KC prepares to go into Hornets' nest

September 06, 2007 Last Updated: September 06, 2007 02:02 PM High School

Karns City coach Ed Conto remembers Hickory all too well from last year.

He also saw Hickory on film in last week's 13-7 loss to Western Beaver.

He's not really sure what he'll see in Friday's 7 p.m. game against the Hornets.

"They've completely changed. It's a whole new staff," said Conto. "We've only got the one game on film. It'll be a little tough, but we'll take what we saw on film.

"At the same time, they may not do the same things since they lost that first game. You don't know if they'll change things up. They'll be trying to right the ship," Conto added.

First-year coach Frank Antuono switched the team to the Delaware Wing-T offense. Last year the Hornets ran a spread shotgun attack.

It's been a big change for the kids," said Antuono, who was an assistant coach at Union-Rimersburg out of college and was the Knights' head coach in 1989. "We didn't get started until June because I was hired in May. We have all new coaches. There are changes all over the place.

"It is a difficult offense to learn. I'm proud of the kids. They've picked it up quick, but wee have a long way to go,"Antuono added.

Helping the process is junior quarterback Ryan Volsey.

"He's done a good job with the mental aspect," said Antuono. "That's the big thing about this offense. You have to execute. We want to be able to run the football. If you can't run, you're not going to win too many football games."

The Hornets, who will have just three or four seniors on the field, are also employing a new defensive scheme as well.

"I've told the kids, 'I don't care if you're a ninth grader or a 12th grader, if you're good enough, you'll start.'"

Hickory's only score last week came on a 98-yard scoring drive in the second quarter. Justin Scott scored on a 5-yard run just before halftime to knot the game at 7. Western Beaver scored in the closing minutes to pull out the win.

A year ago, the Gremlins came from behind to pull out a 28-25 overtime thriller against the Hornets.

The Gremlins opened this season with a 23-13 victory over St. Marys, scoring two touchdowns in the final four minutes of play, including a 12-yard fumble return by Devin Collins, to ice the game.

• Last Year's Game: Knoch 34, Ringgold 0• Current Record: Knoch 0-1, Ringgold 0-1• Coaches: Knoch:Mike King, ninth year, 32-55; Ringgold:Jeff Petrucci, first year.• Game Notes: Petrucci returns as a high school head coach after a 12-year layoff. Now 60, he began his coaching career 38 years and was a Ringgold assistant when Joe Montana played there. ... Rams quarterback Jordan Fowler threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns in a 43-20 loss to Indiana. ... Ringgold rushed for only 40 yards in that game. ... Knoch rallied from a 14-0 deficit to draw even with Montour last week, only to drop a 21-14 decision. ... Alex Whisler scored on a 25-yard run and Zach Gross tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Reiser for the Knights. ... King said Knoch has to establish a ball-control running game that eats up time, keeping Ringgold's dangerous air game off the field. Knoch failed to establish any ball control vs. Montour. ... DBMichael Gallagher was a standout for the Knights last week.

• Last Year's Game: Erie East 20, Slippery Rock 14• Current Record: Erie East 0-1, Slippery Rock 0-1• Coaches: Erie East: Mo Troop, fourth season, 2-27; Slippery Rock: Clyde Conti, sixth season, 30-25• Game Notes: Rockets' linebacker Ryan Ferguson recorded 15 tackles againstGrove City. ... Erie East's lone win last season came against Slippery Rock. ... In his first high school football game, senior Zach Ejzak completed a 70-yard pass to Derrick Orloski. ... Josh Powell converted on a 40-yard field goal for the Rockets as time expired. ... East lost to McDowell 42-6 in the season opener. ... East has a slew of speed, keyed by a group of running backs led by Dajour Stewart. ... Slippery Rock will move around defensive personell to try to control East's speed.

• Last Year's Game: Corry 12, Grove City 0• Current Record: Grove City 1-0, Corry 0-1• Coaches: Grove City: Jeff Bell, 11th season, 57-47; Corry: Homer DeLattre, sixth season, 15-36.• Game Notes: The Eagles will be facing two challenges in Corry. No. 1: Getting there — the trek is a 90-minute one through rural Western Pennsylvania. No. 2: Corry's offensive attack — it's a no-huddle, double-wing, shotgun attack. ... First-year starter Mike Burk had a strong debute for the Eagles, completing 6-of-11 passes for 138 yards and two scores againstSlippery Rock. ... Corry was shutout 46-0 by Titusville. ... Grove City junior wingback Dwayne Martin did not play against SlipperyRock, but will be back in action against the Beavers. ... Grove City suffered its only shutout loss of the season to Corry last season. ... DeLattre prides himself on being able to shut down Wing-T offenses. Grove City runs the Wing-T offense.

• Last Year's Game: Moniteau 12, St, Marys 7• Current Record: Moniteau 1-0, St. Marys 0-1• Coaches: Moniteau:Jeff Campbell, first year; St. Marys:Joe Schlimm, fourth year, 9-21.• Game Notes: The Dutchmen led Karns City by four points with four minutes to play last week before dropping a 23-13 decision. ... St. Marys managed only 160 yards of total offense and suffered three turnovers. ... QBJames Swanson completed five of nine passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. ... The Dutchmen have 35 players on their roster, including 13 seniors. ... St. Marys plays a 35 defense that blitzes a lot, the same defense Campbell coached at Moniteau before the Warriors switched to a 43 this year. ... Moniteau QBTyler Armagost threw for 233 yards and five touchdowns in the Warriors' 39-6 triumph over Clarion-Limestone. ... The TD tosses went to four different receivers — two to Clay Casper, one each to Josh Loos, Dakota Campbell and Mitch Czech. ... Sophomore James Shope led the Warriors' ground game with 12 carries for 70 yards and a TD. ... DEJustin Ellenberger had eight tackles and took part in two QB sacks.

• Last Year's Game: Redbank Valley 49, Union 20• Current Record: Union 0-1, Redbank Valley 1-0• Coaches: Union: Tom Kidder, fourth season, 2-28; Redbank Valley: Ed Wasilowski, 12th season, 57-44• Game Notes: Union ran just 29 offensive plays in its 34-15 loss to Cambridge Springs. ... The Knight managed a mere 13 yards rushing on 11 carries. ... Zach Himes had a solid game at quarterback for Union, throwing for 115 yards. ... Himes backup, sophomore Matt Gagliano, tossed a 58-yard touchdown pass to Himes. ... Curtis Lee intercepted a pass in the final seconds to preserve a 13-12 win by Redbank Valley over Keystone in the season opener. ... Alex Bladel rushed for 117 yards on 16 carries for Redbank. ... The Bulldogs held Keystone to j15 yards rushing on 24 carries.

• Last Year's Game: Clarion-Limestone 14, A-C Valley 6• Current Record: A-C Valley 0-1, Clarion-Limestone 0-1• Coaches: A-C Valley:Gary Pinkerton, first year; Clarion-Limestone:Todd Smith, 5th season: 33-13.• Game Notes: A-C Valley has lost seven consecutive games to Clarion-Limestone. ... The Falcons' last win in the series came by a 40-10 score Oct. 22, 1999. ... Both teams were unable to establish a ground game in Week One losses. ... The Falcons rushed the ball 23 times for (-21) yards in a 40-0 defeat to Clarion while the Lions managed just 23 yards on 28 carries in losing to Moniteau 39-6. ... Clarion-Limestone sophomore quarterback Dan Miller passed for 178 yards and a touchdown last week, but also threw three interceptions. ... A-C Valley senior quarterback Brad Rembold sat out last week's game with appendicitis and he is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. ... The Lions have just 26 players on their roster, while the Falcons have 27.

• Last Year's Game: Kittanning 34, Freeport 14• Current Record: Kittanning 1-0, Freeport 0-1• Coaches: Kittanning: Sam Panchik; Freeport:Bill Dillen, fourth year.• Game Notes: Kittanning blanked Deer Lakes 21-0 in Allegheny Conference action last week, led by running back Bob Keys. Keys ran for 108 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns. Lance Crawford chipped in with 53 yards to bolster the running game ... Wildcats quarterback Alex Brochetti hauled in a 16-yard scoring pass from quarterback Andrew Synder to account for Kittanning's other score ... A 26-yard field goal from Andrew Vidra was all the offense the Yellowjackets could muster in a 16-3 loss to Shady Side Academy last Saturday ... Matt Lucas led Freeport with 91 yards, including a 42-yarder to Tyler Collins.

Summit Academy at Neshannock• Last Year's Game: Summit Academy 18, Neshannock 15• Current Record: Summit Academy 1-0, Neshannock 0-1• Coaches: Neshannock: Pat Cuba, first year; Summit Academy:Steve Sherer, seventh year.• Game Notes: Neshannock routed District 10 foe West Middlesex 34-6 last week as J.T. Graham rushed for 116 yards on 20 carries and scored a touchdown ... The Lancers compiled 329 yards of total offense, including 253 rushing.