By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

LOWELLVILLE

It has been 10 long years since the Lowellville High football team posted a non-losing season.

When he was hired three years ago, head coach Jeff D’Altorio made making the playoffs his top priority. That process started at the end of last year, when the Rockets won their last three games to finish 4-6.

“The one thing that I knew when I took this position was that a Lowellville kid is a tough, hard-nosed athlete that doesn’t understand the word quit,” he said. “We were 1-9 that first season, yet the players still came to practice with unparalleled enthusiasm.

“Last season we hung around early, won our final three games and just learned how to finish, which gave us reason to believe. This year, outstanding senior leadership helped to get us over the top.”

The fifth-seeded Rockets (6-4) will make their fourth playoff appearance on Saturday when the play at fourth-seeded Danville (8-2) in a Division VII, Region 23 game beginning at 7 p.m.

The Rockets also made the playoffs in 1995, 2001 and 2002, going 1-3. Danville is 15-13 in the playoffs.

Senior Jesse Terwilliger, who rushed for 555-yards, scored five touchdowns and registered a team-high 86 tackles, said the underclassmen stepped up when asked while giving those in front of them a much-needed rest.

“At the beginning of summer practice, the seniors made it known that nothing short of an all-out effort would be acceptable,” he said. “We didn’t want there to be any doubts about our effort come the end of the season.”

Micco called their three-game skid at the end of the season a gut check.

“We had high expectations and three lofty goals this year,” senior Nick Micco said. “We wanted to win our league, post a winning record and also make the playoffs. We achieved two of those goals but want to play our best now in the playoffs.”

Senior Nick Lucente averaged 21.5 yards per reception and scored two touchdowns off quarterback Alex Harklerode’s bombs.

“Coach [D’Altorio] always told us to find a way to make it happen; find a will to win and everything else would fall into place,” Lucente said. “As a senior, this is your last chance at doing something you will remember for the rest of your life. The key was that everyone understood that and then went out and just executed on both sides of the ball.”

Seniors Mike Minnie, Collin Pope and Robert Ciccone said the Rockets expected to continue the momentum from last year’s finish.

“When the regular season ended last year, everyone wanted to hurry and get to work on this year,” Pope said. “That’s probably the biggest reason we’ve enjoyed the success that we have because we had something positive to build upon.”

“We felt like we were on the verge of something special so from last year to this year, our main goal was to stay positive no matter what the situation,” Minnie added.

Ciccone, who was second on the team with eight rushing touchdowns, said staying focused helped, especially after dropping three straight league contests.

“We never looked ahead, stayed focused and took it week by week,” he said. “The seniors might have provided leadership, but the underclassmen took advantage of their opportunities when they were called upon by the coaches.”

Amos said Danville will present a challenge.

“We feel like we match up with them but must keep everything in the middle and in front of us; not to the outside,” he said.

Blue Devils QB Ridge Durbin has passed for 2,330 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Danville has also added 1,633 rushing yards and 31 more scores.

“The game might come down to special teams and our difference maker is Shane [Burkholder],” D’Altorio said. “He’s been outstanding on special teams for us all year long and we will need all of his energy Saturday night.”