REGION 3 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

SHARON TIGERS

HEAD COACH: Bob Fromm

2008 RECORD: 6-1 region (second), 10-2 overall (lost 10-27 to Slippery Rock in district semifinals)

PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN LAST 5 YEARS: 3 (2006-2008)

DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 3 (1999-2001)

PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 2 (both as Class AAA team)

1995: lost 7-27 to Berwick

1996: lost 7-27 to Berwick

OFFENSE

Averaged 28.2 points per game last season (not including playoffs)

RANK

Amongst 8 teams in region: 4

Amongst 17 Class AA teams in District 10: 6

Sharon’s offense averaged at least four touchdowns per game both of the past two years, but repeating that success won’t be easy as six players that earned some form of postseason recognition graduated, including region player of the year Todd Rearick, a three year starter who passed for 2,421 yards and 28 touchdowns last year, and second team all-state wide receiver Mike Tomko (45 catches, 840 yards, 13 touchdowns). Senior Ron Howard, who earned second team all-region all purpose back honors by accounting for 584 yards of offense (305 rushing, 279 receiving), is the new signal caller and he showed off his legs in the team’s final scrimmage against Strong Vincent with a number of nice runs, including a touchdown that went for more than 60 yards. Senior Louis Brown (21 catches, 338 yards, seven touchdowns) returns as one starting wide receiver, with senior Casey Smith and juniors Steve Bittler and Vandell Spicer other that will see time at receiver in the Tigers spread offense.  Seniors Kevin Brown, Cameron Brown, who missed the team’s first two scrimmages due to injury but could be back for the season opener against Farrell, and James Hosey all have varsity experience and junior Marc Martell is a fourth option at running back. Kevin Brown led the group in rushing last season and started the afore mentioned scrimmage against Strong Vincent. Second team all-region tight end Dustin Norcross (31 catches, 455 yards, seven touchdowns) joined Rearick and Tomko in the class of 2009 and senior London Sanders and junior Jordan Rearick, who is Todd Rearick’s younger brother, are both options to be the new starter. On the line Sharon must replace three second team all-region selections, although senior guard Nick Juranovich and junior tackles Justin Yuran and Marion Lampkins all have at least some starting experience, while seniors Ian Wingard (center) and Tim Tillman (guard) complete the list of starters.

DEFENSE

16.4 points per game allowed last season (not including playoffs)

Amongst 8 teams in region: 2

Amongst 17 Class AA teams in District 10: 5

The Tigers were 7-0, including postseason, when holding the opposition to fewer than 20 points last year, but just 3-3 when failing to do so. Four all-region choices from last year’s unit are no longer around and as is the case on offense (second team cornerback) Howard is the lone returning all-region selection and makes the move to safety. Cornerback Brown, who returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown in a Tiger victory over Carrick last season, gives the secondary another returning starter, with Bittler the other corner, Smith the rover and Spicer (cornerback) and Kevin Brown (rover) others expected to see time in the defensive backfield. Two of the all-region losses on defense came from the line, including first team defensive end Norcross and Sanders, Jordan Rearick, Martell and Tillman are all likely to see some time at end this year, with senior Tim Runyan and juniors Demond Davis-White, Travis Coonce and Nick Osmon and sophomore Zach Porterfield all in the rotation at defensive tackle. Linebacker appears to be the most experienced unit on the defense as Cameron Brown, Juranovch, Hosey and Yuran have all seen significant time and Juranovich had three sacks in the team’s playoff victory over Fairview and also had an interception return for a score in a regular season triumph over Titusville. Sophomore Joey Tomko, Mike Tomko’s younger brother, is another player that could see time at linebacker and in the Strong Vincent scrimmage Juranovich started as the MIKE, Yuran was the SAM and Hosey the WILL.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Todd Rearick added first team all-region punter to his list of accomplishments last year and Jordan Rearick takes his spot, while sophomore Jason Sypolt is back as the kicker with Brown, Spicer, Hosey and Bittler all possible return men.

OVERVIEW

Sharon lost a lot, but does return some very talented players and should be in the hunt for a fourth straight playoff berth.  

OIL CITY OILERS

HEAD COACH: Matt LaVerde

2008 RECORD: 2-5 region (tied fifth), 3-7 overall

PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN LAST 5 YEARS: 0

DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 0

PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 0

OFFENSE

Averaged 22.8 points per game last season

Amongst 8 teams in region: 5

Amongst 17 Class AA teams in District 10: 9

Last year was the first time since 2005 that Oil City averaged more than 20 points per game and the 22.8 per contest that the Oilers put up was more than any other District 10 Class AA team that failed to qualify for the postseason. Most of the skill position players from last year’s offense are back, including junior classmates Logan Lantz (wide receiver) and Ben Koyack (tight end), who combined to catch 107 passes for 1599 yards and 18 touchdowns. Lantz led the team with 55 catches, which went for 799 yards and eight touchdowns, and during the final three weeks of the season he hauled in 32 passes 594 yards and six touchdowns. Koyack, who has been getting Division 1 attention, had 48 receptions and led the team in both receiving yards (800) and touchdown catches (10) and had 22 catches for 438 yards and seven scores during that same season-ending three game stretch, which saw the team go 2-1 and put up 42 points per contest. Junior Mark Kulinski, who completed 46 of 69 passes for 917 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions for the season, was the starting quarterback for all three of those games, while senior Stephen May began last season as the starter and led the team in attempts (189), completions (93) and passing yards (1,115) and threw six touchdowns passes and seven interceptions.  Those two entered camp in a battle to win the starting job and with just four days left before the season opener against Meadville, coach LaVerde had not named a starter, although he said that he would do so later in the week. Senior Cody Johnson (79 carries, 267 yards, three touchdowns) and junior Sam Heasley (47 carries, 194 yards, one touchdown – eight catches, 64 yards) give the team two experienced running backs, while senior Logan Carson and juniors Luke Klena, who rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown in the team’s season closing victory over Reynolds, Brett Heber and Tyler Fleeger are others that could start or see time. Junior Dallas Williams finished fourth on the team in catches (9) and receiving yards (112) and joins Lantz as a returning starter at wide receiver, while the Oilers will have two tight ends on the field in many situations with either Devin Forgey or Conner Taylor, both seniors, joining Koyack. Three multi-year starters from last year’s line graduated, including second team all-region guard Matt Schneider and seniors Brandon Xander and Andrew Angros and junior Blaise Rex are all options to be the starting guards this season. Xander could also start at center, with classmate Joe Hopwood being the other possible starter, while the top three tackles are juniors Nick Updegraff and Paul Mitchell and sophomore Mike Moon.

DEFENSE

28.7 points per game allowed last season

RANK

Amongst 8 teams in region: 6

Amongst 17 Class AA teams in District 10: 14

Oil City’s defense has allowed more than 28 points per game each of last four years and if the team is to be a serious playoff contender that streak obviously can’t continue. The strength of this year’s defense could be linebacker as four players that recorded at least 25 tackles return, including Carson, who recorded at least 50 tackles both of past seasons (77, 3.5 sacks last year) and Johnson (72 tackles, one interception) who are the starting inside linebackers. Heasley (31 tackles, 3.5 sacks), Koyack (25 tackles, 2.5 sacks), Taylor (24 tackles), Klena and junior Alex Deloe will be in the rotation at outside linebacker, while Deloe and classmate Lucas McVay are the top two backups at inside linebacker. Lantz (41 tackles, two interceptions) and Heber, who could start at either corner or safety, give the secondary two experienced starters, while Fleeger could also start at safety or cornerback and Williams is a third option at corner. Defensive tackle Angros (38 tackles over the past two seasons) and defensive end Xander (35 tackles last year) are the two most experienced defensive linemen and others that figures to see time up front are tackles Hopwood, senior Steven Bradley and junior Matt Rankin and ends Moon, Forgey and Rex.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Klena returns as the kicker and Carson is the punter.

OVERVIEW

Led by Koyack, Oil City has a plethora of talented skill players on offense, but whether or not the team can make a run at a first postseason berth in more than a decade could depend on the play of the offensive line and the defense.