Farrell rolls into Class A semifinals

By Bill Albright

The Steelers posted a 31-0 rout of Cameron County on Friday.

CLARION — Twelve in a row and two more to go — that is the scenario facing the Farrell High football team after Friday’s 31-0 win over Cameron County (12-2) at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium.

After beginning the season with a pair of frustrating losses, the Steelers (12-2) have strung together a dozen straight wins, catapulting them into the PIAA Class A semifinals (also known as the Western Pennsylvania final) to face Clairton.

The Bears earned the right to face the Steelers with a 26-0 win over Windber.

“They came here tonight so focused and ready to play and despite struggling a little at times, they got the job done,” Farrell coach Jarrett Samuels said.

The Steelers have been getting the job done by combining tough defense, opportunistic offense and solid special team’s play.

Friday night’s effort followed that same script.

Farrell racked up 224 yards on offense.

They held a high-powered Red Raiders offense to just 47 yards, 34 of which came against the reserves in the final minutes of the game, The Steelers’ defenders also set up the offense with good field position.

As a bonus, the Steelers scored a special team touchdown on a kickoff return.

“We wanted to come out and get behind those guys [the defense] because they have carried us throughout the playoffs thus far,” Samuels said.

“They have posted four shutouts out of five games and you can’t beat that.

“If we are going to win a championship, the defense has to be the key.”

After seeing their initial possession stall at the Cameron County 30, the Steelers scored all the points they were going to need with big chunks of yardage.

Runs of 16 and 17 yards by Terrell Jackson preceded a 19-yard pass from quarterback Dan Odem to Norman Blue.

Two plays later, Odem found Blue for a 7-yard scoring pass for a 6-0 lead with 2:39 left in the opening period.

After three straight punts, the Steelers found themselves with good field position at the Red Raiders 37.

Four plays later, they reached the end zone with Odem calling his own number for the final two yards.

Holding a 13-0 lead beginning the third period, Steelers return specialist Dion Eliam delivered the knockout punch to the Raiders as he scooped the ball up on his own 20 and sprinted down the right sideline 80 yards.

“They kept telling me all week to catch it in the air and not let it hit the ground, so I caught it and did what I had to do,” Eliam said.

“My blockers did a good job so all I had to do was to run straight up field.”

Samuels said, “We came out with our all-hands team prepared for an onsides kick. But Eliam got the ball, picked up a nice block and he was gone. We weren’t going for a return on that one, but as it turned out, I think it broke their backs.”

Cameron County head coach Tony Defilippi agreed that Eliam’s return was a backbreaker.

“Letting the kickoff go back in any kind of game, but especially in a playoff game makes it tough to come back from,” Defilippi said.

“But even after that return, I thought our kids played spirited football for the rest of the game. They gave up two more scores, but overall, I thought our kids played pretty well.”

Defilippi felt it was the Farrell defense that controlled the game.

“We tried everything. We weren’t going to keep anything in the play book,” he said.

“But to their credit, they are just so quick up front. We couldn’t control them and they got up the field on us. They are by far the quickest team we faced this season and they certainly deserve the win tonight.”