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

All times p.m. unless otherwise noted.

*Region 1 games

–Tom Reisenweber

Mercer Mustangs
Coach (season, record): Pat McClearn (8th season, 50-28)
2011 overall record: 8-3
2011 region record (place): 6-1 (second)
2011 playoff results: Defeated Saegertown 48-20 in the District 10 Class A quarterfinals before losing to West Middlesex 44-34 in the semifinals.
Top players lost: Kyle Mariacher, R.J. Swartz, Joe Hess, Jordan McClearn, Brandon Little, Billy Selders, Miles Bennington, Aaron Collins, Alec Gawne
Top returning players: Nate Brest, Evan Nan, Austin Slagle, Luke Leonard, Zane O’Brien, Chase Hoffman
Assistant coaches: Ed Klutcher, Rob Swartz, Brian Phillips, Don King, Mike Sagulla, Rob Kennis, Rick Whenry, Tyler Cramer
Outlook: For the first time in a while, Mercer could have to rebuild this season. The Mustangs seem to always field a competitive team but they suffered massive graduation losses in the offseason. Kyle Mariacher, R.J. Swartz, Joe Hess, Jordan McClearn, Brandon Little, Billy Selders, Miles Bennington, Alec Gawne and Aaron Collins are leaving big holes for coach Pat McClearn to fill. Mariacher and Hess were 1,000-yard rushers for Mercer at one point in their careers. Mariacher ran for 2,314 yards and 33 touchdowns last year and is Mercer’s all-time rusher. He was named to the all-district team and vote to the all-region first team at running back. Hess, a first-team defensive lineman, ran for 1,000 yards as a junior and 752 yards and nine touchdowns last fall. Gawne threw for 327 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 308 yards and five touchdowns. Selders, a first-team linebacker, ran for 167 yards and four touchdowns and was Mercer’s second-leading tackler with 81 tackles. The Mustangs will also be without McClearn, their leading receiver from 2011. He had 13 catches for 158 yards and Bennington, a first-team tight end, had eight catches for 118 yards. Collins was a first-team punter and R.J. Swartz, a first-team defensive lineman are gone. Swartz had 71 tackles, including five sacks, as a senior. The list of graduated players seems to go on and on and gives Mercer a lot of work to do in training camp.

The Mustangs have a few starters back this season to lean on. Nate Brest, Evan Nan, Austin Slagle, Luke Leonard, Zane O’Brien and Chase Hoffman should see significant playing time this fall. Brest was an all-region first-team offensive lineman last year and will be important to help along a young line, while Nan was a second-team linebacker last year. Nan will be in the quarterback competition along with Logan Clarke and Walter Haines. Hoffman brings back stability to the special teams as a second-team kicker and could be important for the Mustangs’ offense. Slagle had 10 carries for 71 yards last year and could see a major increase in carries this year. He also led Mercer with 103 tackles last fall.

Mercer will have lots of new faces this year as the Mustangs lost more than 20 seniors to graduation. The Mustangs open the season with two tough road games and could face an 0-2 record. Eisenhower will be better this year and is always tough at home and Sharpsville is the defending District 10 Class A champion. The toughest stretch could come in October when Mercer takes on Class AAA Conneaut, traditional power Farrell, rival Mercyhurst Prep and an interesting road game at Keystone. The Mustangs’ success this season could depend on how quickly their new players step in and come together as a team.

Schedule
August
31 at Eisenhower 7
September
7 at Sharpsville* 7
14 Kennedy Catholic* 7
21 at Lakeview* 7
28 West Middlesex* 7
October
5 at Conneaut* 7
12 Mercyhurst Prep 7
19 at Keystone 7
26 Farrell* 7
November
2 at Reynolds 7
*Region 1 games

Sunday: Mercyhurst Prep

– Tom Reisenweber

Mercer Mustangs
Coach (season, record): Pat McClearn (7th season 42-25)
2010 overall record: 6-5
2010 region record (place): 5-3 (tied for third)
2010 playoff results: Lost 54-14 to Mercyhurst Prep in the District 10 Class A quarterfinals.
Top players lost: J.T. Mannozzi, Josh DeAngio
Top returning players: Kyle Mariacher, Joe Hess, R.J. Swartz, Brandon Little, Jordan McClearn, Nate Brest
Assistant coaches: Ed Klutcher, Rob Swartz, Brian Phillips, Don King, Tim Messett, Mike Sagulla
Outlook: Mercer has been in the mix for the Region 1 championship over the past few years and this fall could be the Mustangs’ turn to claim the region title. Mercer has two returning 1,000-yard rushers in Kyle Mariacher and Joe Hess. Mariacher eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2009 but an injury limited him to two games in 2010. Hess took over last year and ran for 1,000 yards. The duo could be one of the most potent rushing attacks in District 10 this season.

The mustangs will need to replace two leaders in J.T. Mannozzi and Josh DeAngio. Mannozzi was a standout split end and linebacker, while DeAngio anchored the offensive and defensive lines. R.J. Swartz, Brandon Little and Nate Brest return along both lines, while Jordan McClearn could be a difference-maker as well. The Mustangs’ line is experience and deep to complement Hess and Mariacher. Mercer has nine returning starters on offense and eight on defense to give the Mustangs one of the most experienced teams in Class A.

Mercer starts the year off with developing rival Mercyhurst Prep. The Lakers and Mustangs have butted heads in the first week of the season for the past few years and have met a few times in the playoffs. Mercyhurst ended Mercer’s season last year in convincing fashion and the Mustangs will look for some payback at Veterans Stadium. The tough part of Mercer’s schedule will come on the road. Aside from a showdown with Mercyhurst, the Mustangs have to travel to Lakeview, Farrell and West Middlesex in Region 1 play. Mercer will get Sharpsville at home but the Mustangs’ chances at the Region 1 title and high seed in the District 10 playoffs will likely be decided away from home.

Schedule
September
2 at Mercyhurst Prep 7
9 at Lakeview* 7
16 at Farrell* 7
23 Kennedy Catholic* 7
30 Linesville* 7
October
7 Reynolds 7
14 Sharpsville* 7
21 at Conneaut Valley* 7
28 Bye
November
4 at West Middlesex* 7

Monday: Mercyhurst Prep

– Tom Reisenweber

Farrell remains the only District 10 team ranked No. 1 in the state polls as the second weekend of the postseason approaches.

The Steelers (11-0) are ranked No. 1 by the Pennsylvania Football News and No. 3 by the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

McDowell (No. 7, Class AAAA), Cathedral Prep (No. 8, AAA), Wilmington (No. 6, AA) and General McLane (No. 8, AA) also are ranked by the Patriot-News.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Football News ranks the following D-10 teams (in addition to Farrell): Cathedral Prep (No. 9, AAA), General McLane (No. 4, AA) and Wilmington (No. 5, AA).

For complete state rankings, click below:

Read the rest of this entry »

Wilmington, the defending PIAA Class AA champion, highlights five teams ranked in the Pennsylvania Football News Preseason Rankings released this week.

The Greyhounds finished 2008 at 15-1, including a thrilling double overtime win in the state championship over West Catholic, 35-34. Greenville is the other D-10 team in the Class AA rankings as a team to watch.

Rivals Strong Vincent and Cathedral Prep are ranked in the top 10 in Class AAA. The Colonels won the District 10 Class AAA championship over the Ramblers in ’08. 28-0. Vincent lost several starters but has a solid offensive and defensive line coming back. The Colonels are ranked No. 6 in the state, while their playoff-rival Thomas Jefferson is No. 1.

Prep is ranked No. 9 despite having an average year in ’08. The Ramblers created a buzz around the state by hiring Mike Mischler to return as head coach coupled with the heavy recruiting by Division I schools of Shyquawn Pullium has Prep at a top 10 spot.

In Class A, Farrell and Linesville are ranked No. 6 and No. 9, respectively. The Steelers made a deep run into the PIAA playoffs in ’08 before losing to Clairton and Pitt recruit Kevin Weatherspoon. The Lions had an outstanding season last year but lose to Farrell in the District 10 championship.

Mercer and Sharpsville, two teams that could surprise some teams in Class A, are both listed as others to watch.

For the complete rankings, click below

– Tom Reisenweber

Read the rest of this entry »

Mercer Mustangs

Coach: Pat McClearn
2008 overall record: 10-2
2008 league record (place): 9-1 (Region 1 co-champion)
Playoff results: Beat Iroquois 28-14 in the District 10 Class A quarterfinals; lost to Linesville 35-7 in the District 10 Class A semifinals.
Top players lost: OG/DT Nick Ream, C/DT Ray Dominguez, OG/DE Nick Nan, RB/DB Terrence Davis, TE/LB Josh McGinnis, OG/DE Bill Redmond, SE/DB Tyler Hoffman.
Top underclassmen: SE/LB Eric Staul, QB/LB Andrew Erdos, RB/DB Rawlins Huntley, RB/DB Andy Reda, RB/LB J.T. Mannozzi, RB/LB Herbie Hennegan, RB/LB Kyle Mariacher, SE/LB Jordan McClearn, RB/DB Nick Campbell, OG/DE Tanner Barkley, C/DE Cody Frey, OT/DT Rich McCullough, OG/DE Phil Miller.
Key games: Sept. 11 at Farrell, Sept. 25 Linesville, Oct. 9 Sharpsville.
Outlook: Andrew Erdos returns for his final season with the Mustangs, the defending Region 1 champions. Erdos, who accounted for 864 yards in total offense and 14 touchdowns, could be under increased duress as the team’s starting quarterback early in the season. Mercer graduated first-team, all-region selections Nick Ream, Ray Dominguez and Nick Nan from its offensive line. … Erdos also will have a new primary ball carrier to hand off to come the fall. Terrence Davis rushed for 13 touchdowns and 941 yards in his final year. Expected to replace Davis as the Mustangs’ best thoroughbred is Rawlins Huntley. As a junior, Huntley rushed for 845 yards and nine scores. … Mercer does get its top two receiving threats back in Andy Reda and Eric Staul. As juniors, Reda caught six passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, while Staul was good for four receptions for 50 yards and a score. … The Mustangs’ only losses of 2008 were to Linesville. The Lions beat them 28-21 in a Sept. 19 regular season game and 35-7 in the Nov. 14 district semifinals at Wilmington High School. … McClearn enters his fifth season as Mercer’s head coach with a record of 28-16.

Schedule
September
4    Mercyhurst Prep    7
11    at Farrell*    7
18    Kennedy Catholic*    7
25    Linesville*    7
October
2    at Harborcreek Youth    7
9    Sharpsville*    7
17    at Conneaut Valley*    7
23    Conneaut Lake*    7
30    at West Middlesex*    7
November
6    at Lakeview*    7

* Region 1 game

Wednesday: Region 1: Sharpsville

Last year Linesville, Mercer and Farrell all finished with one loss in the region to be crowned co-champions. The key game among those teams was in Week 2 when Mercer knocked off Farrell 20-0. The Steelers were missing some impact players and the Mustangs took advantage with a huge win. Region 1 is one of two Class A regions, and was clearly the most talented. Three of the final four teams in the District 10 Class A playoffs were from Region 1, including both teams in the D-10 title game. Here are the final Region 1 standings from last season.

Region 1
Region Overall
w-Mercer 7-1 10-2
w-Farrell 7-1 12-3
w-Linesville 7-1 10-3
z-Sharpsville 5-3 6-5
West Middlesex 4-4 6-4
Lakeview 3-5 4-6
Conneaut Lake 2-6 2-8
Kennedy Catholic 1-7 1-8
Conneaut Valley 0-8 0-10
w-co-region champions
z-qualified for playoff spot

Key 2009 games: Sept. 11 Mercer at Farrell, Oct. 2 Farrell at Linesville, Oct. 30 Mercer at Linesville
Predicted champion: Farrell