Herald Staff reports



Sharon High head football coach Bob Fromm had a simple explanation for his Tigers’ 18-17 District 10 Class AA opening-round triumph over Fairview Saturday afternoon:

“Choppin’ wood.”

That must make the 6th-year Tigers’ taskmaster the Tin-Man — all heart. And it had a trickle-down effect on his Tigers, who trailed 17-7 at intermission.

However Sharon shut out Fairview during the 2nd half, then parlayed touchdowns from Louis and Kevin Brown en route to its second 1st-round tournament triumph over Fairview in as many years.

In a pair of AA opening-round games that took place Saturday night, Wilmington beat Ft. LeBoeuf, 32-21 at SRU while Gen. McLane ousted Greenville, 27-19, at Edinboro University.

ä Sharon 18, Fairview 17 — At Slippery Rock University’s N. Kerr Thompson Stadium, the Tigers’ 2nd-half turnabout reminded Fromm of a preseason conversation he had with Cameron Brown.

When Fromm referenced the old-school saying, “Choppin’ wood,” his terrific Tigers linebacker didn’t comprehend. So by way of explanation, Fromm rhetorically asked, ‘When things are going bad, you gonna pout or you gonna start choppin’ wood?’”

Trailing by 10, Brown and his buddies got busy, and the Tigers froze Fairview from the end zone during the game’s final 26 minutes. Bolstering Brown were Marc Martell, Nick Juranovich and London Sanders, among others, as they limited their Erie County namesakes to 41 second-half yards.

Sharon (9-2) commenced the 2nd half led by bullish Kevin Brown, whose 37 yards rushing energized a 5-play, 65-yard, 2-plus minute series highighted by Jason Ondic’s 27-yard scoring strike to Louis Brown on a bubble screen.

The Tigers trailed 17-12, and that score stood stagnant until Sharon’s 12-play, 84-yard, 6-minute, 21-second series started late in the 3rd period. However Cam Brown — who tallied a 3-yard TD with 29.7 ticks to play in the 1st half — was stuffed on a 4th-and-goal attempt from Fairview’s 1 with 7:56 remaining in the finale.

But Fairview failed to consume the clock, incurring a crucial holding penalty that pinned it on its own 6-yard line. With 4 minutes left, Josh Gdanetz punted from his end zone, setting up Sharon’s short field.

Ondic spiralled a 20-yard strike to Vandell Spicer, then Kevin Brown burst for 8- and 11-yard gains. The latter was augmented by a personal foul/horsecollar tackle penalty against Fairview.

On 1st-and-goal from the 8, Kevin Brown bounced outside and outsprinted defenders to the pylon at the end zone’s left corner with 2:29 left. The score staked Sharon to its lone lead, 18-17.

Kevin Brown burst for a game-high and season-best 105 yards on 19 totes.

Fairview (6-5) flamed out on its final 2 series. On the first, Louis and Cameron Brown broke up Boice’s 3rd- and 4th-down pass attempts from Fairview’s 40. Then after Sharon’s ensuing series ended 3-and-out with 55.3 ticks to play and Jordan Rearick punted, Boice’s 1st-down pass from his own 16 was pilfered by Ondic, who orchestrated a 42-yard return, then twice took a knee as time expired.

Fromm cited his seniors’ leadership, then tipped his cap to his entire Tigers team:

“It’s about having the wherewithal of kids who, when they look into their coaches’ eyes, know they can believe in them when they say, ‘It’s going to be okay.’ That’s what we do.”

After dissecting the disparate halves, Fromm said, “That’s been our mantra all season — getting better.”

Notes: Fairview’s 1st-half scores included Peter Jackson’s 2-yard run, Gdanetz’s 30-yard field goal, and Jared Lane’s 7-yard run. The scoring series were 13 plays, 76 yards, 6 minutes; 10 plays, 65 yards, 5:23, and 5 plays, 43 yards, as the Erie County Tigers totalled 189 yards on 32 snaps. ... Ondic and Louis Brown collaborated 5 times for 144 yards, including a 72-yarder. Ondic ended 8 of 11 for 189 yards. — By Ed Farrell, Herald assistant sports editor.

ä Gen. McLane 27, Greenville 19 — Just like in boxing, when you have your opponent reeling on the ropes, you have to supply the KO punch. The Greenville Trojans were in that position Saturday night against undefeated Gen. McLane at Edinboro University, but the Lancers came off the canvas to oust the Blue and Gold from the playoffs.

Greenville jumped ahead 13-0, but couldn’t finish off the determined Lancers.

“We just didn’t make the plays when we had to,” said a disappointed Trojans coach Brian Herrick. “We had our opportunities, but didn’t make the plays. But give them credit, they’re a well-coached team.

“They don’t pass often, but tonight they made some passes count.”

The game started out well for the Trojans as they dominated on the ground. On their first offensive series, Greenville scored quickly as speedy Dylan Zuschlag went 41 yards  and Mike Simons made it 7-0 with a PAT kick.

The defense also shined in the opening stanza as Jordan Batt recovered a fumble and Tyler Gentile pulled in an interception.

Greenville scored again in the second quarter after a sustained 63-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard R.J. Malson dive. However, the PAT kick was blocked, but the Trojans still led 13-0 with 7:36 remaining in the half.

Unfortunately that lead didn’t hold as the Lancers came up with one of the plays Herrick bemoaned. A 4th-down, 18-yard scoring pass from Nick Lombardo to Josh Nicewonger was completed, only shortly after Nick Stoyer had come up with a big sack. David Olszewski’s PAT  kick cut it to 13-7 with only :40 seconds to go.

A Greenville mistake seconds later was costly. A fumble on a pitch play was recovered by Lancer Kyle Shuman with only 12 seconds left. On the ensuing play, Lombardo came up with another pass that counted, a TD aerial to Matt Astorino. And the extra-point by Olszewski put GM on top 14-13 at half, despite being outplayed by the Trojans.

Still, the Trojans didn’t let the momentum swing affect them early. After GM started a third-quarter drive, Greenville’s Cody Yavorsky picked off a pass and returned it to the Lancers 39. Eight plays later, Malson tallied on a 2-yard run. A PAT run by quarterback David Holiga came up short, but Greenville was back on top, 19-14.

Not for long. Workhorse Cory Lee carried 6 straight times on a 47-yard drive, including a 1-yard McLane TD. Points after pass attempt failed, but the Lancers led 20-14. They expanded the margin to 27-19 after a 35-yard Lombardo run and Olszewski boot with 7:41 remaining.

Greenville had a chance in the late going after recovering a GM fumble, but the Lancers defense held for the victory, sending McLane (11-0) to the D-10 semis vs. Sharon.

“We had our opportunities,” lamented Herrick, whose team finished 7-4. “This was a great group of kids to work with. They did everything we asked. We’re going to miss the seniors.”

Included in that senior group were Jordan Batt, Nate Houpt, Ryan Meadors, Yavorsky, Zuschlag, Todd Hale, David Holiga, Josh Riffe, Malson, Andrew McCall, Ben Sceisi, Eric Fisher, Kyle Eckstrom, Branden Williams, Pagtrick Matusz, Steven Pfaff, Josh Coppick, Chris Roberts and Dillon Sarcinella.

Lee carried the ball 34 times for 166 yardss to lead all rushers. Zuschlag had 18 totes for 133 yards to finish his senior season with a total of 1,316. — By Lynn Saternow, Herald sports editor.

ä Wilmington 32, Ft. LeBoeuf 21 — At Slippery Rock University’s N. Kerr Thompson Stadium, the Bison (7-4) gave the ’Hounds (10-1) all they could handle, but the defending state champions held on for the win.

Wilmington took a 7-0 lead with 9:11 left in the 1st quarter on a 1-yard run by Josh Phillian. Bryce Wilson added the extra-point kick.

Ft. LeBoeuf tied the game at 7-all with 9:03 left in the 2nd quarter on a 3-yard run by Corey McWilliam. Adam Nass added the PAT.

The Greyhounds went up 14-7 with 1:24 left before halftime on a 9-yard run by Derrick Burns and Wilson’s PAT.

Wilmington extended its lead to 21-7 with 7:33 left in the 3rd frame on a 5-yard run by Jake DeMedal, but Wilson’s extra-point attempt was blocked.

Ft. LeBoeuf fought back and took the lead 21-20 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Ryan Cragle returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score following DeMedal’s score and then Casey Pace scored with 2:19 left in the 3rd on a 9-yard run. Nass added both PATs.

In the 4th quarter, DeMedal scored on a 16-yard run with 6:16 left and then Jason McFarland put the game away with 6:02 left when he scooped up a fumble and returned in 2 yards for a touchdown.

Wilmington went for 2-point conversions on both of the 4th-quarter scores, but were unsuccessful.

Phillian rushed for 76 yards on 11 carries and DeMedal had 72 yards on 9 totes.

DeMedal was 6-of-10 for 87 yards through the air with 1 interception. Chad Palladino was his favorite target. He pulled in 3 passes for 63 yards.

Pace rushed for 78 yards on 21 carries for LeBoeuf. McWilliam was 6-of-10 for 77 yards and 1 pick while B.J. Arrowsmith was 3-of-9 for 32 yards and 2 interceptions.

Wilmington advances to the D-10 semifinals to battle North East. The Grapepickers beat Oil City, 24-14, on Saturday afternoon at Harbor Creek High School’s Paul J. Weitz Field. — Stats submitted by Ryan Briggs, Herald correspondent.

———

FAIRVIEW 0 17 0 0 17

SHARON 0 6 6 6 18

Scoring plays

F — Jackson 2 run (Gdanetz kick)

F — Gdanetz 30 field goal

F — Lane, 7 run (Gdanetz kick)

S — C. Brown, 3 run (kick failed)

S — L. Brown, 27 pass from Ondic (run failed)

S — K. Brown, 8 run (pass failed)

Team stats

FAIRVIEW SHARON

15 First downs 15

134 Rushing yards 138

96 Passing yards 189

16-9-1 Att-comp-int 11-8-0

230 Total yards 327

2-0 Fumbles-lost 1-0

6-44 Penalties-yards lost 7-53

Individual stats

Rushing: FAIRVIEW — Lane 18-81, Goodwin 2-44, Jackson 10-36, Kerner 2-1, Boice 3-(-28); SHARON — K. Brown 19-105, Ondic 18-21, C. Brow 5-11, L. Brown 2-1.

Passing: FAIRVIEW — Boice 16-9-1, 96; SHARON — Ondic 11-8-0, 189.

Receiving: FAIRVIEW — Goodwin 4-27, Jackson 2-10, Baumbaugh 1-38, Kruse 1-9, Cramer 1-12; SHARON — L. Brown 5-144, Crawford 2-15, Spicer 1-20.

———

GREENVILLE 7 6 6 0 19

G. McLANE 0 14 6 7 27

Scoring plays

Gv — Zuschlag, 41 run (Simons kick)

Gv — Malson, 1 run (kick blocked)

GM — Nicewonger, 18 pass from Lombardo (Olszewski kick)

GM — Astorino, 33 pass from Lombardo (Olszewski kick)

G — Malson, 2 run (run failed)

GM — Lee, 1 run (pass failed)

GM — Lombardo, 35 run (Olszewski kick)

Team stats

GREENVILLE G. McLANE

11 First downs 12

160 Rushing yards 182

38 Passing yards 99

8-4-1 Att-comp-int 8-3-2

198 Total yards 281

1-1 Fumbles-lost 2-2

2-10 Penalties-yards lost 3-22

Individual stats

Rushing: GREENVILLE — Zuschlag 18-133, Malson 12-32, Weaver 2-9, Holiga 3-(-5), team (-9); GEN. McLANE — Lee 34-166, Lombardo 5-16, Shinn 1-2, Astorino 1-1, Kulka 1-0, Shesterenko 3-(-3).

Passing: GREENVILLE — Holiga 7-4-0-38, Zuschlag 1-0-1-0; GEN. McLANE — Lombardo 8-3-2-99.

Receiving: GREENVILLE — Zahniser 1-7, Houpt 1-6, Yavorsky 1-2, Zuschlag 1-2; GEN. McLANE — Kulka 1-48, Astorino 1-33, Nicewonger 1-18.

———

FT. LeBOEUF 0 7 14 0 21

WILMINGTON 7 7 6 12 32

Scoring plays

W — Phillian, 1 run (Wilson kick)

FL — McWilliam, 3 run (Nass kick)

W — Burns, 9 run (Wilson kick)

W — DeMedal, 5 run (kick blocked)

FL — Cragle, 90 kickoff return (Nass kick)

FL — Pace, 9 run (Nass kick)

W — DeMedal, 16 run (pass failed)

W — McFarland, 2 fumble recovery (run failed)

Team stats

FT. LeBOEUF WILMINGTON

14 First downs 15

83 Rushing yards 230

109 Passing yards 87

20-9-3 Att-comp-int 10-6-1

192 Total yards 317

1-1 Fumbles-lost 1-1

10-66 Penalties-yards lost 4-43

Individual stats

Rushing: FT. LeBOEUF — Pace 21-78, McWilliam 8-31, Kowle 1-0, Gambill 1-(-7), Arrowsmith 5-(-19); WILMINGTON — Phillian 11-76, DeMedal 9-72, Whiting 11-46, Burns 8-36.

Passing: FT. LeBOEUF — McWilliam 10-6-1-77, Arrowsmith 9-3-2-32, team 1-0-0-0; WILMINGTON — DeMedal 10-6-1-87.

Receiving: FT. LeBOEUF — Arrowsmith 3-44, Pace 4-34, McWilliam 2-31; WILMINGTON — Palladino 3-63, Whiting 2-15, Kaufman 1-9.