-- Strong Vincent running back Jordan Ferraro, second on the team with 748 rushing yards, sat out the team's 28-0 victory over Cathedral Prep in the District 10 Class AAA championship game at Veterans Stadium. Coach Tom Cacchione said the senior suffered an ACL tear in his knee earlier this week.

“We definitely missed him (Friday),” Cacchione said of Ferraro, “but thank God we had Duck (Deonte Flemings) back there. He did a helluva job.”

Flemings rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns in Ferraro's place.

Despite the injury, Cacchione left open the window that Ferraro will be able to play in Vincent's PIAA Class AAA opener against District 9 Clearfield. The 12-0 Colonels and 10-2 Bison will meet next weekend at a site and time to be determined. Clearfield beat Brashear 24-21.

-- Strong Vincent's defensive team speed was obvious to any of the almost 5,000 fans who were at Veterans Stadium on Friday night. Time after time, it looked as if Cathedral Prep might be on the verge of breaking a big play, but each time Vincent defensive players seemed to close the hole immediately with a streak of red and white -- often with hits that could be heard throughout the stadium.

Linebackers Brandon Marlow, Dale Norman and Robert Joyce sprinted sideline to sideline to run down ball carriers and receivers, while Sean Herron, Antre Lindsey, Josh Edwards and the defensive line clogged up the middle. If any Prep backs found momentary daylight, defensive backs like Deonte Flemings and Brandon Akins made the tackle with impressive closing speed.

Vincent recorded its fifth shutout of the season. On four other occasions, the Colonels have limited opponents to seven points or fewer.

Any team that faces the Colonels in the PIAA playoffs will have trouble breaking a big play.

-- Joyce, Marlow and Flemings were especially impressive defensively.

Joyce plays a linebacker-defensive back hybrid position. Depending on the offensive formation, the 6-foot 2-inch, 180-pound senior might be found rushing the quarterback or blanketing a receiver far down field.

Marlow is the enforcer in the middle. At 6-3, 240 pounds, he's an imposing figure who can stuff a running back on a dive play or quickly roam to the sidelines to stop a sweep or out pass.

Flemings, the Times-News District 10 Preseason Player of the Year, showed his wide array of skills. A talented cover corner with exceptional quickness, Flemings seems to set up quarterbacks for interceptions by laying off receivers slightly. When the ball is in the air, he closes as well as anyone in the district.

All three of those players are Division I prospects whom any of the many Division II coaches in the stands Friday would love to have on their team next season.

-- Despite the 28-0 score, Prep did have its moments Friday.

The Ramblers, wearing all black uniforms not seen since the mid-1990s, came out impressively on their opening drive. Led by quarterback Shyquawn Pullium and running back Erick Green, Prep ran right at Vincent. The Ramblers appeared to score the opening touchdown on a nice cutback run of 17 yards by Pullium. However, Prep was flagged for holding, which stalled the drive. The Ramblers eventually came up short on a 48-yard field-goal attempt.

Prep also missed an opportunity while trailing 14-0 in the third quarter. Pullium found a receiver deep down the middle, but the pass slipped through the receiver's hands on a play that probably would have resulted in a Prep touchdown.

-- Among the crowd of 4,900 spread throughout the stadium, fans could see players and coaches from just about every school in Erie County -- high school or college. McDowell, Girard, Iroquois, Fairview, Mercyhurst Prep -- you name it, there were school sweat shirts and coats everywhere.

-- Darrell Brooks made a lot of heads shake with his smooth moves and tremendous acceleration. Brooks is the defending District 10 Class AAA 100-meter dash champion, and it shows on the field. He has the ability to hit get around the corner when it appears that defenders -- even very fast defensive backs -- have an angle on him. He does it with a fluid running style that makes the play look effortless.

Brooks ran his season totals to 1,464 yards and 22 touchdowns on just 112 carries. Columnist John Dudley wrote about Brooks in today's Times-News.

-- While Vincent will play Clearfield next week, a rematch with Thomas Jefferson could loom on the horizon. TJ eliminated Vincent 35-6 last year in the PIAA Class AAA semifinals.

Thomas Jefferson, the defending PIAA Class AAA champion, beat New Castle 47-20 Friday.

Vincent is ranked No. 1 in the state by Pennsylvania Football News and No. 2 by the Harrisburg Patriot-News. Thomas Jefferson is No. 1 in the Patriot-News poll and No. 2 in the PFN poll.

Thomas Jefferson will play Blackhawk next week for the WPIAL (District 7) title. Blackhawk beat Highlands 36-7 Friday.

-- Vincent wasn't the only District 10 team that posted a shutout Friday using outstanding team speed. Farrell's defense completely shut down previously unbeaten Saegertown in a 31-0 victory in the District 10 Class A semifinals.

The Panthers managed just 55 yards on 36 rushes and did not complete a pass. Farrell, meanwhile, racked up 350 total yards.

Saegertown had been averaging almost 40 points per game for the season. Star running back Keenan Ellison was limited to 13 yards on nine carries.

Terrell Jackson had 145 yards on 17 carries for Farrell. He's a 5-foot 10-inch, 200-pound senior who is emerging as a force late in the season.

-- Farrell (10-2) will play Linesville (10-2) for the Class A title next week. The Lions advanced with an impressive 35-7 victory over Mercer, thanks to Doug Farley's 128 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Farrell beat Linesville 27-0 during the regular season. The Lions' only other setback was a 41-35 overtime loss to Saegertown.

Farrell has won 10 in a row since opening the season with back-to-back losses to Sharon (14-7) and Mercer (20-0). Sharon will play Slippery Rock in the Class AA semifinalist tonight.

Thank you for joining us. Look above for coverage of tonight's playoff games. Come back here tonight at 7 for live blog updates from the playoff games and join us again tomorrow morning for our Sunday Update.