Planets look to avoid 0-2 section start

October 02, 2008 Last Updated: October 02, 2008 02:12 PM High School

Slippery Rock High senior receiver Derrick Orloski leads the team with 20 receptions.

Mars football coach Scott Heinauer is banking on his team having a short memory.

The Planets' last outing was a 26-7 home defeat to Highlands last Thursday.

"We just have to regroup and get going," said Heinauer. "It's just one game."

But just four conference games remain and the Planets (3-2, 0-1) want to get in the win column ASAP.

Their next chance is Friday when they visit Franklin Regional for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

The Panthers (4-1, 1-0) beat Knoch last week, 13-10.

Franklin Regional senior quarterback Anthony Vendemia completed 11 of 17 passes for 145 yards in the win.

"He's a good quarterback," Heinauer said of Vendemia. "But he's not as elusive as (Highlands' Jeff Sinclair)."

But the Panthers have several players who will shoulder the burden in the ground game.

Seniors Jesse Samek and Josh Rager and junior Chad Bowman have all rushed for over 100 yards in a game this season.

Rager totaled 126 yards last week.

And providing blocks up front will be one of the top college prospects in the WPIAL in 6-foot-5, 285-pound junior tackle Sean Hickey.

"He's one of the best linemen I've ever coached," said veteran Panthers coach Greg Botta, who's been coaching high school football for 30 years.

Defensively, Botta is concerned with the offensive scheme run by Mars.

"The Wing-T is an offense that we don't face much," he said. "I love the way Scott runs things. They were down 21-0 to Hopewell (earlier this season) and his kids were playing like it was 0-0."

• Last year's score: Knoch 21, Hampton 7• Coaches: Knoch:Mike King, 10th year (42-61); Hampton:Jacque DeMatteo, 1st year (1-4)• Game notes: DeMatteo was head coach at Shaler before replacing Greg Mihalik at Hampton this season. ... Talbots held the ball for first 10 minutes, 45 seconds, in posting 7-6 win over previously unbeaten Indiana last week. ... Indiana was held to 54 yards offensively in that loss. ... Before defeating Hampton last year, Knoch had a four-game losing streak vs. Talbots. ... Hampton has not scored more than one touchdown in any game this season. ... QBJake McTighe has completed just 13 of 34 passes for 105 yards. ... WRMitchell Shaw leads Knights with seven catches for 70 yards, but did not catch a pass in last week's 13-10 loss to Franklin Regional.

• Last year's score: Titusville 34, Slippery Rock 7• Coaches: Slippery Rock, Clyde Conti; Titusville, Scott Salvo• Game notes: Slippery Rock is coming off its fourth lopsided victory of the season, a 50-13 dismantling of Reynolds. Meanwhile,Titusville was edged 31-29 by Oil City. ... Rockets quarterback Jono Powell leads Butler County in touchdowns with 11 — 10 rushing and one interception return. He also has passed for six scores. ... Isaac Osborne has turned into a dual threat for the Rockets with 170 yards rushing and a team-leading 272 yards receiving. ... Senior receiver Derrick Orloski leads Slippery Rock with 20 receptions. ... Titusville running back Jonathan Proano has rushed for 639 yards and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry. The rest of the team is gaining 1.9 yards per rushing attempt. ... Cameron Atha is the leading receiver for Titusville, catching seven balls for an 18-yard average.

• Last year's score: Moniteau 28, Keystone 0• Coaches: Keystone, Jason Nellis. Moniteau, Jeff Campbell• Game notes: After trailing Union 12-7 at halftime, Moniteau scored 35 unanswered points in the second half against the Golden Knights. ... The Warriors had two touchdowns negated by penalties in the first half and threw an interception in the Union end zone. ... Keystone's Zach Smith and Dan Reed provide the 1-2 punch in the running game. Each has gained 255 yards this season. ... Panthers quarterback Ben Black is completing 56 percent of his passes. ... Moniteau receiver Tony Campbell has caught eight touchdown passes in the last three games. ... Four Moniteau running backs have at least 20 carries this season. Three have more than 200 yards on the ground.

• Last year's score: Grove City 14, Hickory 0• Coaches: Grove City, Jeff Bell; Hickory, Frank Antuono.• Game notes: Hickory has been outscored 103-7 in its last two games, which were losses to Slippery Rock and Wilmington. ... The Hornets are averaging 3.2 yards per rush. ... Hickory quarterback Ryan Voisey has thrown one touchdown and seven interceptions. ... Grove City's passing game is struggling. Freshman Tyler Dagres, filling in for injured senior quarterback Mike Burk, was 4-of-15 for eight yards in an overtime loss to Greenville. ... Grove City's defense held the Trojans to 158 total yards last week.

• Last year's score: Valley 28, Freeport 24• Coaches: Valley:Troy Hill; Freeport:John Gaillot• Game notes: The Vikings are coming off a 47-7 victory over Summit Academy, which saw Lebren O'Neal and Anthony Saunders account for two touchdowns apiece. O'Neal finished with 111 yards on 18 carries. Troy Hill intercepted a pass for a touchdown and Kyle Dudley added a rushing touchdown for the Vikings, who opened up a 26-7 halftime lead.

• Last year's score: Clarion 49, Union 12• Coaches: Union:Jeremy Lipps, 1st year (0-5); Clarion:Larry Wiser, 21st year (128-68-1)• Game notes: Golden Knights have been outscored 277-25 in last five meetings with Clarion. ... Bobcats are coming off 28-21 triple-overtime loss to Redbank Valley, matching the longest game in District 9 history. Moniteau defeated Karns City 33-26 in three overtimes in 1995. ... Freshman QBBrandon Heeter made first varsity start for Clarion last week. ... Union QBMatt Gagliano completed nine passes for 164 yards in 42-12 loss to Moniteau last week. Union led 12-7 at halftime. ... RBColby Davis caught four passes for 127 yards vs. Moniteau, but was held to minus eight yards rushing.

• Last year's score: Did not play• Coaches: A-C Valley:Gary Pinkerton; Brookville:Chris Dworek• Game notes: Brookville defeated Clarion-Limestone 23-6 last Friday, despite fumbling six times and throwing four interceptions. ... The Raiders feature two big threats in their ground attack in juniors Kyle Galbraith and Ethan Harmon, who have combined for 517 yards and four touchdowns on 106 carries.

• Last year's score: Did not play• Coaches: West Shamokin:Shawn Liotta; Summit Academy:Steve Sherer• Game notes: The two squads sit at the bottom of the Allegheny Conference standings, and both are looking to break into the win column. ... The Wolves dropped a tough 21-12 decision to Deer Lakes last week. ... Quarterback Dave Ferringer scored on a 27-yard run for an early 6-0 lead.