PRESIDENTS' ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WESTMINSTER

PRESIDENTS' ATHLETIC CONFERENCEWESTMINSTER
Coach: Jerry Schmitt.2002 record: 6-4 (4-1 PAC).Key area players: Matt Robison, senior QB from Wilmington Area and Pulaski, Pa.; Kevin Huber, senior QB from Newton Falls; Brian Ekis, a senior WR from Boardman High. Robison and Huber were the Titans' top QBs last season, and probably will share duties this year again; while Ekis was the top receiver. Robison completed 61 of 115 passes for 857 yards and four TDs with five interceptions last season. Huber completed 63 of 105 passes for 825 yards and seven TDs with eight interceptions. Ekis had 30 catches for 494 yards and three TDs. Robison and Huber will be backed up by Joe Getsy, a senior QB from Lowellville High.Other area players: Seniors Gerald Guido, WR from New Castle; and Mike Cubellis, DB, Neshannock; junior Don Waldron, DE-LB, Lakeview; sophomores Rob Colaianni, DB-K, Cardinal Mooney; Brad Johnson,RB, South Range; Jerad Smith, DB-P, Neshannock; and Jim Polish, WR, Austintown Fitch; and freshmen Jake Buzard, WR, West Middlesex; Kyle Trimble, DB-P, Western Reserve; Josh Vannatten, FB, Neshannock; Chris Dulovich, LB, Poland; Chad Fette, DB, West MIddlesex; Mark Saculla, OL, Poland; and Jason Montgomery, K, Wilmington Area.Schedule:
Sep. 6 -- at Walsh1
Sep. 20 -- Mansfield1
Sep. 27 -- at Allegheny1
Oct. 4 -- Washington & amp; Jefferson1
Oct. 11 -- at Bethany1:30
Oct. 18 -- Thiel1:30
Oct. 25 -- Grove City1
Nov. 1 -- Frostburg State1
Nov. 8 -- at Thomas More1
Nov. 15 -- at Waynesburg1:30
THIEL
Coach: Jack Leipheimer.2002 record: 3-7 (2-3 PAC)Key area players: Justin Napotnik, a senior running back from Sharpsville High; Robert Drake, junior linebacker from Chaney High; and Kennard Davis, a junior free safety from Farrell High. They are among 30 lettermen. Napotnik led Thiel's rushing attack last year with 632 yards in 143 carries and three TDs. Napotnik has led the running game the last two seasons, and is a two-time All-PAC pick, making second-team last year. Drake was Thiel's leading tackler last season with 66 stops, including 14 tackles against Malone. He made All-PAC second straight year. Davis, a preseason All-American, was one of the top free safeties in NCAA Division III last year. He is a two-time All-American.Schedule:
Sep. 6 -- at John Carroll1:30
Sep. 20 -- at Bluffton1:30
Sep. 27 -- at Washington & amp; Jefferson1:30
Oct. 4 -- Grove City1:30
Oct. 11 -- at Waynesburg1:30
Oct. 18 -- at Westminster1:30
Oct. 25 -- Bethany1:30
Nov. 1 -- Brockport State1
Nov. 8 -- Alfred1
Nov. 15 -- at Kenyon1
GROVE CITY
Coach: Chris Smith.2002 record: 3-7 (1-4 PAC).Key area players: Ross Trimmer, sophomore free safety from Hickory High; B.J. Arnold, junior center from Brookfield High; Greg Verch, junior split end from Champion High. Trimmer, whose father, Tom Trimmer, is Grove City's offensive line coach, ranked No. 3 in tackles on the team last year with 72, and was PAC Co-Rookie of the Year and made the All-PAC honorable mention. He also returns kickoffs. Arnold is a two-year starter and anchored the offense for 20 straight games. He was an All-PAC honorable mention. Verch is a two-year letterman who was a wide receiver and kick-return man last year. He had seven catches for 44 yards, three punt returns for 35 yards and three kickoff returns for 50 yards.Schedule:
Sep. 6 -- Hiram1:30
Sep. 13 -- at Carnegie Mellon1
Sep. 20 -- Defiance1:30
Sep. 27 -- Bethany1:30
Oct. 4 -- at Thiel1:30
Oct. 11 -- Washington & amp;Jefferson1:30
Oct. 18 -- Waynesburg2
Oct. 25 -- at Westminster1
Nov. 1 -- at Alfred1
Nov. 8 -- Merchant Marine1
BETHANY
Coach: Chris Snyder.2002 record: 3-7 (1-4 PAC).Area players: Senior Mike Mills, DE, Boardman; senior Nazih Banna, WR, Boardman; and junior Sean Yanni, QB, East Liverpool. Mills ranked No. 6 in tackles on the team last year with 47, including 21 solo hits, and was No. 2 in tackles for losses with 10 for 40 yards. Included in that were five sacks for 19 yards. Yanni will face stiff competition from transfer Brian Wineberg and freshman Ronnell Heard. Also on the roster are junior T.J. Chambers, LB, Wilmington Area; and freshmen T.J. Parker, WR, Austintown Fitch; Eric Crawford, LB, West Branch and Homeworth; and Kris Simmons, OL, East Liverpool.
Schedule:
Sep. 6 -- Carnegie Mellon1:30
Sep. 13 -- at Kenyon1
Sep. 20 -- Wooster1:30
Sep. 27 -- at Grove City1:30
Oct. 4 -- Waynesburg2
Oct. 11 -- Westminster1:30
Oct. 18 -- at Washington & amp;Jefferson2
Oct. 25 -- at Thiel1:30
Nov. 1 -- Newport News Apprentice1
Nov. 8 -- at McDaniel1
WASHINGTON & amp; JEFFERSON
Area players: Rocco Nori, junior DL Niles High. Nori had 41 tackles last season, including 18 solo stops with nine hits for losses of 13 yards. He has started every game for W & amp;J since he was a freshman. Also on the roster are junior Marcellino Manilla, a TE from Farrell High; and freshmen J.J. Rousher, OL from Canfield High; Mike Babyak, punter from Cardinal Mooney High and Poland; Robert Hill, LB from Austintown Fitch; Gabe McKee, DB from Hubbard High; and Matt Sniezek, LB from Union High and New Castle. John Klein, a Cardinal Mooney graduate and former Westminster assistant coach, is in his first year as W & amp;J's defensive coordinator.
MID-STATES FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONMIDEAST LEAGUEMALONE
Coach: Dan Hanson.2002 record: 4-6 (1-4 MSFA Mideast).Key area players: Mike Swanson, junior CB, East Liverpool; Mitch Fusek, junior SS, Canfield; and Marty Kanetsky, sophomore DB, Hubbard. Swanson was the team's fourth-leading tackler last year with 50 stops, including 30 solos; and he had four interceptions for 45 yards. Fusek, a returning starter, returned a fumble 80 yards to a TD and also had a 26-yard interception return. Fusek and Swanson were part of a strong secondary that set a school record by giving up the fewest passing yards in a single season with 1,214. Kanetsky had eight tackles, four of team unassisted. The team returns 19 of 22 starters.Other area players: juniors Adam Capretta, WR, Canfield; and Mike Yost, DB, Poland; sophomores Shawn Marshall, FB, United; Tyler Clemens, LB, Southern; Evan Scheel, OL, Crestview; and Lidel Hilson, DL, Hubbard; and freshmen Chad Ceremuga, K-P, Hickory; Jordan Phillips, DB, United; Tyler Mackall, K-P, East Palestine; Seth Sharp, DL, West Branch.Schedule:
Sep. 6 -- at Georgetown (Ky.)7
Sep. 20 -- at Trinity International2
Sep. 27 -- Olivet Nazarene3:30
Oct. 4 -- Walsh2
Oct. 11 -- at Geneva7
Oct. 18 -- Thomas More1
Oct. 25 -- at Urbana1:30
Nov. 1 -- St. Francis (Ind.)4
Nov. 8 -- Taylor1
Nov. 15 -- at Quincy1
WALSH
Coach: Jim Dennison.2002 record: 8-3 (4-2).Area players: Jay Racick, senior LB from Girard High, led the team in tackles last year with 121, including 72 solo hits. Also with the team are freshmen Paul Cole, OL, Girard High; Chase Senk, freshman QB, Warren JFK; Derek Frederick, OL, Salem; and Dominic Dangelo, LB, United.Schedule:
Sep. 6 -- Westminster1
Sep. 13 -- at West Liberty1
Sep. 20 -- at St. Xavier2
Sep. 27 -- St. Francis (Ill.)11 a.m.
Oct. 4 -- at Malone2
Oct. 11 -- Quincy1
Oct. 18 -- at Taylor2:30
Oct. 25 -- Geneva6:30
Nov. 1 -- Gannon11 a.m.
Nov. 8 -- at Urbana1:30
Nov. 15 -- St. Francis (Ind.)1
GENEVA
Coach: Geno DeMarco.2002 record: 7-5 (3-3).Area players: Quarterback Ben Swallow, West Branch, who completed 199 of 344 passes (57.8 percent) for 2,286 yards and 12 TDs last season, with 17 interceptions. Also on the roster are Josh Mullen, junior TB, rushed for 1,061 yards in 198 carries for a 5.1-yard average and 11 TDs. Mark Villella, a two-time All-American CB, spearheads the defense.Schedule:
Sep. 13 -- at LaSalle1:30
Sep. 20 -- at Olivet Nazarene7
Sep. 27 -- Trinity International7
Oct. 4 -- at St. Francis (Ind.)2
Oct. 11 -- Malone7
Oct. 18 -- Quincy7
Oct. 25 -- at Walsh6:30
Nov. 1 -- at Taylor2:30
Nov. 8 -- at Tiffin7
Nov. 15 -- Urbana1:30
PENNSYLVANIA STATEATHLETIC CONFERENCE
WESTERN DIVISION
SLIPPERY ROCK
Coach: Dr. George Mihalik.2002 record: 7-4 (4-2 PSAC-West).Top Area players: Mike Copper, junior LB, Wilmington Area; Addaryl Akins, senior DE, New Castle; Cory Lemmon, senior SS, New Castle; Frank Fusco, senior OG, Shenango High; and John Lambo, freshman CB, Laurel. Copper, a two-year letterman and backup last year, is a projected starter. He had 31 tackles last year, including 17 solo hits. Lambo also is a projected starter. Akins is No.2 on the depth chart. He had 16 tackles last year, 10 unassisted. Lemmon also is a two-year letterman and No. 2 on depth chart. He also is No. 2 as a holder for kicks. Fusco is No. 2 on depth chart. Other area players: freshmen Josh Levoff, OL, Struthers; Joe Habarka, LB, West Middlesex; and Raymond Rotell, punter, Sharpsville High.Schedule:
Sep. 6 -- at Youngstown State7
Sep. 13 -- Gannon7
Sep. 20 -- at Fairmont State6
Sep. 27 -- Bloomsburg6
Oct. 4 -- at California, Pa.7
Oct. 11 -- Shippensburg2
Oct. 18 -- at Millersville1:30
Oct. 25 -- at Edinboro1
Nov. 1 -- Lock Haven1
Nov. 8 -- at IUP1:30
Nov. 15 -- Clarion1
CLARION
Area players: Shaun Saad, junior LB, Poland. Saad, a two-year letterman, will anchor the linebackers' corps. He came up with 35 tackles last year, including 14 solo hits. He also had five tackles for losses of 35 yards, including three sacks for 3 yards; and one fumble recovery and one pass break-up. Also, freshmen Kevin Rigby, DB, Lakeview; and Brandon Dando, QB, Laurel.
INDIANA (PA.)
Area players: freshmen Victor Mills, DB, Girard; and Danny Harris, QB, Kennedy Catholic.
CALIFORNIA (PA.)
Area players: Stefon Arnold, LB, Warren Harding; and Robert Calhoun, RB, New Castle.
LOCK HAVEN
Area player: Scott Anderson, senior WR from Lakeview. He was tied for the No. 2 spot on the team in receptions last season with 14 for 175 yards and one TD.
EDINBORO
Area players: sophomores James Barnett, OLB, Sharon; and Steve Bruno, OG, Shenango; and freshman Mike Mills, OT, Girard.
-- Vindicator staff reports