACH: Jim PenleyHOW THEY QUALIFIED: at-large (finished fourth in Region 2)RECORD AGAINST OTHER TEAMS IN FIELD: 0-3 (lost 0-35 to Cambridge Springs, lost 0-46 to Mercyhurst Prep, lost 21-22 to Union City) also lost 6-12, in overtime, to District 10 Class AA playoff qualifier Oil City OFFENSE: averaged 18.5 points per game allowed during regular season (11th amongst all District 10 Class A teams, eighth amongst teams in field)DEFENSE: 17.5 points per game allowed during regular season (seventh amongst all District 10 Class A teams, sixth amongst teams in field) INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERSPassing: Cody Crosby 86-166-1433-13-1Rushing: Dustin Huntoon 94-495-7Receiving: Jaryd Shield 30-601-5 LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2007
Lost 7-14 to Mercer in District 10 Class A Quarterfinals
OTHER PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN LAST FIVE YEARS: 0DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 0PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 0
NOTES: After dropping four straight games, the Knight closed the regular season with back-to-back victories, including a 14-7 week 10 win over Iroquois in what was essentially a play-in game. The season closing stretch also assured Eisenhower of no worse than a .500 regular season finish for the seventh time in eight years.
