By Pete Chiodo
November 20, 2009 — Football. A physical game, for sure.
Yet both head coaches in tonight’s District 10 Class A semifinal between Linesville and Farrell seem to be more focused on the psychological side of the contest.
For Farrell — the Region 1 champ and reigning District 10 title-holder — head coach Jarrett Samuels is busy making sure his team doesn’t overlook Linesville. The Steelers beat the Lions 40-0 during the regular season.
On the other side of the equation, Lions head coach Pat Gould is aiming to get his squad to play the kind of ball that has them going 19-5 over the last two seasons. Linesville seems to have trouble doing that against Farrell, which has handed the Lions three of those five losses.
Which team will get its head right?
Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Edinboro University’s Sox Harrison Stadium.
“It’s psychological every week,” said Samuels. “That’s what we do out here.”
Samuels’ squad is 10-0. With a 53-0 win over Eisenhower in the quarterfinals last week. The Steelers have outscored their opponents 436-53.
“Everyone is telling them how great they are,” said Samuels. “We haven’t won anything yet. We have to work hard and stay focused. Because if we look ahead, we won’t see next week.”
Samuels is stressing that fact tonight. Farrell beat Linesville 40-0 in Week 5. Yet, as the third-year coach says, the Lions (9-2) can be dangerous.
They have a quarterback, senior Trevor Litwiler, who is a fantastic passer with 1,482 yards, 18 touchdowns and a completion percentage of nearly 60 percent (86-of-147, 58.5).
That quarterback has a virtual army of fearless receivers to pass to, like seniors Walter Litwin (25 catches, 550 yards, three TDs) and Brennan Miller (20 catches, 277 yards, three TDs) and juniors A.J. Thompson (23 catches, 399 yards, six TDs) and Jack Sindlinger (17 catches, 199 yards, six TDs).
Plus, the Lions move the ball well on the ground. Litwiler has rushed for 1,169 yards and 17 touchdowns. And sophomore running back Jimmy Kearns has 717 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“I’m looking for a good Linesville team to show up,” said Samuels. “They can be very explosive, especially if we don’t guard their quarterback. I expect a tough game. I don’t expect a blowout. This is the playoffs. And if they beat us, that will make up for every time we beat them the last few years.
“I’m focused there,” he added. “The key is channeling that focus down to the players.”
Linesville is capable of giving Samuels the challenge he is expecting. However, according to coach Gould, the Lions are going to have to, “play the brand of football we generally play. I’d like to see our kids come out and attack them, not be attacked.
“I think (Farrell) set the tone last time. And once we were knocked back we never recuperated and never fought back.”
A slow start in last week’s 48-7 quarterfinal victory over Union City only cost the Lions a touchdown.
Linesville can’t tolerate a slow start this week. The Steelers are too good, from senior quarterback Danny Odem (721 yards, five TDs passing and 328 yards, nine TDs rushing); to a plethora of talented running backs like juniors Jamar Whitman (736 yards, nine TDs), Malcolm Hailstock (470 yards, six TDs) and Kevin Brodie (415 yards, six TDs) and senior Dion Eilam (313 yards, four TDs).
“It’s a good, good football team,” said Gould. “Obviously their quarterback, Odem, he makes plays for them. He creates. He’s tough to bring down. We have to go after him. They have so many different weapons and they are not afraid to use them.”
