Plenty of heroes in Rockets' zeros

Just when you thought Lowellville couldn't duplicate its dream football season of 2002, here it goes again.
More impressive than the Rockets beating Crestview, Southern and Brookfield in the first three weeks, is the manner in which they've done so.
By shutout. Lowellville has not surrendered any points this season, winning 13-0, 7-0 and 7-0, respectively.
"Amazing," said Columbiana coach Bob Spaite, whose team scrimmaged the Rockets this season.
"It's tough to do in any league, at any level," he added, "especially in this day and age when you have pressure from parents to make sure every son gets a chance to play."
Execution
Lowellville, which has won 15 straight regular season games, stops opposing offenses with speed, balance and hard hitting.
"It's their attitude," first-year Lowellville coach Cliff Jamieson said.
"These are tough kids, and they've been playing together for a long time. They want to hit people."
Levying the hits are guys such as 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior safety Jeff Peterson and senior defensive end Steve Carchedi.
"With Peterson, you better have your head on a swivel and buttoned up tight, because he's gonna hit you," Spaite said.
"Carchedi is a very fast, physical player."
So are senior linebackers Brian Wharry, Dustin Socie and Steve Pinciaro, and senior cornerback Bryan Meehan.
"We're not a one-man show. Everybody's doing their job," Carchedi said. "We trust each other, and things are just falling into place."
Playoff-caliber
Lowellville is coming off a 10-0 season that led to its second straight playoff berth.
The Rockets lost in the Division VI regional semifinals to Cuyahoga Heights.
Because Lowellville was hit hard by graduation, the team's offense has needed time for its inexperienced players to grow. That's why the defense's contribution has been invaluable.
"Throughout conditioning and [two-a-days], we knew the defense was going to be a focal point of the team," Carchedi said.
"We knew the defense would have to stay strong until the offense was able to jell."
There have been some close calls early, with the Rockets having to stiffen within the red zone. Each time, however, they've made the big play.
"Everybody just swarms to the ball," said Carchedi, who credits defensive coaches Tom Collins and Jim Hazimihalis for preparing players with detailed scouting reports.
Next up for Lowellville is a Friday road game against Mathews (2-1), whose offense runs out of a spread formation.
The biggest tests will begin Sept. 19, when the Rockets play Inter-County League opponents South Range, Springfield and Mineral Ridge.
"We're trying not to get big-headed about it," Carchedi said of the shutout streak. "We're just taking the attitude that this is expected."
Welcome back
Speaking of Spaite, his Clippers will be taking the field Friday night for the first time in two weeks when they face Tri-County League favorite Lisbon.
Ashtabula Sts. John & amp; Paul, struggling with numbers in the program, canceled last week's game with Columbiana before the season even began.
"As far as the computer [playoff system] is concerned, we're playing a nine-game schedule," said Spaite, whose team has registered wins at LaBrae and Springfield.
"But we're [surely] going to count it as a 'W.' "
XBrian Richesson covers high school sports for The Vindicator. Write to him at richesson@vindy.com.