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District 10 teams Cathedral Prep, Grove City, Hickory, Linesville and Mercyhurst Prep remain among the top 10 in the state, according to this week’s Pennsylvania Football News rankings. Click below to see the rankings:

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Each year, Erie Times-News staff members spend much of the summer gathering information on District 10 football teams for the Summer Huddle series, Kickoff magazine and print previews.

Despite all of the research, it’s inevitable that talented players on some teams will not catch our attention. Then, on opening night – bam! – a few players burst onto the scene with huge performances. It happened Friday. Here are a few players who slipped under our radar that we’ll be watching now:

DeShawn Coleman, Hickory: The 6-foot 1-inch, 175-pound junior ran for more than 150 yards in the first quarter alone against West Middlesex. He finished with 295 yards on 18 carries, including TD runs of 80 and 55 yards.

Corey Henry, Strong Vincent: In the preseason, we talked about Vincent quarterback Denzel Jones and running back Michael Neavins, but Henry’s emergence could make the Colonels a force. The hulking 6-foot 2-inch, 217-pound fullback gives Vincent an inside power game. He rushed 15 times for 115 yards Friday in a 42-28 victory over General McLane. Jones also looked sensational.

Nathan McLaurin, Cathedral Prep: With a top-notch quarterback like Damion Terry, all Prep needs to do is get the line to protect him and find some sure-handed receivers. The Ramblers found at least one premier receiver in McLaurin, a 5-foot 9-inch 153-pound senior. He had nine receptions for 122 yards, including TD catches of 36 and 7 yards, in a 25-20 loss to McDowell. McLaurin gives Prep three deep threats, along with Kimani Smith and Delton Williams.

Khyre Drayer, McDowell: Yes, Greg Garmon is an all-state running back who garnered much of our attention in the preseason. But Drayer is a nice change-of-pace runner who piled up 130 yards on 14 carries against Prep. The junior scored on runs of 6 and 71 yards. At 5 feet 10 inches and 225 pounds, Drayer is a nightmare to tackle if he has a head of steam.

Fred Epps, Meadville: Artrel Foster and Terence Goodrum entered the season as the Bulldogs’ two vaunted speed backs. Epps, however, gives the team an effective change-up inside. He rushed 22 times for 187 yards in the Bulldogs’ 33-14 win over Fairview.

Here are a few others who emerged Friday: Lakeview’s Blake Reddick (13 rushes, 120 yards, 53-yard TD run), Harbor Creek’s Austin Griffith (7-of-7 passing, 78 yards, TD and 6-yard TD run), Linesville’s Elijah Anderson (10 rushes, 157 yards, 59-yard TD run), Oil City’s Sam Owoc (10 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TDs) and Wilmington’s Ryan Crawford (5 rushes, 85 yards, 3 TDs).

We’re sure more players will break out in the weeks ahead.

Two District 10 teams are ranked and seven others are listed among “others to watch” in the Pennsylvania Football News preseason state rankings, which were released Wednesday night.

Cathedral Prep leads all D-10 teams with a No. 4 ranking in Class AAA. The Ramblers are coming off a trip to the PIAA Class AAA semifinals and return record-breaking junior quarterback Damion Terry.

Defending District 10 AA champion Sharon is ranked 10th in AA.

Meanwhile, listed among “others to watch” are the following D-10 teams: Grove City in AAA, General McLane, Hickory and Wilmington in AA, and Farrell, Linesville and West Middlesex in A.

Click below for the complete rankings:

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Wilmington Greyhounds
Coach (season, record): Terry Verrelli (33rd season, 253-108-3)
2010 overall record: 7-5
2010 region record (place): 3-2 (third)
2010 playoff results: Lost 14-7 to Sharon in the District 10 Class AA semifinals.
Top players lost: Sutton Whiting, Jason McFarland
Top returning players: Anthony Derrick, Ryan Crawford, Bryn Kaufman, John Yohman, Tyler Donati
Assistant coaches: David Welch, Bob Mitcheltree, Pat Anderson, Brandon Ghillian, Brian Cooper and Rob Shimrack
Outlook: It could be trap year in Region 3 if any teams are doubting perennial power Wilmington. Sharon and Hickory had impressive seasons in 2010 to play each other for the District 10 Class AA championship, but to overlook the Greyhounds would be a huge mistake. Wilmington lost one of the top running backs in District 10 in Sutton Whiting and a standout lineman Jason McFarland but almost everyone else is back. Sharon and Hickory were hit much harder by graduation than Wilmington. The ‘Hounds return Anthony Derrick, Ryan Crawford, Bryn Kaufman, Jon Yohman and Tyler Donati. Wilmington’s strength this year will be it offensive and defensive lines as well as experience. The ‘Hounds had numerous underclassmen starting last fall and that experience could pay off in a big way.

The offense is set with the exception of replacing Whiting. Josh Tekac and Nick Vasko split time at quarterback last season and both return along with a backfield of Derrick and Donati. Crawford, Cameron Rossi and Zack Llewellyn are back after solid receiving seasons in 2010.

It’s no surprise Wilmington loaded up its non-region schedule with Class AAA teams and out-of-District 10 powers. The ‘Hounds actually don’t play a region game at home until a showdown with Hickory on Sept. 30. Wilmington follows with another brutal home game against Grove City, but the most important game of the year could come Oct. 21 against Sharon if both teams survive Hickory until that point in the Region 3 standings.

Schedule
September
2 Slippery Rock 7
9 at Greenville* 7
16 at Karns City 7
23 at Reynolds* 7
30 Hickory* 7
October
7 Grove City 7
14 at Titusville* 7
21 Sharon* 7
28 at Warren JFK 7
November
4 Northwestern 7

Look for the Kickoff magazine at a Country Fair near you beginning Aug. 15. The 112-page magazine previews the upcoming District 10 football season, including top returning players, schedules, stats and more.

Wednesday: Youngsville

– Tom Reisenweber

Two District 10 football teams — Farrell in Class A and Wilmington in Class AA — still are in contention for PIAA titles. Here’s a look at the complete PIAA schedule:

CLASS A
Friday
Semifinals
Bishop McCort (13-0) vs. Tri-Valley (9-4) at State College, 7 p.m.
Farrell (14-0) vs. Clairton (13-1) at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium, Slippery Rock, 7 p.m.
Championship game
Dec. 18
At Hersheypark Stadium
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
———
CLASS AA
Saturday
Semifinals
Wilmington (13-1) vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (12-2) at N. Kerr Thompson Stadium, Slippery Rock, 1 p.m.
Lancaster Catholic (13-1) vs. West Philadelphia Catholic (12-2) at Coatsville HS, 1 p.m.
Championship game
Dec. 19
At Hersheypark Stadium
Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
———
CLASS AAA
Friday
Semifinals
Archbishop Wood (11-2) vs. Selinsgrove (14-0), at Hersheypark Stadium, 7 p.m.
Manheim Central (14-0) vs. West Allegheny (12-2) at Mansion Park Stadium, Altoona, 7 p.m.
Championship game
Dec. 18
At Hersheypark Stadium
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
———
CLASS AAAA
Saturday
Semifinals
LaSalle College (12-1) vs. Ridley (13-1) at Northeast HS, Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
State College (11-2) vs. Cumberland Valley (12-2) at Mansion Park Stadium, Altoona, 1 p.m.
Championship game
Dec. 19
At Hersheypark Stadium
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

District 10 is down to two teams. With the departure of Cathedral Prep, only Farrell and Wilmington remain.

This will be our final football Breakout Player of the Week vote of the season, but the basketball version of the award will begin soon.

Vote for your favorite in the poll at upper right. Voting will continue through Monday night.

Here are the three nominees:

Shyquawn Pullium, Cathedral Prep: In the final game of his high school career, Prep’s star quarterback rushed 16 times for 145 yards, including TD runs of 1, 10 and 64 yards.

Sutton Whiting, Wilmington: Rushed 15 times for 77 yards, including TD runs of 4, 1 and 2 yards, in Wilmington’s dramatic quarterfinal win.

Jamar Whitman, Farrell: Rushed 16 times for 152 yards, including TD runs of 39 and 8 yards. His 8-yard run in the fourth quarter was the game-winner.

When Cathedral Prep’s football team plays West Allegheny on Friday in the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals, the Ramblers will also be going against history.

WPIAL teams have dominated District 10 teams during the past decade, going 16-4 against D-10. The only D-10 teams to beat WPIAL opponents since 2000 were:

• Cathedral Prep, 2000, in Class AAAA (Mount Lebanon)

• West Middlesex, 2006, in Class A (Clairton)

• General McLane, 2006, in Class AAA (Thomas Jefferson)

• Wilmington, 2008, in Class AA (Aliquippa)

Click below for the complete D-10 vs. WPIAL results from this decade:

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We’re down to three District 10 football teams, and we’re down to three nominees for the Breakout Player of the Week award. Here are this week’s candidates:

Justin Wiley, Cathedral Prep: 12 rushes, 139 yards; TD runs of 5, 17 and 39 yards. One reception for a 16-yard touchdown.

Sutton Whiting, Wilmington: Rushed 17 times for a team-leading 117 yards and all three of the Greyhounds’ touchdowns. His TD runs covered 1, 20 and 4 yards.

Preston Jefferson, Farrell: Recovered a fumble for a touchdown and scored on a 54-yard reception.

Voting in the poll at upper right will end Monday night. The winner will be featured in Friday’s Times-News sports section.

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:

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Farrell and Wilmington remain atop the polls in their respective classes of this week’s Pennsylvania Football News rankings.

The Steelers are first in Class A and the Greyhounds, PIAA champions in 2008, in Class AA. They are the only District 10 schools ranked in PFN’s four polls.

District schools which received honorable mentions were McDowell in Class AAAA, Bradford, Cathedral Prep and Strong Vincent in Class AAA, General McLane in AA, and Linesville and Mercyhurst Prep in A.

– Mike Copper

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Take a break and visit the Varsity blog during lunchtime today for the first Football Central live blog of the season. Starting at noon, members of the Times-News sports staff will discuss 10 questions that we posted Monday on the Varsity blog.

If you can’t join us at noon, check back here on the Varsity blog later in the day or over the weekend to read the blog and get our views on the upcoming season.

It’ll be the first of many Football Central live blogs we will have during the 2009 season. Starting Sept. 4, we’ll cover action throughout D-10 every Friday night on Football Central.

Here are the 10 questions we’ll chat about today:

1. Can Strong Vincent reload enough to repeat as District 10 Class AAA champions?
2. Who will emerge as the top player in Erie County this season?
3. Which team(s) have a shot at winning a PIAA championship?
4. Will District 10 allow McDowell to become a football-only member of the WPIAL?
5. Can McDowell replace the offensive tandem of A.J. Fenton and Alex Schmude?
6. Is there a Class A or AA team in District 10 that can knock off Farrell and Wilmington?
7. Who are some of the early candidates for the top quarterback in District 10?
8. Which defense in all of District 10 is the fastest and most effective?
9. Which team from the highly competitive Region 4 will emerge as the champion?
10. Which teams will make the most improvement this season in District 10?