---- — It’s appropos the tradition-rich Sharon-Farrell rivalry kicks off Mercer County’s 2012 scholastic football season. Eleven games involving Herald coverage-area squads take place tonight.

Not coincidently, this also serves as reunion weekend in the Shenango Valley. A trio of Farrell High classes (’72, ‘’77 and ’82) and at least one from Sharon (’72) will commemorate their graduations.

Current student-athletes will begin making their own memories beginning tonight under the lights. But it will be almost daunting for this year’s gridders to live up to the heritage established by their predecessors.

Case in point is Farrell’s ’76 team, which won Midwestern Athletic Conference and WPIAL championships with an 11-2 record. Former Farrell standout Brian Sanders said numerous senior members from that squad (Forrest Campman, Walter Cannon, Tom DeMatteo, Walter Harden, Greg Harris, Lawrence Hughes, Jay Jackson, Karl James, Kevin Mitchell, Alphonso Mazyck, Harrison Blackwell, Jim Falconi, Reggie Sanders, Tim Odem, Ron Williams, Vincent Short and Sanders) received collegiate scholarships.

“Hey, the more the merrier. This should be a celebration for both communities,” related Tigers’ taskmaster Bob Fromm, who has both played in and coached in the rivalry.

“This is how we describe it to the kids — and we’re not slighting anybody ... we’ve developed such a healthy rivalry with Hickory. But Farrell and Sharon, that’s the way it always was, and any time you get into neighborhood rivalries ... where your kids know the kids on the other team, there’s a lot of pride on the line,” Fromm emphasized. “We take a lot of pride in our athletics and academics.

“But, certainly, the tradition over the years — Sharon and Farrell in football, Sharon and Farrell in basketball — those are the ones even the casual fans want to make it to.

“And,” Fromm added, “rarely does it disappoint. This should be another good football game.”

Tonight’s Games

(All games begin 7 p.m.)

Sharon at Farrell

This season’s Steelers and Tigers will attempt to live up to the lofty standards of their forbearers. Only a year removed from District 10 titles, both are bent on bounce-back seasons.

Last year under Tim Scarvel Farrell forged a 6-5 mark, including an opening-round D-10 tourney upset of Mercyhurst Prep before falling to eventual kingpin Sharpsville. Following a 1-year hiatus, Jarrett Samuels returns to skipper the Steelers in hopes of returning to the program’s 3-year reign atop the district (2007-09) while advancing to the state’s Final Four. Like Fromm, he has played and coached in this game.

After annexing 3 consecutive double-digit win seasons, Sharon, suffering various injuries, stumbled to 2-8 ledger last season — the program’s 1st losing season since 2004, Fromm’s 1st at the helm.

Fromm said he and his staff “got a scare” relating to quarterback Jesse Rodgers’ collarbone injury sustained in a scrimmage against state-rated Strong Vincent; however, Fromm pronounced his club “fairly healthy and ready to go.”

The game will be broadcast on NewsTalk 790 (WPIC AM), with Chris Burtch and Ryan Briggs calling the action.

West Middlesex at Wilmington

It may seem like hyperbole, but this could prove to be one of the 2012 regular season’s better matchups.

West Middlesex and Wilmington went to the 2011 D-10 tournament title tilt and semifinals in Class A and AA, respectively. Both programs are ranked among the state’s best in a pair of preseason polls.

And though he’s never concerned himself with personal accolades, Greyhounds’ headmaster Terry Verrelli embarks on the District 10 career coaching wins record.

Both schools boast prolific track & field programs, and with that speed relating to a synthetic surface field, this could prove to be a track meet, of sorts, on the Greyhounds’ gridiron.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN 96.7 (WLLF FM), with Mark Slezak and Bob Greenburg calling the action.

Strong Vincent at Hickory

Hickory senior signal-caller Michael Nardone reportedly sustained a high ankle sprain in a preseason scrimmage against West Middlesex 2 weeks ago; however, he is expected to play tonight for the defending D-10 AA titlists.

State-rated Vincent vaulted to an 8-3 ledger in 2011 while competing in Quad-A, splitting a pair of PIAA playoff games (42-21 over Mifflin County; 42-31 setback to State College).

Third-year coach Scott White’s program sustained numerous skill-position graduation losses, but boast several sizable linemen, led by Tashan Jordan-Mitchell, Donnie Tatum and Antonio DeBerry, according to Erie’s Times-News. Speedsters Chris Kirkland (745 yards rushing, 9 TDs) and Corey Henry (741, 5 TDs) will look to continue the Colonels’ capability for the quick strike. Linebackers Henry and Hassam Farooq lead the defense.

Arguably, Vincent may play the most difficult schedule of any district program. In addition to Hickory the Colonels will clash with Cathedral Prep, Ohio High School Athletic Association perennial powers St. Ignatius and Ursuline, as well as backyard rivals McDowell and Gen. McLane.

Moniteau at Sharpsville

Sharpsville’s season-opener and defense of its District 10 title almost was postponed. Reportedly, misconduct at Moniteau, including an alleged hazing incident, had school officials considering suspending this game.

That would set back a program that plateaued last year with the 1st undefeated regular season and District 9 championship in program history, orchestrated by head coach Jeff Campbell.

Denny Pry prevailed in a preseason battle wtih Dustin Geagan for the starting signal-caller’s spot. That may make Moniteau doubly potent, as Geagan gained 1,540 yards rushing — a single-season school standard, according to The Eagle — last season.

Campbell made a decision to pick a QB, rather than platoon, explaining to The Eagle: “We gave each guy equal reps in (a preseason scrimmage against Laurel). It’s not that one person looked so much better than the other; we just seemed to run that style (Pry, under center) a lot better. ... He’s pretty calm back there and made the right adjustments and made good, smart plays. He’s our guy.

“I believe if you have two quarterbacks, you have none,” Campbell continued. “It just doesn’t work. You have to go with one quarterback and go with that style.”

Mercer at Eisenhower

For the first time since ’05, Mercer will not meet Mercyhurst Prep in its season opener. But mentor Pat McClearn is hoping to continue his Mustangs’ march to the annual postseason party.

Eisenhower ended 3-7 last year (0-10 in 2010), and the Knights number numerous returnees for 9th-year mentor Jim Penley. QB Aaron Lundmark (589 yards, 7 TDs) and go-to guy Nathan O’Brien (17 receptions, 239 yards, 2 TDs) will operate behind a veteran line led by all-region pick Jared Flaisman, according to The Times-News. The ground game includes John Pascuzzi (115 carries, 730 yards, 4 TDs) Trevor Spicer (80-361 yards, 1 TD) and Rob Wilston (90-326, 1 TD).

Reynolds at Maplewood

The Raiders have not recorded a season-opening win since ’05, but the meeting with Maplewood could propel coach Jerry Pacifico’s program toward a positive tipping point.

The Tigers tumbled to a 2-8 mark last year with Bryan Borkovich on the bench for his 1st season. But Maplewood may be more competitive this season, led by quarterback Nate Klingler (343 yards, 1 TD), Ethan Moody (27 carries, 130 yards rushing; 5 receptions, 64 yards) and Justin Dahl (12 receptions, 167 yards, 2 TDs), as well as a better feel for Borkovich’s new offensive and defensive schemes.

Greenville at North East

The Trojans take to the road in pursuit of the program’s 6th straight postseason berth under head coach Brian Herrick.

This has evolved into a competitive intra-region rivalry. The Grapepickers prevailed last year (48-21), following up on a 2010 win (17-7) that snapped a skein of 4 consecutive Trojans’ triumphs (14-7 in ’09, 12-10 in ’08, 22-18 in ’07 and 27-24 in OT 9 in ’06).

The Grapepickers produced a 9-2 mark last year under 19th-year head coach Matt Shesman (98-86-1). Hickory nudged North East from last season’s D-10 quarterfinals (35-0). But according to The Times-News, North East is in rebuilding mode. Versatile Corey Voorhis and backfield mate Rocky Owens will be counted on to compensate for numerous graduation losses.

Union City at Lakeview

Reportedly, according to The Times-News the Bears boast only 20-plus players in the program. This, following a 2-8 inaugural season under Randy Gunther. However the pitch-catch combo of quarterback Brody Mangel (377 yards, 6 TDs) and receiver Josh Reinke (19 catches, 346 yards, 6 TDs) returns.

Sailors’ skipper Dan York yearns for the day when West Middlesex and Sharpsville seem less likely Lakeview’s roadblocks to a district championship, perhaps as soon as 2013?

Kennedy Catholic at McDonald, Ohio

McDonald mustered a 13-12 season-opening win at Springfield, owing to the special teams’ work of quarterback Christian Rusinowski.

According to The (Warren) Tribune-Chronicle, Rusinowski blocked Chris Wells’ potential go-ahead 28-yard field goal attempt with 8:19 remaining. In the 2nd stanza, he tossed a 16-yard TD to Cameron Ifft, then kicked the PAT that provided the Blue Devils with the margin of difference. Eight penalties short-circuited McDonald’s offense, however, in spite of 215 yards rushing.

KC will be keyed by the continually improving pitch-catch combo of Brennan Wassil and Jeffrey Thompkins as Archie Donofrio commences his 3rd campaign at the helm.

Carrick at Grove City

Coach Jeff Bell’s Eagles enter 2012 as defending D-10 AAA titlists, but the new kids on the block in AA. And Grove City’s gradution losses from last season’s PIAA playoff team were significant.

Carrick is coming off a 1-9 campaign (defeating Langley, 26-21), outscored by a composite 404-69 margin, according to The (Pittsburgh) Post-Gazette. However coach Jeff McCafferty’s Carrick club returns All-City League receiver Orlando Harvard and humungous 330-pound tackle Josh Walker, as well as leading rusher Joe Kalsek.

Newton Falls (0-1) at Brookfield (1-0)

Coach Randy Clark’s club clobbered Garfield Heights-Trinity (49-7) in its lidlifter last week, amassing 448 total yards. The Warriors’ ground game was led by Ryan Mosora (136) and quarterback Jeremy Quinlan (95). Quinlan connected for another 113 yards passing and accounted for a trio of TDs.

The Tigers were toppled by Southeast (55-26) in their lidlifter last week, yielding 494 total yards, including a half-dozen rushing scores.

Newton Falls’ C.J. Gregory tossed a 26-yard TD to Todd Hopkins, and the latter also ran 3 yards for the Falls. Also for the Tigers, Ben Forepaugh forged scoring sprints of 10 and 44 yards.

Brookfield has beaten Newton Falls back-to-back (34-19 last year; 30-9 in 2010), while the Tigers last triumphed in 2009 (31-12).



Herald sports writer Rob Malsom contributed research for this preview.