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Back on Labor Day weekend, Farrell High football team edged Sharon 21-14 in double-overtime in the annual Steel Bowl. At the time it seemed like a competitive contest, and the 2012 season looked promising for those Shenango Valley rivals.
Fast-forward 7 weeks. If only we knew then what we know now.
In a 6-day span, Hickory High’s football team beat both Sharon and Farrell by scoring 99 points and effecting the 35-point Mercy Rule by halftime of both games.
It should not seem that simple, but the Hornets are making it look almost effortless.
Led by DeShawn Coleman’s 15-carry, 201-yard, 4-touchdown rushing performance, host Hickory humbled Farrell, 50-0, Friday night at Hornet Stadium in a District 10 regional crossover contest.
Tight ends Calvin Pryts and Zach Cirillo, center Joey Hines, tackles Alonzo Scott and Dylan Brenneman and guards Jaylan Sharper and Daulton Linton paved paths for Coleman & Co.. Hickory amassed 355 yards rushing and 421 total. Quarterback Matt Voytik tallied twice and his backup, Noah Bianco, added another. Bianco set up his 2-yarder with a 79-yard draw in the closing minutes.
Unofficially, Coleman has collected 955 yards rushing on only 93 carries, averaging a 1st down (10.2) per carry. He’s also tallied 22 TDs, including 15 rushing.
Hornets’ head coach Bill Brest, in referencing Coleman, said, “We kind’ve like to think it’s coaching, but he’s doing a great job. He’s studying in the film room ... and he’s working hard on the practice field, as are all the guys.
“He’s a special player,” Brest praised.
“DeShawn’s doing a good job, and we’re getting better fullback play. And the offensive line is coming together. We’re getting our guys back and we’re starting to jell offensively.”
Brest, who doubles as offensive coordinator, was the maestro, mixing in some misdirection. Voytik orchestrated the offense, parlaying the option, some draws, and throwing just enough to keep the Steelers from stacking the box to contain Coleman, who also caught a 39-yard pass.
“Matt’s doing a good job, because we can do a lot with him,” Brest said. “He can throw the ball, he’s maturing as a quarterback. Matt’s just doing a great job and he’s making the right decisions ...”
Hickory sacked Steelers’ signal-caller Joe Goudy a trio of times (Linton, Austin Aikins, Sharper) and Farrell fumbled 5 times, losing 3 (Aikins and Calvin and Andrew Pryts with recoveries).
Farrell (4-3) finished with only 124 total yards. Dewayne Burns’ 55 yards rushing on 14 carries was one highlightl also, Marshawn Hyman’s trio of catches for 57 yards.
“It was another great job defensively with a shutout; our defense is playing great,” Brest beamed. “All three facets (including special teams) are doing a good job.”
Since its lone loss at Wilmington, Hickory (6-1) has won 4 consecutive contests by a composite 178-19 margin. It visits winless Saegertown next week. But Brest, in his best coach-speak in attempting to stay a step ahead of complacency and overconfidence, assessed,
“There’s some things that we need to address in order for our football team to get better. We just have to get better as a football team, and that’s what we’re gonna do this week: get better fundamentally, get better X-and-O-wise.”
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FARRELL 0 0 0 0 0
HICKORY 23 14 7 6 50
Scoring plays
H — Voytik, 10 run (Wombacker kick)
H — Coleman, 36 run (Wombacker kick)
H — safety
H — Coleman, 17 run (Wombacker kick)
H — Coleman, 61 run (Wombacker kick)
H — Voytik, 4 run (Wombacker kick)
H — Coleman, 34 run (Wombacker kick)
H — Bianco, 2 run (run failed)
Team stats
FARRELL HICKORY
10 First downs 15
54 Rushing yards 355
70 Passing yards 66
11-6-0 Att-comp-int 8-3-0
124 Total yards 421
5-3 Fumbles-lost 3-2
9-52è Penalties-yards lost 5-40
Individual stats
Rushing: FARRELL — Burns 14-55, Johnson 4-29, Jackson 2-18, Houston 1-7, Graham 3-5, Pinkins 1-2, Team -26; HICKORY — Coleman 15-201, Bianco 2-81, Voytik 10-50, Nardone 2-17, Sewell 1-5, Derloni 2-5, Lewis 1-2, Ezi-Ashi 1-1, Mosley 1-1, Tindall 1-(-8).
Passing: FARRELL — Goudy 11-6-0, 70; HICKORY — Voytik 8-3-0, 66.
Receiving: FARRELL — Hyman 3-57, Burns 2-3, Graham 1-10; HICKORY — Coleman 1-39, C.Pryts 1-15, Nardone 1-12.
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Hickory's DeShawn Coleman runs into the end zone for a score during Friday's game against Farrell at Hornet Stadium.
Hornets rout Farrell, 50-0
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