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(Statistical Information Courtesy of NWPASports.com archives, The Herald and Erie Times-News)

WEEK ONE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

A 10-game card highlights Week One of the 2025 high school football season in Mercer County. Two all-local games highlight the opening weekend. Friday night, Wilmington travels to Greenville while Farrell visits Hickory the following night. 

Three games will be held Saturday night. In addition to the Farrell-Hickory clash, Sharon hosts Mercyhurst Prep, and Mercer welcomes Franklin to the county seat.

Kennedy Catholic makes its 8-man debut Friday night at Sebring, Ohio, in Northern 8 league action.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Wilmington at Greenville, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Wilmington, 27-5
Last Greenville Win: October 25, 2013 (41-21)
Last Wilmington Win: November 16, 2024 (26-21, District 10 Class 1A championship at Hickory)
First Meeting: October 16, 1998 (Greenville won 14-0)

It's a rematch of the 2024 District 10 Class 1A title game Friday night as defending champion Wilmington visits 2024 runner-up Greenville in the season opener.

Both teams return several standouts on both sides of the ball after their respective successful seasons. Wilmington returns nearly its entire starting lineup on offense and defense, thanks to having only one senior in the starting lineup last season. Five All-Region selections return on the offensive line, including First Team selections Jacob Coulter and Maverick Whiting. Second Team picks Aden Boyer, Danny Leonard and Collin Rolli also return to clear the way for Wilmington backs.

Junior Chase Mitcheltree, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2024, returns to help power the Greyhounds' Wing-T attack. He ran for 1,068 yards and 16 touchdowns while playing both fullback and as an option quarterback last year. Running mates Michael Mistretta (425 yards) and Cael Kettering (400 yards) each ran for five touchdowns from the halfback positions.

However, Wilmington will be without its second-leading rusher from last season, senior Jamieson Miller. Miller has reportedly been sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury. He ran for 836 yards while also earning First Team All-Region recognition at linebacker in 2024.

Wilmington returns junior Wesley Vass-Gal as its starting quarterback, although sophomore Rowan Miller pushed to supplant him as the starter during preseason camp.

Greenville will have a new starting quarterback as junior Cael Thurber takes over after playing extensively at wide receiver as a sophomore. All-Region selections Justin Schell and Keith Covert -- both juniors -- are expected to again be top targets in the Greenville passing attack.

Schell led Mercer County with 863 receiving yards last year on his 40 catches. Covert added 11 catches.

Like Wilmington, Greenville also returns a 1,000-yard rusher in senior halfback Rudy Gentile. Gentile led the Trojans with 1,087 yards and 13 scores in 2024. He and his fellow backs will benefit from a veteran offensive line that features five men with starting experience. All-Region honorees Jaden Schuver and Horatio Calvin will help lead the Trojans up front.

Greenville led Mercer County in scoring defense last season, holding opponents to 11.7 points per game. Greenville also finished plus-23 in turnover margin. That included a plus-3 figure in last year's District 10 title game against Wilmington. However, the Greyhounds still pulled out a 26-21 win, thanks in part to 292 rushing yards and a 10-for-13 effort on third down.

Mitcheltree ran for 155 yards and three touchdowns. Schell caught seven passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns for Greenville. Gentile recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass.

Wilmington downed visiting Greenville in the 2024 opener, 28-7. Mitcheltree ran for 157 yards while Jamieson Miller scored on two touchdown runs and a 37-yard punt return to the end zone. Greenville managed only eight net rushing yards on 14 attempts.

Wilmington has won 14 straight meetings in the series. Greenville's last win in the series came at home October 25, 2013, a 41-21 triumph. Wilmington is 11-3 all-time at Greenville. The Greyhounds' first two wins at Greenville came in the 1995 District 10 Class AA playoffs. Wilmington picked up a 27-8 win over Cambridge Springs in the semifinals, then edged Grove City in the District 10 title game, 21-19.

Since then, Wilmington has won 9 of 12 games over the Trojans in Greenville.

This is the first time since 1927-28 that Greenville has played the same school in consecutive games. Greenville closed the 1927 season with a 6-0 loss at Sharon, then opened the 1928 campaign with a 38-0 home loss to Sharon.

The game will be broadcast on Sports Radio 96.7.

Sharpsville at Girard, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Sharpsville, 1-0
Last Girard Win: None
Last Sharpsville Win: August 23, 2024 (32-23)
First Meeting: August 23, 2024 (Sharpsville won 32-23)

One of District 10's youngest teams opens its season Friday night when sophomore-laden Sharpsville makes its first-ever trip to Battles Memorial Field to face Class 3A Girard.

The District 10 Class 2A runner-up in 2024, Sharpsville graduated nine starters on each side of the ball. A 20-player sophomore class will look to fill many of those voids while being supplemented by five seniors and seven juniors.

Sharpsville does return sophomore fullback Geno Currie after he ran for 1,014 yards and 19 touchdowns during his rookie season. He is expected to be the feature back in the Blue Devils' Delaware Wing-T offense. Senior Will Vogan and junior Caleb Koncar are slotted to start at halfback.

Sophomore quarterback Brady Gerlach will make his first varsity start after serving as Sharpsville's backup in 2024. Junior Jordan White returns as a starter at both guard and defensive tackle.

While Sharpsville will be breaking in several new starters, Girard welcomes back a number of key contributors on both sides of the ball. Senior linebacker Mason Kalicky earned First Team All-Region recognition last year after racking up 124 tackles. He is also the Yellowjackets' leading returning rusher, having picked up 209 yards last year.

Junior quarterback Ryan St. Julien started last year's opener at Sharpsville and finished the season with 807 passing yards. He threw five touchdown passes and added four rushing touchdowns.

Kalicky, St. Julien, junior wide receiver/linebacker River Rogers, senior running back/defensive back Jesse Marino and senior lineman Tyson Evanoff have been named Girard's 2025 team co-captains.

Girard went 2-8 last year under head coach Mark Brooks, who enters his second season with the program. Brooks went 38-20 as Northwestern's head coach from 2017 to 2022.

Sharpsville head coach Paul Piccirilli begins his 30th season as the Blue Devils' head coach. His 30-year term is the longest uninterrupted coaching tenure in Mercer County high school football history.

Sharpsville downed visiting Girard in last year's opener at McCracken Field, 32-23. Currie's one-yard touchdown run in the final minute clinched the victory. He ran for 57 yards and two touchdowns in his varsity debut. St. Julien made his first varsity start at quarterback and threw for 151 yards on 15-of-30 accuracy. St. Julien also ran for two touchdowns.

Sharpsville last opened a season in Erie County in 1997, when the Blue Devils won 38-0 at Union City. Sharpsville is 6-4-1 against Erie County teams in season openers since 1920. Mercer County teams are 6-2 all-time against Girard at Battles Memorial Field.

The game will be broadcast on News/Talk 790 WPIC. Video available here. Live Stats available here.

Grove City vs. North East, 7:00 p.m., Robert E. Thorn Field, Grove City College

Series History: Grove City, 4-0
Last Grove City Win: August 23, 2024 (21-0 at Iroquois)
Last North East Win: None
First Meeting: November 13, 2004 (Grove City won 30-27 in overtime; District 10 Class AA semifinal at Veterans Stadium)

Grove City faces fellow Class 3A program North East in Week One for the second straight season. Like the 2024 meeting, the 2025 clash will not be played at the designated home team's home facility. Last year, construction delays at North East's Ted Miller Stadium forced the game to be played at Iroquois.

This year, the teams are moving approximately 1,000 feet from Forker Field to Grove City College's Robert E. Thorn Field. The new Forker Field scoreboard has not yet been installed, forcing the game to be moved across East Main Street. 

Both squads look to rebound from tough 2024 seasons. Grove City finished 3-6 while North East went 2-8.

Grove City returns two key cogs in its rushing attack as seniors Jaxyn Wilson and Jonah Stucchio are back in the backfield. Wilson ran for 723 yards while Stucchio chipped in 249 yards in 2024.

The passing attack has less certainty, however, as junior Drake Moore and freshman Heath Hohman have battled throughout the preseason for the starting quarterback spot. Grove City's wide receiving corps features a number of candidates, including juniors Austin Gothe, Peyton Miller, Ben Moore and Levi Toth, and sophomore Charlie Miller.

Senior lineman Delathian Boanes earned First Team All-Region on both sides of the ball last year. Senior Logan Dice returns as a starter at center and inside linebacker for the Eagles.

Second-year North East head coach Chris Grychowski welcomes back two-way First Team All-Region honoree Carter Crozier at wide receiver and defensive back. He caught 29 passes last season while also rushing for 220 yards. He added a pair of interceptions on defense. Senior two-way lineman Logan Latimore also returns after recording 29 tackles for loss in 2024.

Junior quarterback Bryson Galloway threw for 1,071 yards and added 626 rushing yards. Classmate Ethan Ringer led the Grape Pickers with 671 rushing yards. Ringer merited Second Team All-Region recognition.

This is the second time in the modern era that Grove City High School will play a home game at Thorn Field. The Eagles downed Northwestern, 30-12, at Grove City College October 20, 2006 after heavy rains rendered Forker Field's old grass surface unplayable. That also marked the first night football game played at Thorn Field as the College installed lights at the stadium that previous summer.

Grove City is 6-5 in season openers under head coach Sam Mowrey. That includes the Eagles' 21-0 win over North East last season. Wilson ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Grove City limited North East to 103 yards of offense and a 1-for-12 effort on third down.

North East makes its first trip to Grove City in 10 years. In 2015, the Grape Pickers faced Greenville at Forker Field due to construction delays at Greenville's Stone-Snyder Stadium/Stewart Field. Three years ago, North East played Farrell in the season opener at Westminster College due to construction delays at Farrell's Pegues Sports Complex.

North East competes in District 10's Region 5, along with Corry, Fairview, Fort LeBoeuf, Girard and Harbor Creek. Grove City visits Fairview in Week Two, then travels to Fort LeBoeuf in Week Five.

Lakeview at Northwestern, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Northwestern, 4-1
Last Lakeview Win: August 23, 2024 (32-26 at Northwestern)
Last Northwestern Win: October 10, 2020 (31-14)
First Meeting: October 5, 2018 (Northwestern won 11-3 at Lakeview)

Lakeview opens the season on the road for the fifth straight season Friday night when the Sailors travel to Albion. It is the fourth straight Lakeview opener to be played in Erie County.

Graduation thinned Lakeview on both sides of the ball. Up front, senior Cole Klonowski returns at guard while senior Julian Zacherl is back at wide receiver. Senior Owen Reynolds will take over at quarterback after seeing extensive action at wide receiver, running back and defensive back in 2024.

Second-year head coach Blake Reddick, a 2014 Lakeview graduate, also welcomes back senior running back Gavin Schell. Schell ran for 187 yards while primarily serving as a blocking fullback in 2024. He will miss Friday's game due to being disqualified from the Sailors' District 10 playoff loss to Greenville last November.

Like Lakeview, Northwestern now has an alumnus as its head coach as 2003 graduate Ben Fenell enters his first season at the helm. He previously worked as offensive coordinator at Conneaut and has also been an assistant coach at Conneaut Valley, Erie East and Seneca.

Fenell will rely upon senior quarterback Braden Swift, who threw for 1,052 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Senior running back Brody Bickenheuser, an All-Region honoree in 2024, ran for a team-leading 655 yards last year. Northwestern went 3-7 last year, including a 2-3 mark in Region 3.

Last year, the teams were scheduled to be played in Stoneboro, but issues with the bleachers at Lakeview High School forced the game to be moved to Northwestern. A similar issue forced the 2023 opener with Seneca to be played in Wattsburg. Lakeview also played at Seneca in 2022. 

Lakeview won last year's meeting, 32-26, as the Sailors outgained Northwestern, 419-237. Lakeview seeks its third straight Week One win. That would be Lakeview's longest Week One win streak since the Sailors won eight straight lidlifters from 2009 to 2016.

Eisenhower at Reynolds, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Reynolds, 8-3
Last Eisenhower Win: November 4, 2023 (34-8, District 10 Class 1A quarterfinal at Warren)
Last Reynolds Win: November 2, 2024 (26-21, District 10 Class 1A quarterfinal at Hickory)
First Meeting: September 1, 2006 (Eisenhower won 12-0)

For schools that are a two-hour drive from each other, Reynolds and Eisenhower know each other very well on the football field. Friday night, the teams will meet for the 10th time in eight seasons when the 2025 schedule kicks off at Reynolds.

The teams have met in the postseason six straight seasons, a streak that is guaranteed to end in 2025. Due to Warren County School District building consolidation, all students that attended the now-closed Youngsville High School are attending Eisenhower. That population bump moved the Knights from Class 1A to Class 2A for this year. Reynolds, of course, remains in Class 1A.

That's not the only unchanged feature for the Reynolds football program. The starting lineup is nearly identical to the 2024 season as Reynolds had no seniors last year on the way to a 6-6 record.

First Team All-Region 1 performer Maddox Snyder and fellow senior Casey Resek, a Second Team All-Region pick, will lead a veteran offensive line. At quarterback, senior Xavier Zachrich returns after throwing for 556 yards and rushing for 619 yards during the regular season.

Senior running back Gabe Minjarez joined Zachrich on the All-Region second team in 2024 as he ran for 1,353 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. Another big play threat, senior Parker Nay returns as a slotback and cornerback. Nay caught 29 passes for 396 yards and six touchdowns last year. He also ran for 290 yards, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and returned two of his team-high six interceptions to the end zone.

Eisenhower finished 4-7 last year, including its 26-21 loss to Reynolds in the District 10 quarterfinals. The Knights return senior quarterback Caleb Jakubczak, who threw for 760 yards and ran for 857 yards in 2024. Senior running back Logan Penley, the son of 23rd-year head coach Jim Penley, chewed up 826 yards as a junior. Both players earned All-Region distinction last season.

Touchdown runs in the second half from Minjarez and Nay helped lift Reynolds to a season-opening 15-0 win last year at Eisenhower. Minjarez finished with 109 rushing yards. Nay had an interception.

Eisenhower led Reynolds, 21-12, in the third quarter of last year's playoff game. Minjarez scored on a 19-yard run late in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 21-19. His four-yard touchdown run in the final minute put the Raiders ahead. That score capped a 16-play, 85-yard drive.

Nay's 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the final play of the first half pulled the Raiders to within 14-12 at intermission. Minjarez finished with 214 rushing yards. Free safety Jacob Rust intercepted a pass for Reynolds.

Reynolds has won 11 of its last 13 season openers. This is the 47th straight season in which Reynolds has faced a District 10 member in Week One. Reynolds last stepped out of District 10 for a season opener September 1, 1978 when the Raiders blanked Union (D-7), 28-0. Reynolds opened with Laurel in 1961 and 1962, then kicked off 1963, 1964 and 1965 by playing Neshannock.

Eisenhower competes in Region 3, joining fellow Class 2A squads Iroquois, Mercyhurst Prep Northwestern, Seneca and Union City. Union City is the only Class 1A entrant in that league.

Fairview vs. Slippery Rock, 8:00 p.m. at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium, Slippery Rock University

Series History: Fairview, 3-1
Last Fairview Win: August 23, 2024 (35-0)
Last Slippery Rock Win: September 3, 2004 (28-9)
First Meeting: September 3, 2004 (Slippery Rock won 28-9)

Much like its archival seven miles to the north on State Route 173, Grove City, Slippery Rock is playing its home opener across the road at the college in town. Renovations inside and around Slippery Rock High School prohibit the football team from playing on its home field, Troy-Alan Stadium. So, the Hi-Rockets cross Kiester Road to host Fairview at Slippery Rock University in a special 8 p.m. game.

Class 3A Slippery Rock looks to rebound from an injury-plagued 3-7 campaign last season. Fairview, also a Class 3A squad, went 6-4 last year and grabbed a share of the Region 5 title with a 4-1 conference mark. Fairview then fell to Titusville in the District 10 quarterfinals, 33-0.

Both squads welcome back their leading rusher from 2024 as well as a quarterback who saw extensive action. Slippery Rock senior Owen Long led his squad with 436 rushing yards while Fairview junior Joey O'Reilly paced the Tigers with 628 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior Doug Popovec took over as Slippery Rock's starting quarterback during the second half of the season after playing wide receiver at the outset. He threw for 295 yards and added a team-high three rushing touchdowns. For Fairview, senior Carlo Cimino started the final five games of the season and finished with 501 passing yards. He also ran for 75 yards in the playoff loss to Titusville.

Slippery Rock has not won the turnover battle in its last 16 games. Last year, the Rockets caused only three turnovers all season.

Fairview amassed 284 rushing yards in last year's 35-0 home win over Slippery Rock. This is the fourth time that the programs will have met in Week One. Fairview pulled out a 19-14 home win September 2, 2005 over the Rockets. In 2004, Slippery Rock opened the season with a 28-9 home win over Fairview.

Slippery Rock is 6-3 in season openers under head coach Larry Wendereusz. The Rockets have won 6 of their last 7 home openers.

Fairview will compete in Class 3A Region 5, along with Corry, Fort LeBoeuf, Girard, Harbor Creek and North East. The Tigers host Grove City in Week Two. 

NORTHERN 8
Kennedy Catholic at Sebring, Ohio, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: First Meeting

Kennedy Catholic makes its debut as an 8-man football program Friday night by visiting Sebring in Northern 8 Football Conference action. It is also the first game of head coach John Reay's second stint as Golden Eagles head coach.

Senior Tai'jeire Chambers is expected to start at quarterback for Kennedy, which makes its first trip to Ohio since a 53-20 loss at McDonald (Ohio) in the 2012 opener.

Sebring is in its third season as an 8-man program. The Trojans went 2-7 last year and did not qualify for the Northern 8 playoffs. Head coach Aaron Agresta is in his fourth season leading the Trojans. Sebring returns junior quarterback Zachary Todd to help leads its offense.

The teams will also face off in the regular season finale October 25 in Hermitage. Other Northern 8 teams, all in Ohio, include Southington Chalker, Cardinal Stritch (Oregon, Ohio), Danbury (Ottawa County), Holgate, St. Mary Central Catholic (Sandusky), St. Joseph Central Catholic (Fremont) and Stryker.

SATURDAY

Farrell at Hickory, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Farrell, 10-5
Last Farrell Win: September 22, 2023 (26-7)
Last Hickory Win: August 24, 2024 (35-31 at Farrell)
First Meeting: October 28, 1955 (Farrell won 32-0)

The list of similarities between the Farrell High School football program and the Hickory High School football squad is a rather lengthy one. A sampling:

*Both teams are defending District 10 champions - Farrell in Class 2A and Hickory in Class 3A
*Both teams return standout running backs who have each received numerous FBS offers - Farrell senior Juelz Johnson and Hickory junior Kelvin Morrison
*Each team's offense will be led by quarterback whose father is the head coach - Farrell junior Aaron Pegues (son of Amp Pegues) and Hickory sophomore Christian Dungee (son of Bill Dungee)
*Each of the head coaches is a Farrell High graduate - Amp Pegues started at quarterback on Farrell's 1995 state title team. Bill Dungee played wide receiver and defensive back for the Steelers on their 1997, 1998 and 1999 District 7 playoff squads

Saturday night, those two programs will meet in the season opener at Hornet Stadium.

Hickory features plenty of decorated veterans on both sides of the ball. Senior All-Region selections Luke Lewis (C/NT) and Michael Ristvey (OT/DT) return to anchor both the offensive and defensive lines. In the backfield, Morrison returns after rushing for 1,439 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2024. Classmate Jadon Phillips caught a county-high 48 passes last year while adding five interceptions at cornerback as a sophomore.

Farrell does not lack star power on both sides of the ball either. Johnson ran for 1,693 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 25 receptions and 273 receiving yards in 2024. He also intercepted three passes from his strong safety post last year.

Junior wide receiver Nemo Jones ranked among the county leaders with 44 receptions and 530 receiving yards last year while linebacker Omario Boatwright racked up a county-high 166 tackles. Aaron Pegues threw for 1,528 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024, his first year as the Farrell starter.

While Pegues is a returning starter at quarterback, Hickory's Christian Dungee is a first-year starter at that position. Dungee started at strong safety as a freshman and also threw three touchdown passes in a relief role. He played in all 12 games as a rookie.

Dungee returned a kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter last year at Farrell as the Hornets pulled out a 35-31 road win. Morrison ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson led Farrell with 226 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 45 yards and a score.

Hickory is 12-3 in its last 15 season openers. Farrell has won 12 of its last 16 openers.

Including District 10 playoff games, Farrell has won eight straight games at Hornet Stadium. Farrell's last loss in Hermitage came November 14, 2014, when West Middlesex downed the Steelers in the District 10 Class A semifinals, 21-6. Farrell is 5-1 in road games against Hickory. The lone defeat came October 12, 2012, when Hickory blanked the Steelers, 50-0.

The game will be broadcast on Sports Radio 96.7.

Mercyhurst Prep at Sharon, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Sharon, 5-0
Last Mercyhurst Prep Win: None
Last Sharon Win: August 23, 2024 (55-6 at Mercyhurst Prep)
First Meeting: November 3, 2000 (Sharon won 54-0, District 10 Class AA semifinal at Greenville)

Winners of three straight home openers, the Sharon Tigers open the 2025 season by hosting Class 2A power Mercyhurst Prep in a Saturday night clash at Tiger Stadium. Sharon carries an eight-game home winning streak into the game, which is the Tigers' longest home streak since a nine-game run over the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Sharon scored a Mercer County-high 511 points last season and the Tigers return several key components from that productive offense. Senior quarterback Ethan Engelmore threw for 1,619 yards and 19 touchdowns last year, his first year as the Tigers' starter.

All-Region wide receivers Ra'Keem Hughes, Kare'mez Norris and Brock Ondo all return for Sharon, as does junior tight end Logan Perks. Senior Terrian White will likely take over as Sharon's starting tailback after rushing for 502 yards and eight touchdowns.

Mercyhurst won the Region 3 title last year and finished 6-4 overall. The Lakers closed the season with a 35-31 loss to Sharpsville in the District 10 Class 2A semifinals. That night, then-sophomore running back Vinnie Feliciano ran for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Feliciano finished 2024 with 2,399 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also won the Class AA state title in the 100-meter dash by recording a time of 10.85 seconds in the finals. He placed third in the 200 meters (22.37).

Sharon scored three special teams touchdowns last year in its season-opening 55-6 win at Mercyhurst Prep. Norris returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown, Hughes returned a blocked punt 11 yards for a score and Cassius Hosey recovered a blocked punt in the end zone. Engelmore threw for 181 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Bishop Root.

Sharon has not allowed a point in a home opener since a 21-14 loss September 3, 2021 to University Prep. Sharon blanked Slippery Rock, 42-0, last year after pitching a 26-0 shutout to Neshannock in 2023. Three years ago, Sharon defeated Warren 42-0 in a game stopped at halftime by a power failure.

Mercyhurst Prep is the first Erie County team to be Sharon's opponent in a home opener since Girard in 2005. Sharon hosted Erie Strong Vincent in the 1942 and 1943 home openers.

Current Sharon head coach Jason McElhaney owns a 2-1 record against the Lakers. As West Middlesex head coach, McElhaney guided the Big Reds to a 26-19 home win over Mercyhurst in 2008. The next year, Mercyhurst slipped past West Middlesex, 25-24.

Mercyhurst Prep will compete in Region 3, joining Eisenhower, Iroquois, Northwestern, Seneca and Union City.  

The game will be broadcast on News/Talk 790 WPIC. Video available here. Live Stats available here.

Franklin at Mercer, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Franklin, 9-3
Last Franklin Win: October 2, 2015 (34-13)
Last Mercer Win: August 24, 2024 (8-7 at Franklin)
First Meeting: September 25, 1937 (Mercer won 6-0)

What Mercer County Week One games features the oldest rivalry? One may be surprised to see that it is not Greenville-Wilmington nor Farrell-Hickory. Instead, Mercer and Franklin renew a rarely-played series that dates back to 1937 when the squads play Saturday night in Mercer.

The 13th all-time meeting between the teams features two squads that look to return to playoff contention in District 10 after 2-8 seasons in 2024.

A 10-man senior class will lead Mercer in 2025. That senior group features quarterback Rider Chiappini, who enters his third year as the Mustangs' starter. Senior halfbacks Alex Leftheris and Parker Puskar are also back as starters. Three-year letterwinner Derrick King and senior tackle-turned-tight end Kyle Suhrie will help Mercer up front.

Franklin returns junior running back Caiden Mincer, who ran for a team-leading 840 yards last season. He earned Second Team All-Region recognition last season. At quarterback, Eddie Mattocks and sophomore Freddie Blackhurst are the leading candidates to start for head coach Matt Turk.

Mercer pulled out an 8-7 win last season at Franklin. Puskar recorded a safety early in the fourth quarter to give Mercer the lead. He also ran for a touchdown.

Mercer's defense held Franklin to one first down, minus-68 rushing yards and minus-16 total yards. Both teams struggled on third downs as Mercer went 2 for 13 and Franklin converted 1 of 11.

The Mustangs have won eight consecutive season openers. Mercer is 12-1 in its last 13 openers.

This is the first time that Mercer has hosted a Venango County school in its home opener since September 7, 1946, when the Mustangs blanked visiting Emlenton, 20-0. In 1937, Mercer defeated visiting Franklin, 6-0, at the East End Field in the season opener. Following the 1937 season, the Mercer school board voted to discontinue the program. Mercer played six-man football in 1938 and 1939. The program returned in full prior to the start of the 1945 season.