Four teams. Two games. Two champions.
It’s championship Saturday in District 10 when Oil City hosts Harbor Creek in Class 4A and Farrell travels to Wilmington in Class 2A.
Both games are slated for 7 p.m. kickoffs.
HARBOR CREEK (7-0) at OIL CITY (7-0)
The Oilers are going for their third-straight District 10 title, with the most recent pair coming in Class 5A. They will be facing a Huskies’ team that is also 7-0 and is coming off a thrilling 20-16 win over Meadville in the semifinals.
The winner of this game will face the winner of the Bellefonte-Juniata game next week.
The Oilers are coming off a 56-0 drubbing of Conneaut in the semifinals, a team they beat 28-13 in the regular season. That regular season game on Sept. 26 is also the last time they allowed points of any kind, outscoring their opponents 264-0 in that span.
That defense is powered by a host of talented players, keyed by Brayden Crocker (61 tackles, 9 tackles for loss), Zac Kiefer (58 tackles, 4 TFL), Mario Fontanazza (43 tackles, 8 TFL), Cam Russell (8 sacks), Justin Fagley (10 sacks), Sean Stack (33 tackles, 5 TFL) and Dakota Cole (5 interceptions). They are fast, athletic and fly to the ball.
Offensively, the offensive line paves the way for a vaunted rushing attack, led by Russell, who has amassed 1,346 yards (13.7 yards per carry) and 20 touchdowns on the season, oftentimes only playing in the first half or early into the second half. Stack (458 yards, 8 TDs, 10.2 YPC) is also a threat in the run game as well.
The Oilers don’t go to the air often, but when they do, they are efficient. Holden Stahl has completed 24-of-35 passes for 680 yards, eight touchdowns and zero interceptions.
His top targets are Cole (15-341-4 TDs) and JT Stahlman (8-322-4).
They will be going against a Harbor Creek team that has shown incredible balance throughout the season.
Quarterback Casey Smith has put together a special 2020, completing 71-of-104 attempts for 1,349 yards, 19 touchdowns and just two interceptions, while also adding four rushing touchdowns.
Oil City’s Cam Russell. Photo courtesy of Cody Elms
His top targets are his brother Cody Smith (33-483-6), Ryan Whitman (12-322-7), Marrick Bauer (10-239-3) and Austin Vaughn (12-249-2).
The Huskies can get it done on the ground as well. Cameron Williamson has had a big season, rushing for 922 yards and 13 scores.
FARRELL (5-2) at WILMINGTON (6-0)
Two teams that are very familiar both with the positions they are in and with each other square off for the 2A title. Last season, Farrell won the D-10 Class 1A title on their way to a state championship, while Wilmington won the D-10 Class 2A title before advancing to the PIAA semifinals.
This year, however, there can only be one District champion.
The two have met twice this season, a 41-20 Wilmington win in a game that was tied 20-20 at halftime on Sept. 18 and another win by the Greyhounds, 21-20 on Oct. 10 in a game in which a Farrell drive was thwarted deep in Wilmington territory to end the game.
The Greyhounds get almost all of their production on the ground, and they use multiple backs and a physical offensive line to get it done.
Ethan Susen leads the way with 626 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 11.1 yards per carry in the process, while Darren Miller is right behind him at 527 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also look for Luke Edwards (299 yards) and Caelan Bender (234 yards).
Bender has thrown for 263 yards and five touchdowns.
While Wilmington is coming off a bye, the Steelers earned a 30-10 win over previously unbeaten Northwestern last week.
In that game, Anthony Stallworth rushed for 245 yards and a touchdown.
Stallworth has been one of the best backs in District 10 this season, rushing for 1,160 yards (9.3 YPC) and 19 touchdowns.
Christian Hartley has thrown for 631 yards and five touchdowns, with Brice Butler (14-266-1), Omar Stewart Jr. (10-161), Stallworth (5-184-2) and Kylon Wilson (12-132-3) his top targets.
Taidon Strickland (77 tackles, 2 interceptions) and Anthony Jackson (67 tackles) lead the defense.
The winner will face the District 9 championship game winner between Brookville and Karns City next week.
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