Still the champs: How Farrell held off Mercyhurst Prep in the District 10 Class 2A football final
MEADVILLE – Was this the year?
Would Farrell finally be de-throned from District 10 football royalty? Would Erie County’s small-school title drought finally end?
Nope.
Not this year.
Farrell (11-1) was tested in Saturday’s D-10 Class 2A title game. It was not, however, bested by a Mercyhurst Prep (10-1) squad seeking an upset.
When the Lakers took away Farrell’s explosive offense, the Steelers turned to their defense, blanking Mercyhurst for more than three quarters while building a narrow lead. Brandon Chambers Jr.’s 54-yard touchdown run was the difference in a 16-9 victory, awarding Farrell its eighth-consecutive D-10 crown.
“They’re a well-coached team, and they have great athletes, so to have a chance to win this game at the end, we’re pretty pleased,” Mercyhurst Prep head coach Jeff Root said. “I’m not disappointed in our kids, I’m just disappointed in the outcome, but I love our kids, and I thought they played very well.”
Defense wins championships
The oft-used sports adage proved true at Bender Field, where Farrell leaned on its defense to stop a Mercyhurst attack which had averaged 60 points per game. The Lakers were nearly as strong defensively, however, as interior lineman Sean Sokolowski and inside linebacker Amir Jones took away Farrell’s run game.
The afternoon’s first 10 possessions resulted in no points, including four punts and a fumble by Mercyhurst. It wasn’t until Farrell took over at its own 27-yard line with 1:28 remaining in the second quarter that either side mustered much offense.
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“Mercyhurst is a great team, and they prepared well for our offense,” Farrell senior quarterback Kabron Smith said. “You need to take what they give you at that time. Coach Amp (Pegues) called some great plays, we opened up the run and (Chambers) had a nice break. Just continue to convert.”
Difference-making plays by Farrell
Farrell scored with eight seconds left in the first half, a one-yard rush by Smith which was set up by a long completion from him to Marion Norris. A two-point conversion to Danny Odem gave the Steelers an 8-0 halftime advantage.
Mercyhurst snatched some momentum early in the fourth quarter by pinning Farrell inside its own 5-yard line with a punt and subsequently forcing a safety. On the Lakers’ ensuing possession, however, Juelz Johnson intercepted Paul Johnson for the second time before Chambers bounced the long touchdown.
“I saw my linemen giving me great holes every down, and I just had to hit it,” said Chambers, a senior.
Last-ditch efforts
The game felt all but over after Chambers’ TD with 9:32 left, given how stingy Farrell’s defense had been. Mercyhurst then embarked on its best drive of the day, however, a five-minute campaign which ended in a one-yard TD run by Paul Johnson.
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The Lakers got a defensive stop and the ball back with 2:18 remaining. Farrell stood strong on defense once again, though, to turn away its latest challenger.
“A penalty here, a big run there; it’s all of those things,” Root said. “It’s like rugby – it’s a scrum, moving it two or three yards, and all of a sudden somebody pops it, and that’s what happened on that one (touchdown).”
Used to this
Saturday marked Farrell’s 18th district championship all-time, 12 of which have been won in D-10. The Steelers have won D-10 eight consecutive years, including three since bumping from Class 1A to 2A.
Mercyhurst sought to be Erie County’s first small-school champion (Class 1A-3A) since 2007. Mercer County’s streak continues, however, and Farrell receives a reward it has become accustomed to – practice on Thanksgiving.
“We love practicing on Thanksgiving,” said Juelz Johnson. “That’s what we want to do every year – practice on Thanksgiving.”
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Contact Jeff Uveino at juveino@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter,@realjuveino.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Farrell rides defense to victory over Mercyhurst Prep in D-10 Class 2A final
