WASHINGTON & amp; JEFFERSON Valley talent helps drive football team to perfection

W & amp;J is coached by a former Mount Union College player.
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Two players and an assistant coach from the Youngstown area have played key roles in the success of the Washington & amp; Jefferson College football team, which has qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs for the 16th time in the past 21 seasons.
Rocco Nori, a defensive lineman from Niles; Gabe McKee, sophomore punter from Hubbard; and John Klein, defensive coordinator from Cardinal Mooney, have helped the Presidents (10-0) advance to take on Bridgewater (Va.) Saturday in a first-round game at noon at Cameron Stadium.
All three men have contributed to an outstanding defense that has given up only an average of 12.5 points per game while going undefeated.
Among 11 area players
Nori and McKee are among 11 Youngstown-area players on the W & amp;J team, which qualified for the playoffs by winning its 18th Presidents' Athletic Conference championship in the last 21 seasons.
W & amp;J is coached by Mike Sirianni, a former Mount Union player and assistant coach in his second season at the helm. Last year, he directed the Presidents to a 9-2 record.
Bridgewater (8-2) is the Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion.
The W & amp;J-Bridgewater winner will play the Salisbury (Md,)-Christopher Nerwport (Va.) winner Nov. 27..
Nori is team leader
Nori, a four-year starter, leads the team in tackles for losses (13 for 66 yards) and sacks (7.5 for 51 yards). He has 24 tackles in all, including 21 solo stops.
McKee, a sophomore punter from Hubbard,has averaged 32.7 yards per punt in 33 punts.
Klein, a Youngstown State graduate, is in his first season at W & amp;J mapping defensive strategy after serving as Westminster's defensive line coach for five years.
Before Westminster, Klein was the offensive coordinator at Hiram College in 1998, and coached at several Youngstown-area high schools, including Mooney.
Also on the W & amp;J roster are sophomores Mike Babyak, punter from Mooney; Robert Hill, linebacker from Fitch; and J.J. Rousher, offensive lineman from Canfield.
They are joined by six freshmen -- Steve Stahura, defensive lineman from Fitch; Steve Mort, offensive lineman from Hubbard; Joe Kuzmanko, offensive lineman from Sharpsville; Chris Harper, linebacker from Hickory; Zac Zuschlag, defensive back from Kennedy Catholic; and Jason Shaffer, quarterback from Reynolds.