By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
Three years ago a season-ending setback to Sharpsville caused Mercer High’s football program to miss an opportunity to qualify for the District 10 playoffs. But coach Pat McClearn’s Mustangs have been making the Blue Devils pay ever since, mustering 3 concecutive wins at Sharpsville’s expense, including earlier this season.
Now the pair of proud programs have come full circle.
Tonight Mercer meets Sharpsville in the District 10 Class A tournament semifinals. The winner will take on the survivor of the other semifinal involving defending district titlist Farrell and Linesville.
It’s somewhat ironic tonight’s tilt takes place on Wilmington’s Greyhounds Stadium artificial surface. That’s where that 2006 finale took place on a Saturday afternoon, owing to inclement weather that wreaked havoc on area gridirons. When Sharpsville secured that 23-15 win in McClearn’s 1st season at the Mustangs’ helm, Mercer ended 5-5 and on the outside looking in.
Since that slight, McClearn and Mercer have made the postseason 3 straight seasons, shutting out Sharpsville in ’07 (14-0) and ’08 (21-0) regular-season meetings, then notching another win (28-14) earlier this season at McCracken Field’s pines.
The constant for Mercer during those last 4 meetings with Sharpsville has been quarterback Andrew Erdos. Collectively, the senior has rushed 44 times for 198 yards (4.5 yards/carry) and a trio of TDs and completed 13 of 33 passes for 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception and a 2-point PAT. During this season’s win Erdos ended with 92 yards rushing and a TD.
Sharpsville signal-caller Frank Joseph actually had better numbers (89 yards rushing, 1 TD; 77 yards passing) than Erdos, but the Mustangs mustered a 281-180 edge on the ground, led by Erdos, Rawlins Huntley and Kyle Mariacher, who rambled for 86 and 85 yards and tallied 1 and 2 TDs, respectively. Also, the Mustangs coerced 4 Sharpsville miscues.
Since a 1-3 start to the season (losing to Mercyhurst Prep, Farrell and Linesville), the Mustangs (8-3) have secured 7 straight successes, including last week’s vindication over previously undefeated Prep (28-20). Similarly, Sharpsville (9-2) has rebounded from back-to-back mid-season losses to Mercer and Farrell by winning 4 consecutive contests, including last week’s (27-14) clubbing of Cambridge Springs.
Mercer made it to the ’07 D-10 title tilt (losing 21-19 to Prep) and last season’s semifinals (losing to Linesville, 35-7, at Wilmington).
Sharpsville was shut out of the postseason a year ago, but Sharpsville has secured 6 district titles (’86, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’04), the last 5 directed by Paul Piccirilli. This year’s Devils are powered by running backs Marcus Llewellyn and Nate Titus, both 1,000-plus yard gainers this season.
Mercer, meanwhile, is 0-for-3 in D-10 title tilts (’07, ’93, ’94); however, McClearn served as an assistant on coach Clyde Conti’s Slippery Rock staff that won back-to-back crowns (2002-03).
Tonight
CLASS A
Farrell (11-0) vs. Linesville (9-2)
Edinboro University
This is another rematch, on a couple different levels. Earlier this season the Steelers scored a shutout (40-0) at then undefeated Linesville. Last season Farrell forged a 27-0 regular-season whitewash, then mauled the Lions (28-7) in the D-10 title tilt on Slippery Rock University’s turf.
The Lions have been led by senior signal-caller Trevor Litwiler (86 completions, 147 attempts, 58.5 percent, 1,482 yards, 18 TDs, 6 interceptions; 159 rushing attempts, 1,169 yards, 7.4 yards/carry, 17 TDs, plus 42 PATs for 144 points), according to The Meadville Tribune.
But Litwiler has not had similar success against the Steelers. Including this season’s loss, he has rushed 54 times for 129 yards (2.3 yards/carry) and completed 17 of 42 pass attempts (40.4 percent) for 134 yards. He has not thrown a TD pass against Farrell, but has had 7 passes pilfered. He did run for the Lions’ lone score (27 yards) in last season’s D-10 title tilt.
This year, Litwiler’s alter-ego, Farrell’s Danny Odem, orchestrated an offense that outgained the Lions 419-177 (including a 307-104 edge on the ground, led by Jamar Whitman’s 11-carry, 108-yard, 2-TD outing). Odem’s career numbers against Linesville are: 64-279 (4.3), 7 TDs rushing; 19 of 44 (43.1), 358 yards, 4 TDs passing.
Linesville last defeated Farrell (40-26) in the ’06 regular season, though Odem, then a freshman, rushed for 110 yards on 25 totes and returned an interception 45 yards for a Steelers’ score.
Other Linesville leaders include running back Jimmy Kearns (109-717, 6.6, 10 TDs) and receivers Walter Litwin (25-550, 22 yards/catch, 3 TDs), A.J. Thompson (23-399, 17.3, 6 TDs), Brennan Miller (20-277, 13.9, 3) and Jack Sindlinger (17-199, 11.7, 6 TDs). Kearns has tallied 10 total TDs.
Last week, Linesville lit up Union City (48-7) as Litwiler tossed 2 TDs and ran for another pair.
For his part, Steelers’ skipper Jarrett Samuels is haunted by last season’s 66-second lapse in the PIAA Western Regional championship game loss to Clairton, and has Farrell focused. His first comments after last week’s 53-0 rout of Eisenhower were, “This is just the first step.”
CLASS AAA
Grove City (8-3) vs. Cathedral Prep (9-2)
Veterans Memorial Stadium, Erie
Prep has the pedigree, having posted 15 D-10 titles (’07, ’06, ’05, ’03. ’01, ’00, ’99, ’98, ’92, ’91, ’90, ’89, ’88, ’87, ’86) since the inception of the playoff format in 1985. Last year the Ramblers were routed by Strong Vincent (28-0) in the title tilt. However Prep, prior to that loss, pounded Grove City (45-21) in the opening round.
During last week’s crushing of Corry (56-7), Prep produced TDs on 5 of its first 23 plays from scrimmage, according to The Times-News. Quarterback Shyquawn Pullium put together 315 total yards (202 rushing, 113 passing) and accounted for a half-dozen touchdowns (4 rushing, 2 passing). Against Grove City in ’08 Pullium produced 158 rushing yards and 136 passing, evenly splitting 6 TDs between the air and ground.
Justin Wiley (68 yards rushing, 3 TDs) and Dearis Williams (54 yards, 1 TD) complemented Pullium last week, as the Ramblers recorded a 449-178 total-yardage edge, (336 rushing). According to The Times-News, Prep has pounded 5 foes by an aggregate 275-40 margin since a mid-season setback to Lakewood, Ohio-St. Edward’s (12-8).
Including last week’s 19-13 victory over Strong Vincent, this is the Eagles’ 4th consecutive playoff appearance under the direction of veteran head coach Jeff Bell. Meanwhile, Mike Mischler is in his 8th year at Prep’s helm (11th overall, 87-43).
Saturday’s Games
CLASS AA
Sharon (9-2) vs. Gen. McLane (11-0)
Edinboro University
Sharon could be called, the Browns — not the Cleveland-based club, but owing to the surname of a trio of its stalwarts. Twenty-four minutes from postseason elimination, Sharon shocked Fairview (18-17) last week by scoring 18 unanswered points as Cameron, Louis and Kevin Brown tallied TDs.
While the Cam Brown/Nick Juranovich-led Tigers’ defense mauled Fairview during the 2nd half, Kevin Brown burst for his season’s 1st C-note by rushing for 105 yards while sophomore signal-caller Jason Ondic orchested the offense. In 2 starts since taking over for injured starter Ron Howard, Ondic has completed 80 percent of his pass attempts.
The Lancers were losing last week to Greenville 13-0 with approximately 40 ticks to play in the 1st half. But the Cory Lee-led Lancers rallied for a 27-19 virtual home-field win at Edinboro University’s Sox Harrison Stadium.
Following a regular season in which he gained 1,120 yards on 165 totes (6.8) and tallied 14 TDs, Lee’s 35-carry, 174-yard outing overwhelmed Greenville. Also, quarterback Nick Lombardo lent a 35-yard rushing score and completed only 3 passes — but 2 for TDs (18 yards to Josh Niswonger on 4th-and-goal, then 33 yards to Matt Astorino with 12 ticks to play in the half.
Tigers’ taskmaster Bob Fromm has his squad in the semifinals for a 2nd straight season (losing last year to Slippery Rock, 27-10), and 4th consecutive postseason appearance. This season Sharon has secured 5 straight wins since a setback to defending Class AA commonwealth kingpin Wilmington.
Wilmington (10-1) vs. North East (9-2)
Slippery Rock University
The Grapepickers pilfered prolific Oil City passer Mark Kulinski for one score and coerced him to fumble on another en route to a 24-14 win last week. Jimmy Bailey returned an interception 45 yards for a score and Josh Klenz batted down a pass in the end zone. Also, Brady Lynn recovered Kulinski’s fumble.
According toThe Times-News, Kulinski connected on 23 of 43 pass attempts for 228 yards and 2 TDs.
Offensively, Tyler Johnson rushed for 99 yards, including a 22-yard scoring scamper, which later was duplicated by Bailey, who has burst for 16 TDs to date. Also, Jordan Eichynski ended with 868 regular-season rushing yards for head coach Matt Shesman’s ’Pickers.
Wilmington was on the short side of a 21-20 tally entering last week’s 4th frame against Fort LeBoeuf before rallying. One of the 2 TDs was the result of the “Hounds’ Hammer” defense — Jason McFarland’s fumble recovery — one of a quartet of miscues coerced by the unit.
Since a Week-5 home-field loss to Hickory, Wilmington has walloped a half-dozen opponents by a composite 247-37 margin. Until last week, Wilmington had not trailed in a game since the 4th frame to Hickory.
Including last week’s win, Wilmington has won 7 straight at SRU’s Bob DiSpirito Field at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium since an ’07 setback to eventual state champion Terrelle Pryor-led Jeannette (41-21) in the western regional title tilt.
Factoring in last year’s school single-season standard 15 wins, Wilmington has won 61 of its last 68 games since losing to Reynolds (21-0) in the 2005 D-10 title tilt, but has not faced North East during that skein. Since joining District 10, Wilmington has won 9 championships (’08, ’07, ’06, ’01, ’00, ’97, ’96, ’95, ’94) led by the area’s winningest prep grid mentor, Terry Verrelli (243-103-3).
Herald sports writer Rob Malsom contributed research for this preview.
