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Here is a look at the Hickory football schedule this fall. We will publish schedules as we receive them from schools.

All times p.m. unless otherwise noted.

*Region 3 games

–Tom Reisenweber

Pennlive.com is currently running a list of the top 50 football recruits in Pennsylvania. Reporter Andrew Shay has compiled the list, which includes five District 10 players.

Shay ranks Central Valley wide receiver Robert Foster as the No. 1 recruit in Pennsylvania. Foster, an Alabama recruit, has made several All-America teams.

Check out the top 50 list. Here’s how District 10 players rank, along with their college choices:

9. Damion Terry, Cathedral Prep quarterback, Michigan State
12. Delton Williams, Cathedral Prep defensive back, Michigan State
16. DeShawn Coleman, Hickory RB, West Virginia
17. James Conner, McDowell RB/OLB, Pitt
38. Artrel Foster, Meadville DB, Temple

Pennlive.com is providing a countdown of the top 20 leading up to the Feb. 6. signing day. James Conner is featured today.

The Class A and AA editions of the Pennsylvania Sports Writers all-state football teams have been released. Hickory standout DeShawn Coleman was named to the Class AA team at running back after rushing for 1,730 yards and 28 touchdowns on 151 carries. He also had nine catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns and finished with 210 points this season.

In two seasons at Hickory, Coleman has rushed for 4,123 yards and 59 touchdowns to make him the all-time rusher in school history. He has also won the District 10 scoring title the past two years. Hickory claimed the District 10 Class AA championship in both of Coleman’s seasons but he will graduate in the spring and play for West Virginia next year.

No other District 10 players were named to the A or AA teams. The Class AAA and AAAA teams are due out Thursday.

–Tom Reisenweber

Matt Voytik

When starting quarterback Mike Nardone was injured during a scrimmage, the Hickory football team appeared to be in trouble. That was, until Matt Voytik stepped up.

Voytik, a junior quarterback, has emerged as a solid replacement for Nardone this season. He has thrown for 641 yards and five touchdowns and is the Hornets’ second-leading rusher with 236 yards and five touchdowns.

Last week Voytik completed 7-of-10 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-7 win over Reynolds.

Nardone has been in and out of the lineup because of injuries this season, but Voytik has stepped in and given coach Bill Brest some stability at the quarterback position

Poll results:

Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s a look at the state football rankings:

Harrisburg Patriot-News state rankings:

CLASS AAAA
School (District)    Record     Previous
1. North Allegheny (7)     7-0     2
2. St. Joseph’s Prep (12)     6-0     6
3. Gateway (7)     6-1     3
4. LaSalle College (12)     6-1     1
5. Central Dauphin* (3)     6-1     5
6. Easton (11)     7-0     7
7. Downingtown East (1)     7-0     9
8. Harrisburg (3)     5-2     8
9. Mount Lebanon (7)     6-1     10
10. Delaware Valley (2)     7-0     NR
Teams to watch: Bethel Park (7) 5-2, Cumberland Valley (3) 6-1, Ridley (1) 7-0, Seneca Valley (7) 6-1, Upper St. Clair (7) 6-1, Wilson (3) 6-1.

CLASS AAA
School (District)    Record     Previous
1. Cathedral Prep (10)     7-0     1
2. Bishop McDevitt (3)     7-0     2
3. Montour (7)     7-0     3
4. Archbishop Wood* (12)     5-2     4
5. Central Valley (7)     6-1    5
6. Pottsgrove (1)     7-0     6
7. West Allegheny (7)     6-1     7
8. Thomas Jefferson (7)     7-0     9
9. Berwick (2)     6-1     10
10. Franklin Regional (7)     6-1     NR
Teams to watch: Abington Heights (2) 6-1, Cardinal O’Hara (12) 4-3, Clearfield (9) 7-0, Mars (7) 6-1, West Chester Henderson (1) 6-1, West Mifflin (7) 7-0.

CLASS AA
School (District)    Record     Previous
1. Aliquippa (7)     7-0     1
2. Imhotep Charter (12)     7-0     2
3. Wyomissing (3)     7-0     3
4. South Fayette (7)     7-0     4
5. Washington (7)     7-0     5
6. Jeannette (7)     6-1     6
7. Hickory (10)     6-1     7
8. Grove City (10)     6-1     10
9. Trinity (3)     6-1     9
10. Catasauqua (11)     7-0     NR
Teams to watch: Beaver Area (7) 7-0, Bermudian Springs (3) 7-0, Mount Pleasant (7) 5-2, Richland (6) 7-0, Seton-LaSalle (7) 6-1, Wilmington (10) 5-2.

CLASS A
School (District)    Record     Previous
1. Clairton* (7)     7-0     1
2. Southern Columbia (4)     7-0     2
3. Rochester (7)     7-0     3
4. Old Forge (2)     7-0     4
5. Dunmore (2)     6-1     5
6. Monessen (7)     6-1     6
7. West Middlesex (10)     6-1     7
8. Sharpsville (10)     6-1     8
9. Bellwood-Antis (6)     7-0     9
10. Port Allegany (9)     7-0     10
Teams to watch: Bishop Canevin (7) 5-2, Line Mountain (4) 6-1, Neshannock (7) 6-1, Penns Manor (6) 6-1, Williams Valley (11) 7-0.
*2011 PIAA champion.**2011 Class AA champion.

Pennsylvania Football News state rankings:

Cathedral Prep remained No. 1 in Class AAA this week in the Harrisburg Patriot-News state football rankings.

The Ramblers will host archrival McDowell Friday at Veterans Stadium. McDowell, which is coming off a second consecutive loss to an Ohio power — a 34-23 setback to St. Edward on Friday — dropped into the “teams to watch” category in Class AAAA after being ranked No. 9 for the previous three weeks.

District 10′s Hickory, Wilmington  and Grove City are ranked in the Class AA top 10, while Sharpsville remained No. 4 in Class A. West Middlesex is listed as a Class A team to watch.

Complete state rankings:

Read the rest of this entry »

The Sharon Herald is reporting that Hickory quarterback Mike Nardone left Saturday’s scrimmage against West Middlesex with an apparent leg injury. He was sandwiched by two Big Reds defenders and immediately fell to the turf in pain. Nardone threw for 1,337 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall for the District 10 Class AA champions. McDowell quarterback Jarrett Koper broke his leg last week during practice. The extent of Nardone’s injury is not known but his absence could be a big blow for the Hornets. Hickory has one of the top running backs around in DeShawn Coleman but Nardone provides a balance with a strong passing attack and brings plenty of leadership as well.

–Tom Reisenweber

Four District 10 football teams are ranked in the top 10 in their class in the Pennsylvania Football News preseason rankings, which were released today. Cathedral Prep (Class AAA), Grove City (AA) and Sharpsville (A) are ranked No. 5 in their respective classes. Hickory, meanwhile, is ranked No. 6 in Class AA.

McDowell (Class AAAA), Strong Vincent (AAA), Wilmington (AA), Mercyhurst Prep (A) and West Middlesex (A) are listed among Others to Watch.

CLASS AAAA

Rank – School – District
1. Central Dauphin (3)
2. North Allegheny (7)
3. Wilson (West Lawn) (3)
4. Easton Area (11)
5. North Penn (1)
6. LaSalle College (12)
7. Gateway (7)
8. Downingtown East (1)
9. Upper St. Clair (7)
10. Ridley (1)

Others to Watch: Abington (1), Bethlehem Freedom (11), Council Rock North (1), Cumberland Valley (3), Delaware Valley (2), Garnet Valley (1), McDowell (10), McKeesport (7), Parkland (11), Pennridge (1), Pennsbury (1), Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7), Roman Catholic (12), Scranton (2), Seneca Valley (7), St. Joseph’s Prep (12), State College (6), Whitehall (11), Woodland Hills (7)

CLASS AAA

Rank – School – District
1. Archbishop Wood (12)
2. Bishop McDevitt (3)
3. Franklin Regional (7)
4. Central Valley (7)
5. Cathedral Prep (10)
6. Manheim Central (3)
7. Cardinal O’Hara (12)
8. Pottsgrove (1)
9. Berwick Area (2)
10. West Allegheny (7)

Others to Watch: Blackhawk (7),  Clearfield (9),  Cocalico (3),  Knoch (7),  Lampeter-Strasburg (3),  Lancaster Catholic (3),  Mars Area (7),  Montour (7),  Pottsville (11),  Scranton Prep (2),  Shippensburg (3),  Strath Haven (1),  Strong Vincent (10),  Valley View (2),  West Chester Henderson (1),  West York (3)

CLASS AA

Rank – School – District
1. Aliquippa (7)
2. Wyomissing (3)
3. Mount Carmel (4)
4. Jeannette (7)
5. Grove City (10)
6. Hickory (10)
7. Pen Argyl (11)
8. GAR Memorial (2)
9. South Fayette (7)
10. Washington (7)

Others to Watch: Beaver Falls (7),  Bermudian Springs (3),  Danville (4),  Delone Catholic (3),  Forest Hills (6),  Imhotep Charter (12),  Karns City (9),  Mifflinburg (4),  Montoursville (4),  Northern Lehigh (11),  Richland (6),  Seton-LaSalle (7),  Towanda (4),  Trinity (3),  Tyrone Area (6),  West Catholic (12),  Wilmington (10),  Wyoming Area (2),

CLASS A

Rank – School – District
1. Clairton (7)
2. Southern Columbia (4)
3. Dunmore (2)
4. Rochester Area (7)
5. Sharpsville (10)
6. Brentwood (7)
7. Penns Manor (6)
8. Bellwood-Antis (6)
9. Old Forge (2)
10. Port Allegany (9)

Others to Watch: Avonworth (7),  Bethlehem-Center (7),  Bishop Canevin (7),  Clarion Area (9),  Coudersport (9),  Elk County Catholic (9),  Line Mountain (4),  Mercyhurst Prep (10),  Minersville (11),  North Star (5),  Pius X (11),  Riverside (2),  Schuylkill Haven (11),  Shenandoah Valley (11),  Sto-Rox (7),  West Middlesex (11)

Quinn Thompson

DeShawn Coleman

Damion Terry

Artrel Foster

Meadville’s Artrel Foster is the latest in a series of District 10 skill-position players who have committed to major colleges.

When Foster announced that he had picked Temple recently, he became the fourth high-profile skill-position player from the district to commit to a major college before his senior season.

Foster joins Cathedral Prep quarterback Damion Terry (Michigan State), Hickory running back DeShawn Coleman (West Virginia) and General McLane tight end Quinn Thompson (Connecticut) on that list.

At least two other skill-position players in D-10 are being recruited: McDowell running back/defensive end James Conner and Cathedral Prep running back/safety Delton Williams. Pitt is among those interested in Conner, while Williams has more than a dozen offers, including Michigan State and Nebraska.

Hickory Hornets
Coach (season, record): Bill Brest (3rd season, 20-5)
2011 overall record: 11-2
2011 region record (place): 4-1 (second)
2011 playoff results: Hickory defeated Northwestern 33-12, North East 35-0 and General McLane 35-13 to win the District 10 Class AA championship. Hickory then lost to Tyrone 40-28 in the PIAA quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Matt Bell, Hayden Rohrbacher, Del Warren Meyers, Mark Mrozek, Alex Kirsch, Andrew Smith
Top returning players: DeShawn Coleman, Mike Nardone, Mike Palumbo, Calvin Pryts, Dionte Pope
Assistant coaches: Neil Gargano, Mike Nardone, Bill Sham, Walt Nogay, Maurice Wilder, Jeff Valentino, John Flynn, Mark Palumbo, Ross Gargano, Scott Biro
Outlook: Hickory had a banner year in 2011, including a District 10 Class AA championship. The Hornets dominated in the District 10 postseason and ran into a tough team in Tyrone in the PIAA quarterfinals. Hickory has a strong group back this fall and will be a threat to repeat as D-10 champions. The Hornets lost four starters on both sides of the ball. Matt Bell, an all-disitrict offensive lineman and first-team all-region offensive and defensive lineman has graduated. He will compete for Youngstown State this fall. Also gone on the line is first-team selection Morgan Englebaugh, second-team selection Hayden Rohrbacher and tight end Del Warren Meyers. Hickory also has to replace Mark Mrozek, Alex Kirsch and all-region selection Andrew Smith. Smith, who is competing for Edinboro this fall, was a first-team wide receiver and second-team defensive back. Smith ran for 323 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 480 yards and seven touchdowns. Kirsch caught 14 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns as a senior.

Hickory has several standout players back this fall, including West Virginia recruit DeShawn Coleman. In a breakout junior season, Coleman ran for 2,391 yards and 33 touchdowns on 209 carries and caught 10 passes for 160 yards and three TDs. Coleman was named to the all-district team as a running back and was vote to the all-region first team at running back. Mike Nardone is back at quarterback and linebacker. He threw for 1,337 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior. Mike Palumbo also returns in the backfield, while Dionte Pope is back at wide receiver and Calvin Pryts returns at tight end. Pryts was a second-team selection at tight end and linebacker, while Pope was voted to the second team at all-purpose and defensive back. Palumbo has plenty of speed and was voted to the first team at linebacker. The Hornets have some experience on the offensive and defensive line this year. Joe Hines, a second-team defensive lineman, is back for his senior season, while Jaylen Sharper is back as well. Alonzo Scott started three games last year on the line and will compete for a starting spot along with seven other hopefuls in camp. Freshman Andrew Pryts and LaRon Allen could be impact players as well this year.

Hickory has the talent and experience to repeat as District 10 Class AA champions. The Hornets have a loaded schedule this season. Region 3 is tough enough with teams like Grove City, Sharon and Wilmington waiting but Hickory went above and beyond for the non-region portion. The Hornets open with Class AAA Strong Vincent and will eventually play powerhouse Farrell. The open date in Week 10 could be a welcome bye week after nine tough games. Hickory’s toughest stretch will come in September when the Hornets take on Wilmington and Grove City in back-to-back weeks.

Schedule
August
31 Strong Vincent 7
September
7 at Greenville* 7
14 at Wilmington* 7
21 Grove City* 7
28 at Titusville* 7
October
6 Sharon* 1
12 Farrell 7
19 at Saegertown* 7
26 Reynolds* 7
November
2 Bye
*Region 3 games

Sunday: Iroquois

– Tom Reisenweber

DeShawn Coleman, one of the top football players in District 10 this past fall, is among 400 nominees for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The bowl will take place Jan. 5, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas. Coleman ran for 2,393 yards on 209 carries and 31 touchdowns during his junior season. He also caught 10 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Coleman, a 5-foot 11-inch, 170-pound running back, broke out this past fall and helped Hickory win the District 10 Class AA championship. He recently verbally committed to West Virginia.

Among the 400 nominees, 14 are from Pennsylvania, including Central Valley star Robert Foster, North Allegheny lineman Patrick Kugler and Seton-La Salle tight end Scott Orndorff. The next step in finalizing the roster of 90 players is the selection tour in the fall. The tour begins in September with selections being announced throughout the season until December.

Click here for the complete list of nominees.

– Tom Reisenweber