Mike Copper's Crawford County Calls
Week 10 Record: 4-2
Final Regular Season Record: 59-14
District 10 Class A Quarterfinals
Friday
Conneaut Lake Indians (6-4, 5-3 Region 1) vs. Saegertown Panthers (9-1, 7-1 Region 2), Edinboro University, Sox Harrison Stadium, 7 p.m.
The Indians registered a mini-upset when they beat Linesville 26-21 last Friday. The victory not only clinched the team’s first playoff berth since 1999, but also leapfrogged them over the Lions in the Region 1 standings.
Joey Moon led the Indians with 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns vs. Linesville. Conneaut Lake heavily relied on Cash Horne (909 yards) and Moon (702) during the regular season.
That shouldn’t change, however far the Indians advance.
Mercyhurst Prep handed Saegertown its lone loss, a 10-6 final at Veterans Stadium on Sept. 27.
Since then, the Panthers have won five straight games. That included last Friday’s 60-13 rout at Conneaut Valley.
Saegertown scored 32 first-quarter points. Running back Ian Price finished with 220 yards on the ground, which more than doubled the amounts by Kyle Crum (104) and Cody McCray (104).
Price finished with 1,370 rushing yards, which left him among the district’s top 10 for the regular season.
Such numbers were a big reason for the success of Saegertown’s regular season, a season that began with a 36-16 non-region victory at Conneaut Lake. In that game, they amassed 356 yards on offense.
Friday’s outcome should be closer, but the victor should be the same.
Prediction: Saegertown 32, Conneaut Lake 24.
Linesville Lions (6-4, 5-3 Region 1) vs. Mercyhurst Prep Lakers (10-0, 8-0 Region 2), Harbor Creek High School, Paul J. Weitz Stadium, 7 p.m.
The Lions’ loss to Saegertown continued an unsettling trend. Linesville hasn’t won consecutive games since late September.
The loss also dropped the Lions into fourth place in Region 1. That meant Linesville drew Mercyhurst, a tougher quarterfinal opponent, in the district’s crossover playoff format.
Mercyhurst completed consecutive 10-0 regular seasons with last Friday’s 35-0 victory at Cambridge Springs. Billy D’Andrea rushed for 107 yards on 16 carries and Joe Jelinek 105 yards on only 11 attempts.
Jelinek finished the regular season as Mercyhurst’s leading rusher (892), with D’Andrea a close second (832).
The Lions have their own talented tandem in Doug Williams (1,247) and Doug Farley (606). Farley suffered a leg injury early against Saegertown and his status could drastically affect Linesville’s chances.
The Lions and Lakers didn’t play during the regular season. Mercyhurst did beat Mercer, the Region 1 champion, 10-0 the first week of the season.
That win, plus the Lakers’ overall record, should make them the tournament favorite.
Prediction: Mercyhurst Prep 28, Linesville 14.
District 10 Class AAA Semifinals
Nov. 16 or 17
Strong Vincent Colonels (8-2, 3-2 Region 6) vs. Titusville Rockets (9-0, 5-0 Region 5), TBA
The Rockets voiced some displeasure when they drew the Colonels for the semifinals.
Then again, this is arguably the most competitive of the district’s four brackets.
Last Friday, Titusville completed its first undefeated regular season in 50 years. It was no small feat.
The Rockets beat General McLane, the defending PIAA AAA champions, in a 37-14 final at Edinboro. Titusville led 30-0 through three quarters and Derek Carr finished with 111 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Carr totaled 1,085 yards for the regular season, even though he missed time due to mononucleosis. How he fares in the playoffs should determine Titusville’s fate.
The Rockets played three AAA teams from Region 6, but Vincent wasn’t one of them.
The Colonels closed their season with a 44-6 victory over Meadville. Their team speed was on full display.
Deonte Flemings opened the game against the Bulldogs with an 84-yard kickoff return. Marquis Knight (947 yards) and Jesse Wattle (609) each scored twice, which included a 50-yard run from Knight and a 67-yarder from Wattle.
The winner will play either General McLane (7-3, 3-2 Region 6) or Slippery Rock (6-4, 4-1 Region 5) in the district final. Titusville handed Slippery Rock is lone region loss, a 34-7 final at Carter Stadium on Oct. 12.
Whoever wins, this could be the most exciting and competitive game of any district opener.
Prediction: Titusville 28, Strong Vincent 26.