Archives

The Erie Times-News and GoErie.com are continuing District 10 football preview coverage this week, leading up to Friday’s season openers. Starting Sunday, the preview coverage included Region 6, McDowell and Region 4. The coverage will continue through Thursday. Included in each preview are complete rosters for each team.

Earlier, the Times-News published the 112-page Kickoff preseason guide and posted the online Summer Huddle series on the Varsity blog.

Check out the links to the Times-News team previews:
Sunday: McDowell preview
Sunday: Region 6
Monday: Region 4
Tuesday: Region 5
Wednesday: Region 2
Thursday: Region 3
Thursday: Region 1

Cochranton Cardinals

Coach: Tom Haynes
2008 overall record: 1-9
2008 region record (place): 1-7 (8th place, Region 2)
Playoff results: Did not make District 10 playoffs
Top players lost: RB/DB Andy Harkness, RB/DL Nathan Baker, RB/LB Garrett Nahay, WR/DB Matthew Windschmitt, OL/DL Dustin Clark, OL/DL Chance Derugen-Toomey

Jake Schultz

Top returning players: QB/DB Jake Schultz, RB/LB Jake Hawley, TE/DB Javaun Harvey, RB/LB Clayton Beatty, RB/LB Zac Keller, K/DB Caleb Hoefler
Key games: Sept. 11 at Union City, Sept. 18 at Saegertown, Oct. 16 at Cambridge Springs
Outlook: Cochranton did not have a season to forget in 2008, starting 0-9 with their only win coming in the last week of the season against winless Harborcreek Youth Services. The Cardinals had opportunities to win games against Maplewood and Youngsville but were overmatched against the premier teams in Region 2, including three shutout losses. Coach Tom Haynes will try to improve on last season’s win total despite the loss of leading rusher and receiver Andy Harkness (726 total yards, 10 touchdowns). Harkness will be missed all over the field, as he also led his team in tackles, interceptions, kickoff returns and scoring. The Cardinals also lost a pair of rushers and front seven players in Nathan Baker and Garrett Nahay. Junior Jake Hawley will look to replace the pair on both sides of the ball, while senior Jake Schultz will again try to anchor the quarterback position and help in the defensive backfield. Matthew Windschmitt, a receiver and punter, and four linemen also will be missed. Cochranton’s defense, which allowed 42.5 points per game, must improve if the Cardinals want to be more competitive this season. They also need more from their offense, which scored in double figures in only three games and averaged a paltry 2.4 yards per rush. It’s safe to say that coach Haynes has a lot of work in front of him, but quick turnarounds are always possible.

Schedule:
September
4 at Maplewood 7
11 Union City* 7
18 at Saegertown* 7
25 Mercyhurst Prep* 7
October:
2 at Youngsville* 7
9 Lakeview 7
16 at Cambridge Springs* 7
24 at Iroquois* 7
30 Eisenhower* 7
November
6 Harborcreek Youth* 7

*Region 2 game

Sunday: Region 3 and Region 4 previews

In 2008, Saegertown was the class of Region 2 with a very talented team. Unfortunately for the Panthers a lot of talent graduated and the head coach resigned. Dave McDonald takes over as a first-year coach and some rebuilding to do from last year’s team. Cambridge Springs, Union City and Iroquois were all solid playoff teams but did not fare well against the powerful Region 1. There was a little controversy with the playoff selections as Iroquois and Mercyhurst Prep finished with the same region record. The District 10 handbook, at the time, stated the team with the best overall record advanced. Iroquois had the better record even though Mercyhurst Prep beat the Braves head to head. The rules have changed with head to head being the first tiebreaker this season. Mercyhurst Prep, Iroquois and Cambridge Springs will be solid with Saegertown and Union City in the hunt. Eisenhower could be a very dangerous sleeper with plenty of starters returning. Here are last year’s standings:

Region 2
Region Overall
y-Saegertown 8-0 12-1
z-Cambridge Springs 6-2 7-4
z-Union City 5-3 7-4
z-Iroquois 5-3 6-5
Mercyhurst Prep 5-3 5-5
Eisenhower 4-4 4-6
Youngsville 2-6 2-7
Cochranton 1-7 1-9
Harborcreek Youth 0-8 0-10
y-clinched region championship
z-qualified for playoff spot

Key 2009 games: Oct. 1 Cambridge Springs at Mercyhurst Prep, Oct. 9 Cambridge Springs at Eisenhower, Mercyhurst Prep at Iroquois, Oct. 23 Mercyhurst Prep at Saegertown, Oct. 30 Iroquois at Cambridge Springs
Predicted champion: Mercyhurst Prep