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Rob Matz knows there are different degrees of easier.

So when the coach of Harborcreek Youth Services’ second-year football program says getting ready for this season wasn’t as difficult as last season, he doesn’t mean it was easy.

By its nature, coaching football at the court-adjudicated home for boys will always have its own unique challenges. Most boys are sent there only for a matter of months. Some come and go during the season.

And participation at a place with only around 32 boys in grades nine through 12 will always be a challenge.

“But there’s no place I would rather be,” says Matz, a Millcreek resident who also works as a counselor at HYS.

HYS was forced to cancel its season opener last week because injuries left Matz with only about 14 or 15 healthy players.

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Harborcreek Youth Services Spartans

Coach: Rob Matz
2008 overall record: 0-10

Rob Matz

2008 league record (place): 0-8 (ninth place, Region 2)
Playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class A playoffs.
Top players lost: WR/LB Mike Booritch, OL/DL Issiah Bouie, OL/DL James Frame.
Top underclassmen (tentative): QB/LB Devine Davis, QB/LB Andrew Smith, RB/S Sha-ron Rue, OL/DL Klarc House, WR/LF Isaac Andrews.
Key games: Sept. 11 at Iroquois, Oct. 8 vs. Youngsville, Nov. 6 at Cochranton.
Outlook: HYS, a court-adjudicated group home for older youths, experienced a season familiar to many a first-year program. The winless Spartans lost by an average of 56-7 per game and didn’t score their first points until their fourth game, a 78-6 loss to region champion Saegertown. The closest HYS came to a victory was its season finale, a 28-8 loss to Cochranton. … Pending their return, coach Rob Matz has his top two offensive threats back in senior Andrew Smith and junior Devine Davis. Smith led the Spartans in rushing with 144 yards and two touchdowns, and also completed 35-of-110 passes for 535 yards and four scores. Davis, who split time with Smith behind center, led the team with 706 passing yards and five TDs. … Smith also showed his versatility as a receiver, catching 38 passes for 544 yards and five scores during the 2008 season. His receiving yards were tied with junior Isaac Andrews (26 catches, 4 TDs) for the team lead.

Schedule
September
4 at Line Mountain  7
11 at Iroquois* 7
18 Eisenhower*  7
25 Saegertown*  7
October
2 Mercer  7
8 Youngsville*  7
15 at Union City*  7
23 Cambridge Springs*  7
30 at Mercyhurst Prep*  7
November
6 at Cochranton*  7

*Region 2 games

Wednesday: Region 2: Iroquois

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