WARREN JFK Playoff appearance No. 13 not unlucky

The Eagles' success is a result of senior leadership, said coach Tony Napolet.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- So far, Warren Kennedy High's 13th appearance in the state football playoffs hasn't been unlucky.
Although it appeared that way early against Smithville last Friday, JFK (9-2) overcame a bad start in the Division V opening-round game.
Shocked by a 7-0 deficit just 36 seconds into the game, the Eagles regrouped and went on to a 49-14 victory.
It was reminiscent of JFK's season opener against Newton Falls.
The Eagles trailed, 6-0, and the Tigers were closing in for another score. That's when JFK stopped Newton Falls at the 6-yard line, then blocked a field goal that helped turn the game around toward an eventual 24-14 victory.
Stuffed
"Defense won that game," coach Tony Napolet said. "You'd think they'd come away with something. That was very important."
Defense helped in wins over Sharpsville and Steubenville Catholic Central in back-to-back games.
If there was a turnaround game for JFK, it was a Week 2 loss to Struthers, 19-7.
"That kind of gave the kids a message," Napolet said. "Then we were lucky to win seven in a row. We ended up playing pretty decently and we're playing decently now. Every week is a bigger challenge. It's no different this week. South Range beat the snuff out of us two years ago."
Last year, the Eagles were 5-5.
What's made the difference?
"I credit 16 seniors for the leadership and for the objectives and goals they set," said Napolet. "I also credit the coaching staff because, without them, we'd be nowhere. They're as important as the kids. They're knowledgeable, they're motivators and great teachers.
"My staff's been the same for the last seven or eight years; that continuity helps," he said of Tom Cera, Larry Hoffman, Mike Naples, Jim and Dave Pappada, Rick Radich, Bob Terlecky and Dennis Zolciak.
The top tacklers are inside linebackers Bryan Markle and Jim Kokrak. Markle is a junior while Kokrak is a senior. They're complemented by defensive ends Adam Snyder and Joe Cicchillo.
Up front
Other up-front personnel are nosemen Mike Pissini and Kevin Barton and tackles Sal Coppola, Julian Strother, Kevin Lee, Ryan Keller, Rocco Bello and Mike Fye.
Running the Eagles' spread offense is 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior quarterback John DiFiore, who has completed 94-of-166 passes for 1,228 yards and 15 TDs. His top receivers are seniors Shane Golden and Adam Rossi. Golden has 26 catches for 321 yards while Rossi has 22 for 331. Both have four TDs. Kokrak has five touchdowns.
Against Smithville, however, the Eagles gained most of their yardage on the ground, as senior Anthony Ambeliotis had 155 yards on 20 attempts to bring his season total to 1,001 yards on 200 carries.
Ambeliotis' one score against the Smithies gave him 10 TDs.
DiFiore, who scored just six points in the regular season, ran three times for touchdowns against Smithville. As a junior, DiFiore played in 10 games at quarterback.
"He got more mature, became a better thrower and an equally good runner," Napolet said. "He's gained confidence in himself and he does a nice job directing the offense."
Golden and Ambeliotis are the top scorers with 62 and 60 points, respectively, while kicker Russ Accordino has 45 points.
Wishful thinking
For Friday's game, an ideal game plan would be to control the tempo, offensively, and contain South Range, defensively. But it probably won't happen, Napolet said.
"That isn't likely to happen in a playoff game because both teams are good. South Range -- with guys like Ryan Maxwell, Ben Johnston and Tony Darkadakis -- does a better job of running the winged-T than most teams we've played that run it," said Napolet.
bassetti@vindy.com