Week Six Record: 6-1
Overall: 39-7

Week Seven Previews

Friday
Region 1
Cochranton Cardinals (2-4, 1-4) at Linesville Lions (4-2, 3-1), Linesville Field, 7 p.m.
The Lions are the best 4-2 team in District 10.
Mercer beat Linesville 32-31 last Friday to take over first place in the region. The Lions, who fell to Saegertown last month in a non-region matchup, have lost their two games by a combined three points.
Cochranton got into the region win column with last Friday’s 44-6 rout of Kennedy Catholic. Could the Cardinals win a “trap game” on the road?
Don’t expect Linesville to take the bait.
Prediction: Linesville 33, Cochranton 13.

Mercer Mustangs (5-1, 4-0) at Conneaut Lake Indians (4-2, 4-1), Conneaut Lake Field, 7 p.m.
Although the Mustangs edged Linesville and took over first place first place, staying there won’t be easy.
Conneaut Lake represents the first of three road opponents for the remainder of Mercer’s schedule. After their Oct. 19 home finale against Lakeview, the Mustangs close out the regular season at Kennedy Catholic and Sharpsville.
Conneaut Lake seeks its first District 10 playoff berth this century. The Indians improved their odds with last Friday’s 25-14 victory at West Middlesex.
Cash Horne capped the win with a 60-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. How Horne fares against the Mustangs could determine if the region reverts to co-leaders.
Prediction: Mercer 28, Conneaut Lake 24.

Region 2
Maplewood Tigers (2-4, 2-2) at Cambridge Springs Blue Devils (3-3, 2-2), Baird Memorial Field, 7 p.m.
This one could serve as a tiebreaker come playoff time.
Maplewood has lost its last two, although both were to solid playoff contenders from District 10 (Eisenhower, 14-6) and District 9 (Redbank Valley, 48-19). A victory would surpass the Tigers’ win total from 2006, the first season in coach Matt Crocker’s bid to resurrect the program.
Cambridge Springs has one of the toughest closing stretches in District 10. The Blue Devils still have a road game at Iroquois and close with home games against region powerhouses Mercyhurst Prep and Saegertown.
That should be enough incentive for the hosts to win this one.
Prediction: Cambridge Springs 21, Maplewood 13.

Saegertown Panthers (5-1, 3-1) at Eisenhower Knights (5-1, 4-1), Riley Memorial Field, 7 p.m.
The Knights catch a break in their schedule. They play the Panthers and region-leading Mercyhurst Prep at home, the latter on Oct. 26.
The Lakers play a non-region game at Seneca on Friday, so Saegertown and Eisenhower will meet for sole possession of second place in the region.
Saegertown healed from its 10-6 loss to Mercyhurst with last Friday’s 58-14 rout of Union City. Ian Price rushed for 208 yards, which included touchdown runs of 70 and 83 yards in the first half.
A rapidly improving Iroquois team shut out Ike 21-0 at Lawrence Park last Friday. It was around the time last season that the Knights began to falter.
They can’t afford to repeat that scenario.
Prediction: Saegertown 29, Eisenhower 21.

Region 5
Meadville Bulldogs (4-2, 2-1) at Oil City Oilers (0-6, 0-3), Oil City Stadium, 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs have won four games for the first time in coach Mike Pendolino’s five seasons. It’s also their most in a season since 1998 (7-4), the last time they finished with a winning record.
Meadville achieved that feat with last Friday’s 41-13 victory over Central Tech. The ‘Dogs, already aided by the return of running back Nick Fedorka, got an even bigger boost from Mike Prystaloski.
The senior rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Prystaloski also set up two scores with fumble and interception returns.
Meadville’s depth on both sides of the ball should be too much for the Oilers, who are running out of chances to avert a winless season.
Prediction: Meadville 36, Oil City 8.

Slippery Rock Rockets (3-3, 2-0) at Titusville Rockets (5-0, 3-0), Carter Stadium, 7 p.m.
The Rockets will win. That much is a given.
Which Rockets actually will win remains to be seen.
Titusville is the favorite between the only unbeaten teams in region action. The hosts had a bye last weekend, as they prepare for the two games that will determine if they repeat as the region champs.
After Slippery Rock, Titusville plays at Warren on Oct. 19.
If Slippery Rock pulls the upset, it still must defeat Meadville (Oct. 20) and Warren (Nov. 2) to claim the title.
Prediction: Titusville 27, Slippery Rock 15.

Saturday
Region 2
Conneaut Valley Indians (2-4, 2-3) at Union City Bears (0-6, 0-4), Bears Stadium, 7 p.m.
Suddenly, the Indians are making noise.
Conneaut Valley now lurks on the perimeter of the District 10 Class A playoff list. The team pulled a mild upset with last Friday’s 20-14 home victory over Cambridge Springs.
The Indians’ Mike Leonard scored the only touchdown of the second half on a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter. If Conneaut Valley can get a running attack to go with its respectable passing game, it could make things interesting through the rest of the regular season.
Union City is running out of chances to get into the win column. The Bears still face Mercyhurst Prep and Iroquois after this one.
Prediction: Conneaut Valley 27, Union City 12.