High Stakes
This is one in a series of articles previewing Friday night's high school football games.First place is at stake Friday night in the Allegheny Conference.For Freeport, that means one thing. Find a way to stop Lionel Deanes.The Yellowjackets (5-1, 4-0) travel to Seton-La Salle (6-0, 5-0) for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The winner takes control, of the conference. Deanes has been taking control of opposing defenses.“That kid is special,” Freeport coach John Gaillot said. 'He's not as fast as Aliquippa's backs, but he's powerful. He's got strong legs. People bounce off him and he's tough to bring down.“He's got incredible balance for a high school player.”The 5-foot-9, 190-pound Deanes rushed for 1,814 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. He's got 1,096 yards and 17 TDs already this year, along with 11 pass receptions for 223 yards.Seton-La Salle is averaging 37 points per game and allowing 14. Freeport is scoring 32 points per contest and giving up 14. The Yellowjackets have outscored their last two opponents 93-7, including a 49-7 blasting of Apollo-Ridge last week.“I'm proud of the way our kids have been playing,” Gaillot said. “They play hard, yet they play clean. Nothing dirty, nothing cheap ... We've seen some of that this year, but our guys aren't doing it.“Our won-loss record aside, I'm proud of the character we've showed.”Austin Romanchak has thrown for 380 yards and four TDs, rushed for 512 and 11 scores for Freeport. Conor Sellinger has 441 yards and five rushing touchdowns. Jake Sarverhas not missed a kick from placemennt all year, hitting two field goals and 13 PATs.Seton-La Salle quarterback Matt Banbury has thrown for 749 yards and eight TDSs. Nick Vari is his favorite reciver, catching 20 passes for 232 yards and four TDs.The Rebels have not scored fewer than 35 points in a game this season.“They are very athletic and we can't afford to make mistakes against this team,” Gaillot said. “If both teams play to their caliber, this will be a very close game. Injuries and mistakes will decide it.”Ambridge (0-6, 0-7)at Mars (4-3, 3-2)7 p.m., FridayMars lost its second straight game last week, a 34-6 non-conference game at Thomas Jefferson.Sophomore RB Jake Richardson kept the Planets from being shut out when he scored on a 5-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Mars trailed just 13-0 at halftime, but TJ's potent offense blew the game open in the second half.With a win Friday, longtime Planet coach Scott Heinauer will tie former Butler coach Art Bernardi for the Butler County record for career wins with 179.The Bridgers fell to Blackhawk last week, 14-7.Ambridge enters the game attempting to snap a 17-game losing streak, which began at the end of the 2015 season.Mars defeated Ambridge last season, 49-0.Knoch(2-4, 2-3) at New Castle (4-3, 4-2)7 p.m. FridayThe Red Hurricane had a four-game winning streak snapped by last week's 42-33 loss to South Fayette. Knoch snapped a five-game skid with a 56-28 win over Indiana.Running back Ivan Stapchuck has played a vital role in both Knoch wins this year, rushing for 194 yards in a season-opening win at Blackhawk and for 173 yards and two TDs last week. He returned an interception 11 yards for a score as well.QB Jake Herrit has scored six touchdowns this year and had his best passing night of the campaign last week, completing six of eight aerials for 182 yards, including touchdowns of 29 yards to Noah Cetnar and 77 yards to Nick Martin.Marcus Hooker is the key to New Castle's attack. He has rushed for 784 yards and 12 TDs and has thrown for 224 yards and two scores. Josh Thomason has 70 carries for 531 yards on the season.Clarion-Limestone (3-4) at Moniteau (2-4)7 p.m., FridayThe task doesn't get easier for the Warriors.A week after going up against high-powered offense in Brookville, the Warriors welcome a potent attack to Cherry Township in the Lions.Last week, C-L quarterback Brendan Makray threw for 497 yards in a 35-34 loss to Karns City.Moniteau, with a depleted defense due to injury, has given up 105 points the last two games.“It's been a tough last few weeks,” said Moniteau coach Jon McCune.McCune hopes to get some of his banged-up players back Friday.One bright spots for the Warriors of late has been running back Manny McLean, who has rushed for 471 yards and three touchdowns on just 71 carries.McLean had 76 yards on just six rushing attempts in the loss against Brookville.“Manny has been great,” McCune said. “We're trying to get him the ball in different ways. The opponent is going to have to game plan for him.”Slippery Rock (3-4, 3-3)at Sharpsville (4-3, 3-3)7 p.m., FridayIt's been feast or famine for the Slippery Rock offense this season.Last week, they feasted, rolling up 41 first-half points in a 54-14 rout of Lakeview.The Rockets gained a season-high 392 yards in the win, including 381 on the ground via their three-heading running back committee.Those three backs, Seth Slater (268 yards), Kaleb Kamerer (263) and Hunter Prementine (240) lead a very balanced ground game.Slippery Rock is hoping to feast again this week against Sharpsville, which has been staunch on defense throughout the season. Teams have only scored 12 offensive touchdowns against the Blue Devils.Slippery Rock's defense has been stellar as well. The Rockets are giving up just 4.7 yards per play and 240 yards per game.Fairview (3-4) at Grove City (7-0)7 p.m., FridayA bulk of the attention this season has been on Grove City's electric offense led by junior quarterback Brady Callahan, who has completed 76 percent of his passes for 1,060 yards and 13 touchdowns, Logan Lutz and his 31 receptions and Trey Adams and his 15 rushing TDs.But the Eagles' defense has been every bit as pivotal to the team's undefeated run.Grove City is coming off back-to-back shutouts and hasn't allowed more than 12 points in a game (only 39 for the season).Fairview is a run-heavy team, having only attempted 59 passes all season.The Tigers' bell cow in the running game has been junior Chris Mohra, who has gained 914 yards on 162 carries.Brookville (6-1)at Union/A-C Valley (1-6)7 p.m., Fridayin RimersburgThe Falcon Knights lost, 34-18, against Punxsutawney last week.Senior DL Alex Woods returned an interception for a TD in the loss to the Chucks.Brookville is coming off a 64-28 win over Moniteau.The Raiders are flying high thanks to the emergence of freshman QB Jack Krug, who has passed for 1,770 yards and 27 TDs this season. Junior WR Bryan Dworek leads the team in catches (58), receiving yards (1,007) and TDs (15).Senior DL John Frank has 14 sacks this season.The Raiders beat the Falcon Knights last season, 41-22.Sto-Rox (1-6, 1-4) at Summit. Acad. (2-4, 2-4)12:30 p.m., SaturdaySummit Academy came away with a 22-15 win over Shenango last week.Ty'shon Tysinger began the winning effort with a 62-yard TD run early in the game. The Knights then turned a pair of second-half turnovers into two touchdowns to spur the victory.Sto-Rox won for the first time this season with last week's 36-18 victory over Western Beaver, which was 5-1 entering the game.After reaching the WPIAL playoffs last season, the Vikings have fallen on hard times. They have lost four games this season by at least 28 points. QB Eric Wilson has thrown for 755 yards and six TDs, but also has 13 INTs.The Vikings defeated Summit last year, 35-20.
