MERCER COUNTY Blue Devils sweep Golden Eagles, 35-0

Kennedy Catholic played the entire game without picking up a first down.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- The Sharpsville game plan was worked to perfection.
Run the football, control the clock and the line of scrimmage.
Brendan Haywood rushed for 158 yards and scored three touchdowns, as the Blue Devils defeated Mercer County Class A rival Kennedy Catholic 35-0.
Sharpsville (6-1, 1-0) has a showdown at West Middlesex next Friday for the Mercer County Athletic Conference Class A championship and playoff berth.
If the Blue Devils turn in a performance like Friday's, they will be difficult to beat.
Played as a team: By half-time, Sharpsville out-gained the Golden Eagles 233-4. Haywood alone rushed for 119 yards on 13 carries.
The game ended with the Blue Devils holding a 310-21 edge in total yards.
Kennedy Catholic played the entire game without picking up a first down.
"That's the first time I have ever witnessed that," said Sharpsville coach Paul Piccirilli.
The Blue Devils have 14 seniors, a tight-knit group, said Piccirilli, and their leadership is a big reason for the continued success for the defending District 10 champs.
"These guys have played together since pee-wees," he said. "Any night you'll see eight or 10 of those guys at someone's house. They really like each other."
Haywood led a ground game that finished with 310 yards. Blue Devil quarterbacks also passed for 89 yards.
Not tough enough: Kennedy Catholic (0-7, 0-1) continued its season-long habit of playing tough but just not having enough weapons to be successful. The Golden Eagles' seven opponents have a combined record of 43-6.
Matt Cascio, a senior making his first-ever start at quarterback -- in fact, he was taking his first varsity snaps -- had 10 yards on four rushes. Phillip Doyle had 11 yards on eight carries.
The Golden Eagles had almost as many yards in penalties -- 20 -- as they did total yards.
For Sharpsville, the key to the season is next week, in the conference showdown at West Middlesex.
"Well, that's what you get when you have a three-team league," said Piccirilli. "Not that the [non-conference] teams we've played haven't been tough, but the two we had to have were tonight and next week. Our kids understand that and tonight they were able to rise to the occasion."
Jeff Watson, on a 4-yard pass from quarterback Bill Stiger, and backup Shawn Valenly, on a 7-yard run, scored the Blue Devils' other touchdowns.