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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

Meadville Bulldogs
Coach (season): Mike Feleppa (1st season)
2011 overall record: 7-5
2011 region record (place): 3-3 (fourth)
2011 playoff results: Defeated Slippery Rock 43-7 in the District 10 Class AAA quarterfinals before losing to Cathedral Prep 49-7 in the semifinals.
Top players lost: Terence Goodrum, Fred Epps, Zach Towers, Corey Lynn, Alex Minnis
Top returning players: Artrel Foster, Tyler Minnis, Taylor Dart
Assistant coaches: John Amato, Ray Collins, Brian Ford, Joe Marsteller, Jason Stearns
Outlook: Meadville boasted an impressive rushing attack in 2011 with three 1,000-yard rushers. The issue facing the Bulldogs is two of those rushers have graduated. Terence Goodrum, an all-district running back, ran for 1,392 yards and 14 touchdowns on 196 carries. He was voted to the all-region first team as a running back and defensive back and finished with five interceptions. Also gone is Fred Epps, a first team-running back and second-team defensive lineman. He ran for 1,722 yards and 22 touchdowns on 227 carries as a senior. Meadville will also be without Zach Towers, Corey Lynn and Alex Minnis. Towers was voted to the first team at punter and linebacker, while Lynn and Minnis were second-team offensive and defensive linemen. Towers led the Bulldogs with 153 tackles, while Minnis and Lynn had 98 and 82, respectively. Lynn and Towers had six sacks each and Epps had three. In addition to graduation losses, Meadville coach Ken Achenbach resigned in the offseason and Mike Feleppa takes over.

Meadville is almost starting over this season with a new coach and a new system. The Bulldogs have some experience back to lean on with Artrel Foster, Tyler Minnis and Taylor Dart. Foster was a first-team defensive back and a second-team running back, while Minnis returns at quarterback and Dart is a standout lineman. Foster ran for 1,205 yards and 10 touchdowns last year and lead Meadville in receiving with 174 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. Minnis threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns and ran for two as a junior. The Bulldogs will need big-time contributions from their returning underclassmen this season to stay competitive in Region 5.

Meadville’s speed and athleticism was hard to slow down in 2011. The Bulldogs lost most of that speed to graduation but have a steady player in Artrel Foster to build around. Meadville will need to figure out its identity quickly in camp with plenty of new faces. The Bulldogs open the season with two games at home but the second will be an important game against Slippery Rock. Region 5 is in transition this year with new teams Bradford and Warren while Corry and Grove City departed. There doesn’t seem to be a true favorite in the region, making each region game important this fall. Aside from an interesting region schedule, the Bulldogs locked up three Class AAA games that could be important wins on their playoff resume. Meadville takes on East and Central Tech before a Week 10 showdown with newly-formed Conneaut. Conneaut seems to be a natural rival with Meadville right away and their game in Week 10 might be an elimination game for an at-large playoff spot.

Schedule
August
31 Northwestern 7
September
7 Slippery Rock* 7
15 at East 7
21 at Warren* 7
28 Central Tech 7
October
5 at Oil City* 7
12 Franklin* 7
19 Bradford* 7
26 at DuBois* 7
November
2 at Conneaut 7
*Region 5 games

Saturday: Mercer

– Tom Reisenweber

McDowell Trojans
Coach (season, record): Mark Soboleski (8th season, 38-35)
2011 overall record: 8-3
2011 conference record (place): 4-2 (tied for second)
2011 playoff results: Defeated McKeesport 42-7 in the District 7 first round before losing to Upper St. Clair 21-14 in the quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Greg Garmon, Luke Lecce, Mason Giacomelli, Paul Kemper, Anthony Raucci, Anthony Szymczak, Zach Baker
Top returning players: James Conner, Khyre Drayer, Jarrett Koper, Scott Augustine, Tyree Spearman, Joel Masharcka, Ethan Stark, Riley Warren, Tim Hess
Assistant coaches: Joe Magorien, Todd Strasenburgh, Tim Cacchione, Aaron Slocum, Kareem Carson, Kim Parker, Andrea Bridgett, Joe Wanson
Outlook: McDowell went through plenty of transition in the offseason. District 10 passed a policy that forces every school to return to D-10 for the playoffs if they play their regular season in another district. This set off a domino effect that ended with McDowell rejoining District 10 for the regular season and postseason. The Trojans aren’t happy about it but they will be in Region 6 for at least the next two years. McDowell is currently appealing the new policy but their status won’t change for the current PIAA cycle. The Trojans have some holes to fill, including Iowa-bound Greg Garmon. The all-conference first-team running back carried the ball 137 times for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns and he led McDowell with seven catches for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Also, the Trojans will have to replace four offensive linemen for the second straight year. Mason Giacomelli, Paul Kemper, Anthony Raucci and Anthony Szymczak have graduated. Giacomelli and Kemper were second-team offensive linemen, while Raucci was named an honorable-mention offensive lineman. Szymczak, who is now playing for Youngstown State, was a first-team defensive lineman. McDowell also graduated quarterback Anthony Lecce, who threw for 177 yards and three touchdowns last fall, and Zach Baker, a first-team kicker who connected on 41 extra points and three field goals. Luke DeHart and Khlique Harris leave big holes to fill on the defense. DeHart, a first-team linebacker, led the Trojans with 121 tackles, while Harris, a second-team linebacker, had 56.

McDowell definitely has some work to do in replacing all-star players but the Trojans have a solid group back. Quarterback Jarrett Koper starting taking over under center last year and threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 681 yards and seven touchdowns on 101 carries and was voted to the all-conference second team at defensive back. Koper is a leader along with Division I recruit James Conner. Conner, a second-team defensive lineman, racked up 12 sacks, a school record. He has offers from several MAC schools and Pitt. Conner also ran for 267 yards and three touchdowns on only 41 carries. Khyre Drayer adds depth in the backfield. The running back, who was voted to the all-conference honorable mention team, ran for 498 yards and eight touchdowns on 95 carries. Drayer also had two interceptions last year and could be a defensive force along with Tyree Spearman, a second-team defensive back. Scott Augustine, Joel Masharcka, Ethan Stark, Riley Warren and Tim Hess are back for the Trojans and could have a big-time impact on the season.

McDowell put together one of the toughest schedules in the state and might almost be better off than the past two years. The Trojans play four Ohio powerhouses, the PIAA Class AA champion from last year which is now AAA, and five region games, including Cathedral Prep, General McLane and Strong Vincent. There won’t be a week McDowell can take off and cruise to a win this season which should get the Trojans ready for the PIAA playoffs. The District 6-9-10 subregion expanded to include District 8 over the next two years. The eight teams in the subregion have the option to play in the playoffs at the end of the season and the winner moves on to the quarterfinals. McDowell opens its wild season with a tough game against Mentor, one of the biggest schools in Ohio. Mentor’s quarterback is headed to North Carolina after also receiving offers from Ohio State and Alabama. Week 2 should also be interesting as General McLane runs a very similar system to McDowell. Of course, the one game every Prep and McDowell fan have circled on their calendars is Oct. 5 at Veterans Stadium.

Schedule
August
31 Mentor (Ohio) 7
September
7 at General McLane* 7
15 at Lancaster Catholic 5
21 St. Ignatius (Ohio) 7:30
28 St. Edward (Ohio) 7:30
October
5 at Cathedral Prep* 7
12 at Cardinal Mooney (Ohio) 7:30
19 East* 7
26 at Strong Vincent* 7
November
2 Central Tech* 7
*Region 6 games

Friday: Meadville

– Tom Reisenweber

Maplewood Tigers
Coach (season): Bryan Borkovich (1st season)
2011 overall record: 2-8
2011 region record (place): 2-6 (tied for sixth)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class A playoffs.
Top players lost: Kevin Coatoam, Dakota Keeno, Dylan Thomas, Akeem Jackson
Top returning players: Nate Klingler, Ethan Moody, Alex Marvin, Logan Battin, Austin Binkert, Justin Dahl, Sage Byham, Lance Smith, Mitch Worley
Assistant coaches: Neil Falco, Bob Finkbeiner, Brian Lipps
Outlook: Maplewood will look to turn things around under new head coach Bryan Borkovich. The Tigers will have a new system in place for offense and defense and building chemistry in camp will be the biggest priority. Maplewood will be without Kevin Coatoam, Dakota Keeno, Dylan Thomas and Akeem Jackson because of graduation. Coatoam led the Tigers with 887 yards and four touchdowns on 170 carries, while Jackson had 144 yards on 32 carries. Coatoam also led Maplewood with 13 catches for 50 yards. Keeno carried the ball 19 times for 131 yards and one touchdown. Keeno also led the Tigers with 80 tackles in 2011. If those weren’t big enough holes to fill, Thomas had 52 tackles and led Maplewood with three sacks last year. With most of the backfield gone, the Tigers will need several underclassmen to step up.

Quarterback Nate Klingler is back after throwing for 343 yards and one touchdown last fall. Ethan Moody could see an increase in carries after rushing for 130 yards on 27 carries last season. Moody also caught five passes for 63 yards and Justin Dahl returns as well. Dahl was the Tigers’ second-leading receiver with 167 yards on 12 catches and had two interceptions. Alex Marvin, Logan Battin, Austin Binkert, Sage Byham, Lance Smith and Mitch Worley also bring experience back for a young and inexperienced team. Smith was third with 34 tackles last year, while Byham was fourth with 27.

Maplewood fans have reasons to be hopeful this year. A new coach and a new system could translate into success. Bryan Borkovich spent three years as an assistant coach in the WPIAL and one year at Meadville and knows what it takes to turn a program around. The Tigers open the season with two home games against Reynolds and Eisenhower before a tough road game at Union City. Maplewood plays a total of six road games, including four of its last six in the regular season. If the Tigers can understand their new system and learn to win on the road, they could contend for a District 10 Class A playoff spot.

Schedule
August
31 Reynolds 7
September
7 Eisenhower* 7
14 at Union City* 7
21 Youngsville* 7
28 at Iroquois* 7
October
5 Mercyhurst Prep* 7
12 at Saegertown 7
19 at Cambridge Springs* 7
26 at Cochranton* 7
November
2 Kennedy Catholic 7
*Region 2 games

Thursday: McDowell

– Tom Reisenweber

Lakeview Sailors
Coach (season, record): Dan York (12th season, 56-64)
2011 overall record: 4-5
2011 region record (place): 2-5 (sixth)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class A playoffs.
Top players lost: Alex Zappia, Brad Ferguson
Top returning players: Sam Breese, Blake Reddick, Zach Van Dusen, Zach Bigley, Nate Kokoski
Assistant coaches: Mike Grimm, Dave Skinner, Hans Koller, Todd Amsler, Joel McAfoose, Ritt Smith, Bill Heber, Joe Katavich
Outlook: Lakeview could sneak up on a few teams in Region 1 this season. Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Conneaut seem to be the prohibitive favorites, but Lakeview has nearly everyone back from last year. The two biggest losses for the Sailors are Alex Zappia and Brad Ferguson. Zappia ran for 97 yards but was more known for his defense. As a defensive back, Zappia was Lakeview’s second-leading tackler with 58 and had one interception with two fumble recoveries. Ferguson was voted to the all-region second team as an offensive lineman and leaves a big hole to fill on the line. The Sailors have other players to replace but for the most part are in tact from last year’s four-win team.

Lakeview has plenty to get excited about this year. Sam Breese, one of the top linemen in Mercer County is back this fall after being named to the all-region first team at offensive and defensive line as a sophomore. Breese led the Sailors with 62 tackles, including five sacks, last year. Another boost on the line could be from Dylan Taylor. He had an outstanding sophomore season where he racked up eight sacks. Taylor missed the 2011 season with an injury but is back this fall for his senior year. In the backfield, second-team running back Blake Reddick returns after rushing for 1,353 yards and 10 touchdowns on 218 carries. Nate Kokoski ran for 308 yards and four touchdowns, while Zach Van Dusen had 182 yards and two touchdowns. Van Dusen is a returning second-team defensive back and led the Sailors in receiving with 10 catches for 154 yards and three touchdowns. Zach Bigley is back under center for his senior year. He threw for 230 yards and five touchdowns last fall.

Lakeview will start the season with a winnable game at home against Union City before hitting the road for two Class AAA games at Conneaut and Franklin. Things get very interesting in October when the Sailors play Farrell, Sharpsville and West Middlesex. Lakeview is a contender for a playoff spot and its Oct. 5 game against Farrell could decide if the Sailors are headed to the postseason.

Schedule
August
31 Union City 7
September
7 at Conneaut* 7
14 at Franklin 7
21 Mercer* 7
28 Kennedy Catholic* 7
October
5 Farrell* 7
12 at Cochranton 7
19 at Sharpsville* 7
26 West Middlesex* 7
November
2 at Iroquois 7
*Region 1 games

Wednesday: Maplewood

– Tom Reisenweber

Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles
Coach (season, record): Archie D’Onofrio (3rd season, 3-16)
2011 overall record: 2-7
2011 region record (place): 1-6 (tied for seventh)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class A playoffs.
Top players lost: Joe Stephenson, Jake McPhatter
Top returning players: Jeff Thompkins, Brandon Wassil, Logan Bernat, Blase Hudson, Sam Crow, David Cathey, Brad Nulsen
Assistant coaches: Denny Staul, Bob Lutes, Tone Retone, Frank Antuono, Larry Lee
Outlook: Kennedy Catholic has struggled over the past few years and is looking to climb out of the bottom of Region 1. The losses of Joe Stephenson and Jake McPhatter won’t help. Stephenson, a second-team all-region offensive lineman and linebacker, has graduated, while McPhatter, a second-team wide receiver, transferred to New Castle. McPahtter ran for 104 yards and three touchdowns last fall and he caught 16 passes for 360 yards and five touchdowns. Those two leave huge holes for third-year coach Archie D’Onofrio to fill in camp.

The Golden Eagles will have some experience back to lean on. Jeff Thompkins is one of the more underrated players in Mercer County. He ran for 356 yards and two touchdowns last year and caught 17 passes for 483 yards and five touchdowns. Thompkins is a solid skill position player along with quarterback Brennan Wassil. He completed 69-of-139 passes for 1,102 yards and 11 touchdowns. Logan Bernat caught 10 passes for 101 yards and is back to balance out the backfield for Kennedy. He is also a defensive standout at outside linebacker. Blase Hudson returns as a three-year starter on the line along with fellow linemen Sam Crow and Brad Nulsen. Ethan Wassil and David Cathey could be big contributors this season in an experience offensive backfield.

Kennedy has experience at the skill positions but needs to work on the offensive and defensive lines in camp. The Golden Eagles open with three games on the road against McDonald (Ohio), Farrell and Mercer. In fact, Kennedy has only three home games this season (Sharpsville, Union and Conneaut). There may not be a tougher region to rebuild in than Region 1. Sharpsville, West Middlesex, Farrell, Mercer and Lakeview seem to always have competitive teams. Region 1 is wide open this season and Kennedy will have to learn to win on the road to stay competitive.

Schedule
August
31 at McDonald (Ohio) 7
September
7 at Farrell* 7
14 at Mercer* 7
22 Sharpsville* noon
28 at Lakeview* 7
October
6 Union noon
12 at Reynolds 7
19 at West Middlesex* 7
27 Conneaut* 1
November
2 at Maplewood 7
*Region 1 games

Tuesday: Lakeview

– Tom Reisenweber

Iroquois Braves
Coach (season, record): Gerard Drozdowski (4th season, 11-19)
2011 overall record: 2-8
2011 region record (place): 2-6 (tied for sixth)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class A playoffs.
Top players lost: Parrish Brown, Matt Desin, John Drozdowski, Elliot Davison
Top returning players: Alex Williams, Justyn Roda, Michael Hasberry, Jaydon Cagnoli, Joey Robinson, Anthony Visalle, Brandon Oswalt
Assistant coaches: Jim Vogt, Mike Whitney, Jeff McShane, John Campbell, Brian Martin, Mark Cadden
Outlook: Iroquois struggled in 2011 and it won’t get any easier this fall. The Braves were hit hard by graduation at the skill positions and will be young at key positions. Parrish Brown, Matt Desin, John Drozdowski and Elliot Davison are gone, leaving huge holes at quarterback, running back and on the line. Desin threw for 213 yard and four touchdowns and he ran for 178 yards and three TDs. Brown was an all-region first-team selection at both running back and defensive back. He ran for 854 yards and nine touchdowns while collecting four catches for 93 yards and one touchdown. He also led the Braves with 101 tackles. Drozdowski, a second-team defensive lineman, had two sacks as a senior. Elliot Davison helped Drozdowski hold down the d-line but he has graduated after finishing 2011 with 96 tackles.

With everything Iroquois lost to graduation, the Braves will have some experience back. Justyn Roda and Alex Williams saw plenty of playing time in the backfield last fall. Roda, a second-team kicker, ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries, while Williams carried the ball 45 times for 158 yards. Williams also led the Braves in receiving with five catches for 47 yards and Roda had four catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Zach Cassidy could take over at quarterback. As a junior, he completed 4-of-19 passes for 38 yards in a backup role to Desin. Cassidy will have another target in Michael Hasberry as the senior is back at wide receiver and defensive back. Jaydon Cagnoli, Anthony Visalle, Joey Robinson and Brandon Oswalt are back on the offensive line and each will have an important role on defense.

Iroquois has a solid line back but will be inexperienced at the skill positions. With a relatively new backfield, including a new quarterback, the Braves will need to come together quickly. Iroquois opens the season at rival Harbor Creek before heading to defending Region 2 champion Youngsville. The ensuing four games could determine where the Braves finish to end the season. Iroquois gets Eisenhower, Cambridge Springs, Maplewood and Cochranton before a brutal non-region game against Fairview. The Braves have a tough schedule and will need to build chemistry in training camp to survive it.

Schedule
August
31 at Harbor Creek 7
September
7 at Youngsville* 7
14 Eisenhower* 7
21 at Cambridge Springs* 7
28 Maplewood* 7
October
5 at Cochranton* 7
12 Fairview 7
18 at Mercyhurst Prep* 7
26 Union City* 7
November
2 Lakeview 7
*Region 2 games

Monday: Kennedy Catholic

– Tom Reisenweber

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

Harbor Creek Huskies
Coach (season, record): Dan Budziszewski (31st season, 163-128-3)
2011 overall record: 7-3
2011 region record (place): 3-3 (tied for third)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class AA playoffs.
Top players lost: Drew Barko, Austin Griffith, Beau Hill, Sean Kuzilla, Preston Meade, Chris Merritt, Lucas Morton, Jake Newara, Mitch Schauble, Paris Warner, Tyler Bretz, Brandon Phillips, Josh Kita, Chris Laboski, Jared Malinowski, Andy Smith, Pat Brennan
Top returning players: Anthony Concilla, Jake Pound, Adam Renshaw, Mark Fachetti, Jon Ward, Spencer Zeyfang, Mitchell Fife, Aaron Reese, Greg Schauble, Jake Tokarczyk, Tyler Grolemund, Austin Snyder, Anthony Trinchitella
Assistant coaches: John Ballard, Mark Brooks, Justin Blose, Dave Hoffman, Marty Dale, Andy Grove
Outlook: Harbor Creek had a tough ending to its season in 2011. The Huskies won seven games but were not given a spot in the District 10 Class AA playoffs. Harbor Creek was hit hard months later by graduation. The Huskies lost 17 lettermen, including Drew Barko, Austin Griffith, Beau Hill, Sean Kuzilla, Preston Meade, Chris Merritt, Lucas Morton, Jake Newara, Mitch Schauble, Paris Warner, Tyler Bretz, Brandon Phillips, Josh Kita, Chris Laboski, Jared Malinowski, Andy Smith and Pat Brennan. Griffith ran the offense at quarterback and threw for 823 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also ran for 153 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries. Phillips, a first-team offensive lineman and second-team defensive lineman, is gone on the line along with Schauble a second-team offensive lineman and Meade, a second-team defensive lineman. The biggest problem for the Huskies could be in the backfield. Harbor Creek’s top four rushers are gone. Bretz, a second-team running back, ran for 1,082 yards and 13 touchdowns on 136 carries but is out of eligibility. Kuzilla was second with 608 yards and seven touchdowns, while Merritt was fourth at 139 yards and three touchdowns. Kuzilla was voted to the second team as a linebacker. Morton was voted to the all-region first team as a wide receiver and a defensive back. He caught 20 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns and pulled in four interceptions.

Harbor Creek has some experience back. Anthony Concilla, a first-team kicker, and Adam Renshaw, a first-team linebacker, return for the Huskies. Renshaw had 85 tackles last year, while Concilla connected on 28 extra points and three field goals. Harbor Creek has a total of 13 returning lettermen, including seven starters. Aside from Concilla and Renshaw, Mark Fachetti, Jake Pound, Jon Ward, Spencer Zeyfang and Mitchell Fife are back. Pound had 67 tackles last year, while Ward recorded 65 tackles and two interceptions.

The Huskies are strong up front against the run but their biggest problem could be in their own backfield. Harbor Creek has no experience back at running back and quarterback, leaving several opportunities for underclassmen. The Huskies open the season against rival Iroquois before a brutal five-game stretch against Fort LeBoeuf, North East, Northwestern, Girard and Fairview. Harbor Creek hits the road for three of its final four games but that home game could be the most important game of the year. The Huskies will take on Corry, which could decide Harbor Creek’s playoff fate.

Schedule
August
31 Iroquois 7
September
7 at Fort LeBoeuf* 7
14 at North East* 7
21 Northwestern* 7
28 Girard* 7
October
5 Fairview* 7
12 at Central Tech 7
19 at Seneca* 7
26 Corry* 7
November
2 at Greenville 7
*Region 4 games

Saturday: Hickory

– Tom Reisenweber

Grove City Eagles
Coach (season, record): Jeff Bell (16th season, 101-59)
2011 overall record: 11-1
2011 region record (place): 6-0 (champion)
2011 playoff results: Defeated East 49-0 in the District 10 Class AAA semifinals and Cathedral Prep 33-0 in the D-10 championship. Grove City then lost to Montour 25-21 in the PIAA quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Wes Phipps, Jordan Patterson, Alex Gilmore, Tony Turner, Erik Record, Chauncey Miller, Jacob Wiley, Mason Depeal, Tyler Dagres, Jake Wyllie, Kevin Bable
Top returning players: Harold Price, Foster Reznor, Chad Williams, Kyle Trinch
Outlook: 2011 was a banner year for Grove City. The Eagles routed Cathedral Prep 33-0 in the District 10 Class AAA championship and came inches from upsetting Montour in the PIAA quarterfinals. With everything Grove City accomplished last fall, the Eagles will need to recover quickly to return to the postseason. Grove City was crushed by graduation but the program could be strong enough to recover. The biggest loss for the Eagles is District 10 Player of the Year Wes Phipps. Phipps, an all-district linebacker, first-team all-region selection at running back and linebacker and the Region 5 Player of the Year, ran for 1,430 yards and 28 touchdowns on 141 carries. He also had six catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns and he had 82 tackles with three sacks. The Eagles’ offensive and defensive lines were a big part of their success last year. Jordan Patterson, Alex Gilmore and Tony Turner were all named to the all-district team as linemen as well as the all-region first team as offensive lineman. Gilmore and Turner were first-team defensive linemen and Patterson was voted to the second team. Also gone are Erik Record, Chauncey Miller, Jake Wyllie, Mason Depeal, Tyler Dagres and Kevin Bable. Record was voted to the all-region first team as a linebacker and second team as a running back. Record ran for 284 yards and five touchdowns on 31 carries and he caught five passes for 137 yards and one touchdown. Miller was voted to the second team at tight end and Wyllie is a second-team linebacker. Wyllie had 93 tackles and two sacks last year. Depeal was voted to the second team at defensive back and he ran for 204 yards and five touchdowns at linebacker. A huge loss could be Dagres at quarterback. The four-year starter threw for 783 yards and six touchdowns last year and ran for 252 yards and eight TDs.

With all of the losses Grove City sustained by graduation, there is hope for this season. The Eagles return leaders Harold Price and Foster Reznor. Price was a second-team linebacker last year and Reznor a second-team defensive back. Both will see plenty of carries at running back this fall. Reznor was Grove City’s second-leading rusher with 852 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, while Price was third with 579 yards and eight touchdowns. Reznor led the Eagles with 13 carries for 299 yards and two touchdowns, while Price had four catches for 89 yards and one TD. On defense, Reznor pulled down three interceptions and recorded seven pass deflections. Also back are Chad Williams and Kyle Trinch. Trinch had seven interceptions last year and Williams had five sacks and two interceptions. Jared Graham might be called on to replace Dagres at quarterback. Graham will be a sophomore this season and only threw two passes last year.

A few things are working in Grove City’s favor this year. The Eagles moved down to Class AA in the offseason and they do have some experience back in Price and Reznor. Region 3 is not an easy region to rebuild in and Grove City will find that out right away. After an interesting opener against Carrick, the Eagles host powerhouse Wilmington. Grove City’s first road game will be a tough one at Hickory. The Eagles have some tough non-region games but if they can survive Wilmington and Hickory, they could be in position to not only return to the postseason but contend for the region title.

Schedule
August
31 Carrick 7
September
7 Wilmington* 7
14 Reynolds* 7
21 at Hickory* 7
28 at Greenville* 7
October
5 at Saegertown* 7
12 Slippery Rock 7
19 Titusville* 7
26 at Sharon* 7
November
2 Bye
*Region 3 games

Friday: Harbor Creek

– Tom Reisenweber

Greenville Trojans
Coach (season, record): Brian Herrick (6th season, 31-23)
2011 overall record: 4-6
2011 region record (place): 3-2 (third)
2011 playoff results: Lost to General McLane 54-32 in the District 10 Class AA quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Tyler Gentile, Nico Zahniser, Randy Perkins, Corey Douglas, Ryan Polkabla, Jarid Manning
Top returning players: Tyler Fattman, Luke Houpt, J.J. Hauck, Braden Gladysz, Mitchell Kalchthaler
Assistant coaches: Kirk Smith, Mike Menold, Mark Karpinski, Mark Hayes, Brad Trezona, Steve Lewis, Andy Young, Aaron Zane, Gary Zane, Tim Strausser
Outlook: Greenville quietly had a solid season in 2011. The Trojans did enough to finish in third place in Region 3 and made the District 10 Class AA playoffs. Greenville took a huge hit to its offense through graduation. Tyler Gentile, a first-team all-region quarterback and second-team linebacker, is gone along with first-team wide receiver and defensive back Nico Zahniser. Zahniser was also named to the all-district team as a wide receiver. He finished with 897 yards and 13 catches on 51 catches. Gentile ran the Greenville offense from under center and completed 114-of-205 passes for 1,731 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also had 78 carries for 308 yards, including three touchdowns. The Trojans also lost Randy Perkins, Corey Douglas, Ryan Polkabla and Jarid Manning to graduation. Douglas was Greenville’s third-leading rusher with 263 yards and four touchdowns on 41 carries and led the Trojans with 116 tackles. Perkins was fourth in receiving with six catches for 133 yards and one touchdown. The Trojans have some experienced players back but the graduation losses can be tough to deal with this fall.

Tyler Fattman, a first-team all-region selection at all-purpose as a sophomore, is back for the Trojans. he led Greenville with 335 yards on 67 carries, including one touchdown. He also had 19 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Luke Houpt is also back to help the offense after pulling down 21 catches for 311 yards and three touchdowns. Houpt was voted to the second team as a wide receiver. Greenville has experience at some of the skill positions but the hole at quarterback is a big one to fill. Junior Matt Jones could step in and start right away as Greenville did not have a full-time backup last fall. Another positive sign is the experience on the line. J.J. Hauck was a second-team offensive lineman last year as a junior, while Braden Gladysz is also a returning two-way lineman. Cole Weaver and Mitchell Kalchthaler also bring senior leadership to the offensive and defensive lines. Trey Vanaken is back to anchor the linebackers and Jacob Riffe and Joacb Brown return as starting safeties. Vanaken was Greenville’s second-leading tackler with 114.

The Trojans’ program doesn’t always make headlines but it seems to always be competitive. Greenville has turned into a yearly playoff team and will need a big season to return to the postseason in Region 3. Hickory, Grove City and Wilmington should be strong while Sharon could rebound. The leadership lost in Tyler Gentile and Nico Zahniser will be tough to replace but an experience line can solve a lot of problems. The Trojans open their season with the usual showdown against North East before an important home game against Hickory. Greenville also gets Sharon and Grove City with a tough road game at Saegertown mixed in during September. The Trojans should have a pretty good idea of what they need to do going into October to make the playoffs.

Schedule
August
31 at North East 7
September
7 Hickory* 7
14 at Saegertown* 7
21 Sharon* 7
28 Grove City* 7
October
5 at Titusville* 7
12 at Northwestern 7
19 Reynolds* 7
26 at Wilmington* 7
November
2 Harbor Creek 7
*Region 3 games

Thursday: Grove City

– Tom Reisenweber

Girard YellowJackets
Coach (season, record): Jim Funk (3rd season, 7-12)
2011 overall record: 3-6
2011 region record (place): 2-4 (fifth)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class AA playoffs.
Top players lost: Hunter Jones, Hayden Erdman, Jake Kalicky
Top returning players: Kendall Bonnett, Brian McNally, Joe Dunn, Christian Bock, Brandon Hall, Forrest Smith
Assistant coaches: Mike Zona, Pat Erdman, Bill McNally, Tracy Dinger, Josh Chiocco, Jason Johnson
Outlook: Despite having a young team, Girard was actually in the playoff race in the final weeks of the season. The YellowJackets lost only a few players to graduation, including Hunter Jones, Hayden Erdman and Jake Kalicky. Kalicky was a second-team all-region linebacker, while Jones was a big part of Girard’s offense. Jones ran for 971 yards and nine touchdowns on 170 carries and he caught 24 passes for 266 yards and three TDs.

Girard could have one of the top offenses in Erie County this fall. Quarterback Joe Dunn along with tight end Brian McNally and wide receiver Kendall Bonnett made up a potent offense as the 2011 season wore on. Dunn completed 110-of-177 passes for 1,450 yards and 14 touchdowns. McNally, an all-district selection and all-region first-team selection at tight end, finished with 583 yards and six touchdowns on 33 catches. Bonnett had 22 catches for 308 yards and four touchdowns and was voted to the first team as a wide receiver and second team as a defensive back. Girard’s line will feature four seniors, led by three-year starter Brandon Hall and returning two-way starting tackle Forrest Smith. Christian Bock also returns at fullback. Bock carried the ball 15 times for 49 yards last year and could see an increase in carries as the ‘Jackets search for a replacement for Jones. McNally and Bock could be impact players at linebacker, while Buster Johnston and Bonnett are back at defensive back. Forrest Smith, Jake Hatton and Justin Eaton return on the defensive line.

Girard started seven sophomores last year and that move could pay off this fall. Region 4 is wide open this year after the departure of perennial power General McLane. The ‘Jackets have a potent offense and experience on the line. Girard will be a part of history as it will be the first team to take on the newly formed Conneaut Eagles. The ‘Jackets then jump right into the region schedule with two tough road games at Fairview and Northwestern. The biggest stretch comes in October where Girard will play North East, Corry and Fort LeBoeuf.

Schedule
August
31 Conneaut 7
September
7 at Fairview* 7
14 at Northwestern* 7
21 Seneca* 7
28 at Harbor Creek* 7
October
5 North East* 7
12 at Union City 7
19 at Corry* 7
26 Fort LeBoeuf* 7
November
2 Saegertown 7
*Region 4 games

Wednesday: Greenville

– Tom Reisenweber