Farrell's football program has the athletes to make a PIAA championship run again in 2023
The start of the 2023 District 10 football season is right around the corner. Visit GoErie.com throughout August for updated videos and photos from team camps. Here is one in a series of previews for all 39 D-10 teams:
Farrell Steelers
Coach: Anthony Pegues (5th season, 40-8)
2022 record: 10-2 (7-0 Region 3)
2022 playoff results: Defeated Seneca 48-6 and Sharpsville 26-0 to win the District 10 Class 2A championship. Farrell then lost to Westinghouse 34-6 in the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals.
More: Preseason prep: Everything you need to know for the 2023 District 10 football season
Athletes galore
On any other team, most of the athletes on Farrell would be getting a majority of the touches, but coach Anthony Pegues will have the good problem of getting everyone their touches this year. The Steelers are loaded with athletes on offense starting with quarterback Kabron Smith, who threw for 1,919 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior. Sophomore Danny Odem had 13 catches for 123 yards and one touchdown last fall, while Brandon Chambers, who ran for more than 1,000 yards, is moving out to receiver. Chambers had 11 catches for 150 yards and three touchdowns as a junior. Julius Phillips is another wide receiver who had nine catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns last year. Add in star athlete Simeir Wade, who transferred from Kennedy Catholic, and Smith will have plenty of options every pass play. Sophomore Juelz Johnson takes over in the backfield after rushing for 210 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Farrell could also turn to Nicanor Andrada to run the ball. He transferred from Butler and was a two-year starter at linebacker for the Golden Tornado.
Rising to the challenge
Farrell has the 12th smallest enrollment in the state among football schools and still manages to dominate in Class 2A. The Steelers not only rise to the challenge of playing 2A football, they also battle a tough schedule. In addition to playing seven Mercer County powerhouses. Farrell will travel to an improving North East team, Warren Harding in Ohio and will; end the season with PIAA Class 5A contender Cathedral Prep. In region play, Farrell has to travel to Hickory which is hungry to chase a D-10 Class 3A title, but the Steelers get to host defending D-10 3A champion Grove City, 2A power Sharpsville and the Steel Bowl against Sharon. Farrell has never backed down from a challenge, and no matter what its record is after October, the Steelers will be ready to make a deep playoff run.
Schedule
Aug. 25 at North East 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 at Warren Harding (Ohio) 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 vs. Grove City* 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 vs. Greenville* 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 at Hickory* 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 at Wilmington* 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 vs. Sharpsville* 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 vs. Sharon* 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 at Slippery Rock* 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 vs. Cathedral Prep 7 p.m.
*Region 3 game
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Farrell is loaded with athletes this football season
