The District 10 playoffs march on, with semifinals games in 3A, 2A and 1A, while Cathedral Prep (5A) and Meadville (4A) embark on subregional matchups.
McDowell, the Class 6A champion, has a bye this week.
The Class 3A games – No. 1 Sharon vs. No. 5 Oil City (at Slippery Rock University) and No. 2 Hickory vs. No. 3 Grove City (at Farrell) are on Friday, while the Class 2A games (Each team had a bye) – No. 1 Farrell vs. No. 4 Wilmington (at Hickory) and No. 2 Mercyhurst Prep vs. No. 3 Sharpsville (at Fairview), as well as the Class 1A games – No. 1 Lakeview vs. No. 5 Mercer (at Slippery Rock H.S.) and No. 2 Cambridge Springs vs. No. 3 Eisenhower (at Titusville) are on Saturday.
All the District 10 games are 7 p.m. kickoffs.
Both the Class 4A subregional (University Prep at Meadville, 2 p.m.) and Class 5A subregional (Cathedral Prep vs. Hollidaysburg, Mansion Park, Altoona, 5 p.m.) are on Saturday as well.
Here’s a closer look at each game.
CLASS 3A SEMIFINALS
SHARON (8-2) vs. OIL CITY (7-3)
It’s an unstoppable force against an immovable object as Sharon takes on Oil City. The Tigers are coming off their sixth shutout of the season in a 28-0 win over No. 8 Fairview last week, while No. 5 Oil City City is coming off a 51-14 win over No. 4 North East (avenging a 35-0 regular season loss) behind 353 yards and five touchdowns from Ethen Knox.
Sharon quarterback Mister Ham had 152 yards passing and 85 yards rushing against Fairview while tossing a touchdown to CC Harrison, who also had a rushing touchdown. Ham has thrown for 1,089 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season, while rushing for 747 yards and seven more touchdowns. Cortez Nixon has 656 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, while Harrison has 391 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.
The defense is led by Bryson Roberson (92 tackles, 11 TFL), Brodie Miller (81 tackles, 16 TFL, 7 sacks), Ike Friday (5 sacks) and Bishop Root (four interceptions).
Oil City, meanwhile, amassed 525 total rushing yards in its win over North East, as Jon Hargenrader also had 85 yards and a touchdown on the ground. On the season, Knox has rushed for 2,241 yards (8.2 ypc) and 33 touchdowns, while Hargenrader 400 yards (9.3 ypc) and three scores. Cole Findlay has thrown for 500 yards and three touchdowns, with most of that damage going to Gavin Stephens (11 receptions, 255 yards, 3 touchdowns).
Kevin Pearsall (82 tackles, 15 TFL), Hargenrader (56 tackles, 6 TFL), Ben Garland and Henry Milford (4 sacks each) and Findlay (4 interceptions) lead the Oil City defense.
HICKORY (8-2) vs. GROVE CITY (7-3)
A rematch of the Oct. 6 matchup won 29-15 by Hickory. It was a game tied 15-15 going to the fourth quarter before touchdowns runs from Zander Telesz and Sean Kennedy. Hickory comes in off a 44-12 win over No. 7 General McLane, while Grove City blanked No. 6 Fort LeBoeuf, 35-0.
Telesz has thrown for 1,262 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 473 yards and eight touchdowns for the Hornets, who come in on a 6-game winning streak. Tylon Cousin (27-402-6), Luke Nevil (16-299-4) and Will Acrie (13-207-3) lead a talented group of receivers. Freshman Kelvin Morrison (600 yards, 6 touchdowns) and Kennedy (473 yards, 8 touchdowns) lead the ground game.
Defensively, Timmy Krivosh (97 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 interceptions) and Kennedy (66 tackles, 12 TFL) lead the way.
Grove City has won six of its last seven games (the only loss was to Hickory), including a win over Sharon. Hunter Hohman has put together another special season with 2,227 yards passing and 22 touchdowns along with 867 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Gavin Lutz (59-681-7) and Nathan Greer (51-838-9) lead a dangerous group of receivers.
Hohman also has a team-leading 88 tackles, while Bode Stevenson has 87 tackles and Delathian Boanes has 18 tackles for loss.
CLASS 2A SEMIFINALS
FARRELL (9-1) vs. WILMINGTON (4-5)
Outside of a Week 10 loss to Cathedral Prep, Farrell hadn’t given up more than 14 points in any game this season. Marion Norris leads the way with 109 tackles, while Juju Johnson has 64 tackles (10 for loss), Otis Lowe (4 sacks) and Danny Odem (3 interceptions) lead the way.
The two teams met back on Sept. 29, a 34-6 win for Farrell.
Johnson also helps lead the Farrell offense with 907 yards rushing (6.4 ypc) and nine touchdowns. Three-year starter Kabron Smith has led the Farrell offense this season with 1,748 yards passing (69 percent completion percentage) and 23 touchdowns. Odem (42-508-6) and Brandon Chambers (34-373-8) lead the receivers. The Steelers will be without Simeir Wade and Nico Andrada, who the PIAA ruled ineligible after transferring.
Wilmington, meanwhile, is the last team to beat Farrell in a D10 title game (2020). The Greyhounds have put up at least 40 points in a game , led by running back Ben Miller, who has rushed for 1,477 yards (8.7 ypc.) and 15 touchdowns. Quarterback Buddah Book has also rushed for 464 yards (5.2 ypc) and Tyler Mikulin has rushed for 444 yards (4 touchdowns).
MERCYHURST PREP (9-0) vs. SHARPSVILLE (5-5)
The Lakers have outscored their opponents by a staggering 537-36 margin this season, including four shutouts while scoring at least 43 points in every game this season.
Paul Johnson has completed 1,259 yards and a 20-1 touchdown to interception ratio and has also rushed for 713 yards (14.0 ypc) and 13 touchdowns. JJ Ganska has 1,135 yards on the ground (12.8 ypc) and 15 touchdowns. Ja’son Ellman has 592 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns and also has four rushing touchdowns.
Sharpsville started the season 5-0, but has since lost five straight. Caullin Summers has put together a terrific season at quarterback with 2,028 yards passing and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 775 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jaiden White (409 rushing yards, 358 receiving yards) has 11 combined touchdowns, while Dalton Byerly has 49 receptions for 807 yards and nine touchdowns.
CLASS 1A SEMIFINALS
LAKEVIEW (8-2) vs. MERCER (6-4)
Lakeview is coming off a bye, while Mercer is coming off a 14-0 win over No. 4 Cochranton. The two teams met back on Oct. 13 in which Mercer knocked off the Sailors, 28-20.
The Mustangs feature a 1-2 punch in the backfield in the form of Daemyin Mattocks and Carter Addison. Mattocks has 1,136 rushing yards (7.3 ypc) and 16 touchdowns, while Addison has 898 yards (7.1 ypc) and 12 touchdowns. Both back had a touchdown in the win over Cochranton, with Addison accounting for 142 yards and Mattocks 88.
Lakeview’s only two losses came to Mercer and Franklin, the latter of which was in their season finale. Up until then, they were 8-0, including a 28-22 win over Cambridge Springs.
The Sailors’ Mitchell Tingley has rushed for 1,251 yards (8.9 ypc) and 15 touchdowns, while Aiden Osborn has 325 yards and seven touchdowns. Quarterback Leyton Zacherl has thrown for 991 yards and 13 touchdowns, with Danick Hinkson (20-496-7) and Blake Skiles (20-418-5) the top receivers.
Hinkson and Clarence Barber have four interceptions each on defense, while Gavin Krupa has 96 tackles and Osborne 13 tackles for loss.
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS (10-1) vs. EISENHOWER (8-3)
A rematch of last season’s semifinal, won by Eisenhower. The two teams met back on Sept. 1, a 48-0 win for Cambridge Springs. The Blue Devils are coming off a 42-8 win over No. 7 Maplewood, while Eisenhower knocked off two-time defending champion No. 6 Reynolds, 34-8.
The Blue Devils have outscored their opponents 462-101 this season, including four shutouts while scoring at least 40 points in game eight times. Brett Kania has rushed for 1,164 yards (8.3 ypc) and 18 touchdowns. It’s part of a potent Cambridge Springs rushing attack that also includes Preston Gorton (566 yards, 9 touchdowns), Jordan Washington (558 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Josh Gorton (535 yards, 8 touchdowns). Morgan Applebee has thrown for 737 yards and eight touchdowns, with Preston Gorton (324 yards, 6 touchdowns) his top receiver.
Josh Gorton (125 tackles, 8 TFL), Preston Gorton (94 tackles), Tristen Mazzadra (12 sacks), Brandon Hoover (3 interceptions) and Zeek Carson (93 tackles, 9 sacks) lead the stalwart defense.
Eisenhower, meanwhile, comes into the game winners of five straight. Tucker Lindell (817 yards, 15 touchdowns), Logan Penley (790 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Shawn Pascuzzi (594 yards, 6 touchdowns) lead a strong Eisenhower ground game. Pascuzzi has also thrown for 834 yards and six touchdowns, with 401 yards and 10 of those scores going to Kris Bunk, who caught a touchdown in his return from injury last week.
Lindell (108 tackles, 17 TFL), Cole Kellogg (5 interceptions), Ryan Chambers (77 tackles) and Camron Jakubczak (70 tackles, 9 TFL) lead a defense that hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in a game during its winning streak.
CLASS 4A SUBREGIONAL
UNIVERSITY PREP (7-3) at MEADVILLE (8-2)
A rematch of a game won 40-12 by Meadville a year ago, the Bulldogs come in at 8-2 following a 45-13 win over Corry in the D10 title game. In that game for Meadville, Bradyn Miller ran for 165 yards and four touchdowns, while Jordan Lawrence ran for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
Lawrence (1,221 yards, 9 touchdowns) and Miller (1,168 yards, 20 touchdowns) are just part of a Meadville rushing attack that also includes Brighton Anderson (773 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Jacoby Thompson (545 yards, 8 touchdowns). Thompson has thrown for 467 yards, while Tate Reichel has thrown for 368 yards and five touchdowns. Nic Williams (11-195-2) and Anderson (8-331-1) are the top receivers.
Tahlir McClure (89 tackles, 10 TFL) and Amari Grenaway (4 interceptions) lead a defense that has allowed 14 points or fewer in seven games this season.
CLASS 5A SUBREGIONAL
CATHEDRAL PREP (6-3) vs. HOLLIDAYSBURG (5-5) at Mansion Park, Altoona
After a week off, the Ramblers are back in action to take on District 6 champion Hollidaysburg.
Prep has been led offensively this season by running backs Dajoure Hollingsworth (1,524 yards, 16 touchdowns) and Suhtaun Lewis (494 yards, 6 touchdowns), with quarterback Luke Costello also notching eight rushing touchdowns. Costello has 905 yards passing and a 14-5 touchdown to interception ratio, with RJ Roberts Jr. (16-221-3) and Corey Allen (10-169-2) leading a balanced receiving group.
Montay Hollingsworth leads the Prep defense with 60 tackles (8 TFL), while Dan Oblich 49 touchdowns and three interceptions, Roberts Jr. four interceptions and Aden Wentz and Xavier Goshay four sacks each for a defense that has allowed just 39 points in its last four games.
Hollidaysburg is coming off a 37-0 win over Central Mountain and does own a win over Oil City this season (49-0).
Maddox Bainey has thrown for 991 yards and 13 touchdowns, with Caden DeLattre (41-784-10) his top receiver.
