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Farrell Back in Familiar Position, This Time in Class 2A Against Serra Catholic in PIAA Semifinals

   
   

The Farrell Steelers are back in familiar territory.

The Steelers, who are steeped in tradition, are back in the PIAA semifinals for the sixth time in the last seven years. Last season was the only time in that span they didn’t reach this point, and it also marked their first foray into Class 2A, with their previous appearances coming in Class A.

They will be facing a Serra Catholic on Friday (Slippery Rock University, 7 p.m.) team that, by contrast, is in the PIAA semifinals for just the second time. In 2007, the Eagles beat District 9’s Kane in the semis (48-21) before falling to Steelton Highspire in the state finals (34-15).

Farrell, meanwhile, has won its last two games in the semifinal round, 41-10 over Our Lady of Sacred Heart in 2018 and 10-7 over Clairton in 2019. In both instances, they went on to win the state title, including a thrilling 10-7 win over Bishop Guilfoyle in 2019 that featured a game-winning overtime field goal from Brian Hilton Jr.

The Steelers (11-0) absolutely dominated their opponents en route to a District 10 title, outsourcing them a combined 510-55, including four shutouts.

            

The competition has stepped up in the PIAA playoffs, but the Steelers have shown their are capable of making big plays in closely contested games as well. They led Westinghouse just 6-0 at halftime in their PIAA but pulled away for a 24-7 win. Included in that game was a goal-line stop at the end of the first half.

Last week, they 8-6 at halftime against Karns City on a snow-covered field before pulling away for a 30-12 victory.

“It was just one of those games where we had to grind it out, play through adversity and find a way to win,” said Farrell coach Amp Pegues.

Now, the Farrell seniors are looking for their third trip to the state finals in the last four years.

One of those seniors is running back Anthony Stallworth, who went over 2,000 yards in the win over Karns City. Led by the Steelers’ dominant offensive line, Stallworth rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown in the snow. On the season, Stallworth has rushed for 2,156 yards and 29 touchdowns.

                          

The Steelers featured both a 1-2 punch at quarterback (Trian Holden and Kabron Smith) and receiver (Kylon Wilson, Omar Stewart Jr.). Wilson dressed but was limited due to injury in the Karns City game, and Stewart stepped up in a big way. The senior receiver caught a touchdown pass in each half (a 34-yarder from Holden in the first half and an 81-yarder from Smith in the second half), and finished with 161 yards receiving. For the season, nine of his 21 receptions have gone for touchdowns.

Wilson, meanwhile, has 13 touchdown receptions on the season and 658 yards. Holden has thrown for 622 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Smith has 617 yards and nine scores.

Defensively, the Steelers have playmakers all over the field, led by senior linebackers Taidon Strickland (104 tackles, 16 tackles for loss) and Anthony Jackson (72 tackles, 7 TFL), as well as Zaire Thomas (74 tackles, 8 TFL), Marion Norris (62 tackles), Malachi Owens (50 tackles, 8 TFL, 6.5 sacks) and Kien Wade (6 sacks) and Brandon Chambers (42 tackles).

Wilson and Dwight Allen both have three interceptions, with Allen’s pick-six putting the finishing touches on the win over Karns City.

Serra Catholic’s (13-1) defense knows a little something about turnovers as well as they forced nine (yes, nine) takeaways in their 35-12 WPIAL championship game win over Beaver Falls.

On the season, the Eagles have outscored their opponents 435-135, having yielded 12 points or fewer in nine of their wins. Their lone loss came on Oct. 29 against Steel Valley.

That aforementioned defense has forced an astounding 48 turnovers this season, including 19 interceptions. Eliah Ward has four of those pilfers, while Pharoh Fisher, Daiquan Chatfield, Terrell Booth and Jayvon Campbell-Holt have three each. Linebacker Mike Schanck has six fumble recoveries.

“I’ve watched them a little bit,” Pegues said about Serra Catholic after the quarterfinal win. “We saw them a little bit in 7-on7’s over the summer. They’re very athletic. We’re going to be well-prepared and see what happens.”

Senior defensive end Ryan Brooks has notched 13 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss this season, while Schanck has 73 tackles (10.5 for loss) and Campbell-Holt 70 (12.5 for loss).

The Eagles led just 14-12 going into the fourth quarter against Beaver Falls, but outscored them 21-0 in the fourth quarter. Included in that run was an interception return for a score by Booth and a fumble return for a touchdown by Chatfield. Ward also had an interception return in the first half.

                        

Machai Brooks-Dutrieuille led the offense with 94 yards and a pair of scores. On the season, he has 957 yards and eight touchdowns. No other Eagle rusher has eclipsed 200 yards on the ground, although Fisher does have seven rushing scores.

Senior quarterback Max Rocco threw for 46 yards in the WPAIL title game win and on the season has accounted for 1,839 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His top targets are Booth (43 receptions, 860 yards, 14 touchdowns, 20.0 ypc.) and Campbell-Holt (35 receptions, 600 yards, 7 touchdowns, 17.1 ypc.).

The winner will meet the Southern Columbia-Northern Lehigh winner next Friday (1 p.m.) at Hersheypark Stadium for the state championship.

                       

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