NWPASports.com

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

WEEK ONE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

The 2026 Mercer County high school football season begins Friday night and Saturday with 10 games involving the area's 11 teams. One all-local matchup -- Wilmington at Slippery Rock -- helps highlight the opening weekend card.

Six of the 10 games will be played Friday night. Three teams will play Saturday matinees while Sharpsville closes the weekend by hosting Union (New Castle) at 7 p.m.

Hickory and Farrell will be part of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at Woodland Hills. Hickory plays City League power Westinghouse in the noon opener while Farrell squares off with defending Class 1A state champion Clairton at 3:30 p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Wilmington at Slippery Rock, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Wilmington, 33-16
Last Slippery Rock Win: October 14, 2022 (41-13)
Last Wilmington Win: October 13, 2023 (55-20)
First Meeting: November 4, 1966 (Wilmington won 39-6)

Neighboring Wilmington and Slippery Rock will play for the 50th time all-time Friday night as Slippery Rock hosts the Greyhounds. It will be the head coaching debut for new Slippery Rock skipper Steve Monteleone, who served as the Rockets' offensive coordinator in 2025.

While the Rockets' offensive scheme will likely look familiar, there will be some unfamiliar faces holding key roles this year. Junior John Petras takes over as the starting quarterback after playing in a variety of roles, including backup quarterback, last season. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Petras played in nine games as a sophomore.

Wrestling standout Aiden Shay has joined the Rocket football program this year and is expected to have a featured role in Slippery Rock's ground attack. Shay went 29-11 last year at 152 pounds and is a three-time district qualifier.

Senior fullback Peyton Reich also returns, as does junior tight end Kaine Humphrey. Up front, juniors Maddox Reich and Trent Reich return to help lead a junior-laden offensive line.

Inside linebackers Peyton Reich and Humphrey are expected to help lead Slippery Rock's reconfigured 4-4 defense. Senior Alex Cornelius returns at outside linebacker while senior lettermen Logan Schlobohm and Cole Schwartz are penciled in as starters in the defensive backfield. 

Slippery Rock also welcomes back All-Region kicker/punt Zach Lasko for his third season. Lasko is the Rockets' leading returning scorer, totaling 26 points last year.

While the bulk of Slippery Rock's returnees are on the offensive and defensive lines and at linebacker, Wilmington has ample experience in its offensive backfield as the top four leading rushers from 2025 are back in the fold. Senior halfback Chase Mitcheltree ran for 1,354 yards and 22 touchdowns last year while junior fullback Cam Kettering ran for 507 yards and six scores. Junior halfback Cam Kettering added 469 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 11.4 yards per attempt.

Like Slippery Rock's Petras, Wilmington junior Rowan Miller played a variety of roles for Wilmington last year. He split time between tight end and quarterback, tallying 296 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He will be the full-time pilot of Wilmington's intricate Wing-T offense this year.

Graduation thinned the Greyhounds up front, however. Senior captain Jaron Lohrenz and junior letterman Jude Beatty will help lead Wilmington's remodeled offensive and defensive fronts.

Wilmington led the area in rushing offense last season, averaging 267.3 yards per game. Slippery Rock's rush defense allowed an average of 230.4 yards in 2025, ranking 11th locally.

Wilmington rallied from a 20-13 halftime deficit three years ago for a 55-20 home win over Slippery Rock in the last meeting. Slippery Rock won the most recent meeting on its home field four years ago, 41-13, after jumping out to a 27-0 lead after one quarter.

Slippery Rock head coaches are 2-8-1 in their debuts. Then-head coach Travis Sarver guided Slippery Rock to a 24-13 win September 4, 2015 over visiting Pittsburgh Perry. In 1994, the Rockets gave new head coach Mike Kish a 14-0 win over Saint Marys. Slippery Rock tied Laurel, 13-13, in the 1979 season opener, the first game for head coach Joe Walton.

Two Slippery Rock head coaches debuted at home against Wilmington. In 1986, Wilmington blanked the Rockets, 24-0, in Scott Nelson's first game at the Rock helm. Wilmington earned a 40-12 win at Slippery Rock in the 2010 curtain-raiser, Brendan Hathaway's first game as Slippery Rock head coach. Hathaway now works as principal at Wilmington High School.

Slippery Rock and Wilmington met yearly as District 7 opponents from 1966 to 1987. The series continued from 1988 to 1991 after Slippery Rock moved into District 10. The teams renewed the series in 1994 when Wilmington joined District 10 and the Mercer County Athletic Conference.

The programs first met in the 1966 finale, with Wilmington picking up a 39-6 win. That marked Joe Fusco's final game as Wilmington head coach. Fusco took over as Grove City head coach in 1967, then took an assistant coaching position at Westminster College. Gene Nicholson took over as Wilmington head coach in 1967 and he debuted with a 26-6 win at Slippery Rock.

In 1969, Ray Cebula earned his first victory as Wilmington head coach when the Greyhounds secured a 20-0 win at Slippery Rock. In 2017, Wilmington head coach Terry Verrelli earned his final regular season win at Slippery Rock, as the Greyhounds captured a 24-14 victory.

Wilmington is 13-12 all-time at Slippery Rock High School, including a 13-11 mark against the Rockets. Wilmington lost to Avonworth in the 2019 Class 2A state semifinals, held at Slippery Rock High School, 33-21.

This is the first time since 2011 that the teams will play in Week One. Wilmington is 8-3 against Slippery Rock in season openers, including a 4-2 mark at Slippery Rock. 

The game will be broadcast on Sports Radio Z-104. Live Video and Live Stats also available.

Union City at Lakeview, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Lakeview, 24-11
Last Lakeview Win: August 30, 2013 (63-6 at Union City)
Last Union City Win: August 29, 2008 (14-0)
First Meeting: October 14, 1977 (Union City won 36-20)

Longtime foes Lakeview and Union City meet for the first time in 13 seasons as the Sailors welcome Union City for the season opener. It is the first time since 2020 that Lakeview plays at home in Week One and it will be the Sailors' first season opener at home in front of a full crowd since 2018.

 Both programs aim to rebound from tough 2025 seasons. Youth-laden Lakeview went 1-9 while Union City finished 2-8, including a forfeit win over Eisenhower due to the use of an ineligible player. Union City struggled with low roster numbers in 2025 but the 2026 preseason roster features 29 men. Lakeview's roster has also grown notably in size to 30 players.

Lakeview returns sophomore All-Region running back Remington Marsh to help pace its offensive attack. Marsh emerged as a rookie and finished the 2025 season with 431 yards and three touchdowns. Senior tight end Karson Mathieson caught eight passes last year while also seeing action as the Sailors' No. 2 quarterback.

Senior All-Region lineman Hunter Michael will help anchor the Bears up front. Junior captain Jayden Betcher returns at wide receiver after catching 15 passes in 2025. Mike Wydro enters his fifth season as Union City head coach.

Union City will compete in Region 2, along with Cambridge Springs, Cochranton, Iroquois, Maplewood, Mercyhurst Prep and Seneca.

Overall, Lakeview has won five straight games against Union City. This is the 14th time that the teams have met in Week One, with Lakeview winning 9 of the first 13. The teams first met as Crawford County League foes in 1977. Both schools helped launch the French Creek Valley Conference in 1980 after the CCL dissolved.

Lakeview hosted Union City in its first-ever night home game September 16, 1988. That night, the Sailors blanked Union City, 10-0. Union City seeks its first win at Lakeview since a 28-14 triumph August 31, 2001.

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

Series History: Mercyhurst Prep, 1-0
Last Greenville Win: None
Last Mercyhurst Prep Win: October 25, 2019 (28-22 at Greenville)
First Meeting: October 25, 2019 (Mercyhurst Prep won 28-22 at Greenville)

Defending Class 1A state semifinalist Greenville travels to Mercyhurst Prep to face a Laker squad that aims to replace Greenville as District 10's Class 1A kingpin. Greenville has moved back up to Class 2A for this two-year cycle while Mercyhurst Prep has dropped from 2A to Class 1A.

Friday night's game will feature three of District 10's returning offensive statistical leaders from the 2025 season: Greenville senior quarterback Cael Thurber, Greenville senior wide receiver Justin Schell and Mercyhurst Prep running back Vinnie Feliciano.

Thurber threw for 1,789 yards and 22 touchdowns last year while Schell led Mercer County with 54 catches for 1,023 yards and 15 touchdowns. Feliciano, meanwhile, ran for 1,820 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2025.

Greenville returns plenty of other veterans, including senior running back Kaysom Mataria, who ran for 816 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Keith Covert (25 catches) and senior tight end Hunter Cox (11 receptions) are also back as Thurber's top targets.

The Trojans' offensive line returns seniors Cameron Reimold and Blaine Swartz, along with juniors Jaden Schuver and Ryan Hollowell. Junior Swayze Walker, an All-Region selection, and junior Brayden Straw return to lead the linebacking corps.

As has become tradition under longtime head coach Jeff Root, Mercyhurst Prep will boast one of District 10's largest offensive line. Junior Josef Jordan, a 6-3, 305-pounder, anchors the line after meriting All-Region honors in 2025.

Greenville has dropped six consecutive season openers. The Trojans last won in Week One in 2019, when Greenville blanked visiting Northwestern, 21-0. The Trojans last won a season opener on the road in 2014 when they downed North East, 28-8. In 2015, construction delays at Stewart Field forced Greenville to "host" North East at Grove City. Greenville defeated the Grape Pickers, 27-12.

Greenville is 5-4 all-time in season openers played in Erie County. The Trojans have won eight straight games in Erie County overall. Friday's game is Greenville's first inside the City of Erie since a 16-14 loss to Girard in the District 10 Class AA semifinals November 16, 2013. It's Greenville's first regular season game in the city since a 28-15 loss October 26, 2001 at Erie Strong Vincent.

Cochranton at Reynolds, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Reynolds, 4-2
Last Cochranton Win: October 6, 2023 (28-14)
Last Reynolds On Field Win: September 4, 2015 (35-0);
(Reynolds received forfeit win in 2022)
First Meeting: September 9, 2000 (Cochranton won 21-7)

Winners of four straight season openers and seven straight home openers, Reynolds hosts fellow Class 1A school Cochranton in non-region action Friday night.

Reynolds will have plenty of new faces in its starting lineup this year due to graduation but with 33 men on the roster, the Raiders have their largest squad in recent years. Up front, senior Kristian Mull and junior Aiden Resek return as starters on the offensive line.

Senior quarterback Connor Belback will take over as the full-time starter after seeing extensive action in 2025. He threw three touchdown passes in nine appearances as a junior. Senior running back Brady Nehlen, a starter on defense in 2025, ran for three touchdowns in spot duty last year and will compete for a greater offensive role this fall.

Stout senior nose tackle Trenton Wilson returns to anchor Reynolds' front four on defense. Nehlen and junior cornerback Angelo Minjarez are back to lead the secondary.

Cochranton finished 4-5 last season after winning its first three games. Sophomore quarterback Noah Carroll returns after throwing for 1,338 yards and 15 touchdowns last season as a rookie. Junior running back Brayden Williams led the Redbirds with 432 rushing yards and six touchdowns last year, earning All-Region recognition. Sophomore wide receiver J.J. Walker also returns after hauling in 22 passes for 318 yards.

John Svirbly is in his third season as Cochranton head coach. He is a 2002 Reynolds graduate.

Reynolds is 11-2 in Week One under head coach Josh Mull.

Corry at Grove City, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Grove City, 14-9-1
Last Corry Win: September 11, 2015 (36-6 at Grove City)
Last Grove City Win: September 6, 2019 (49-14)
First Meeting: October 26, 1940 (Grove City won 44-0)

One of two all-Class 3A matchups in District 10 on opening night, Grove City will host Corry in a clash of teams that both qualified for the district playoffs last season.

Both teams return experienced quarterbacks as Grove City sophomore Heath Hohman and Corry senior Jack Vanchieri are back as starters. Hohman threw for 1,144 yards as a rookie in 2025. Meanwhile, Vanchieri amassed 745 passing yards and 10 touchdowns while splitting time with the graduated Lucas Baker. Vanchieri, who also caught nine passes, earned All-Region honors as an all-purpose back last year.

Hohman's three favorite targets from last season are back at wide receiver. Senior Levi Toth caught 22 passes while senior Austin Gothe grabbed 18 receptions and junior Charlie Miller added 15 catches. Sophomore running back Gavin Purdy caught seven passes, including two that went for touchdowns.

However, Purdy did the bulk of his damage as a ballcarrier in 2025 as he bulled his way to a team-leading 713 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman. Purdy and Toth both earned All-Region distinction last year.

Juniors Jordan Gamble and Malachi Whitney return on the offensive line as do junior tight ends Jimmy Cooper and Luke Gamble. Cooper and senior Tanner Mong are back at linebacker after earning All-Region in 2025. Mong had 4.5 sacks last year at outside linebacker. Classmate Drake Moore returns as a starter on the other side at outside linebacker.

Corry (7-3 in 2025) features standout two-way senior lineman Landon Nickerson, along with All-Region linebackers Lamech Albers and Carson Braswell. Head coach Jeff Goodwill is in his eighth season as Corry head coach. A 2002 Corry High School graduate, he is in his 18th season on the coaching staff.

Class 3A Corry will compete in District 10's Region 3. Fairview and North East are the other 3A teams in the seven-team loop. Class 2A schools Eisenhower, Girard, Northwestern and Seneca round out the league. Fairview's game at Fort LeBoeuf marks the other all-3A game this week.

Grove City and Corry competed against each other in the Northwest Conference from 1971 to 1976. The teams tied 14-14 in 1971. Grove City won 27-0 in 1972 and 40-14 in 1973. A teachers' strike at Grove City gave Corry a forfeit victory in 1974. Grove City capped 1975 with a 15-14 win over Corry. Corry earned a 6-0 home win in 1976. Corry left the Northwest Conference for the Erie County League after the 1976-77 academic year.

The series then resumed in 2006 with Corry claiming a 12-0 win at Grove City. Grove City's win over Corry in 1940 came as part of the Eagles' 17-game home unbeaten streak (16-0-1) during the World War II era.

This is the first Week One meeting between the programs.

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

Series History: Cathedral Prep, 6-4-1
Last Cathedral Prep Win: August 29, 2025 (43-41)
Last Sharon Win: September 13, 1996 (19-10)
First Meeting: October 27, 1950 (Cathedral Prep won 14-0 at Sharon)

Of the area's 10 games this weekend, the Cathedral Prep-Sharon showdown is the only one in which the teams played last season. Cathedral Prep pulled out a 43-41 Week Two win over Sharon on the final play of last year's meeting in Erie, capping a game that featured 12 lead changes.

Graduation has affected both teams' respective rosters, but a number of the central figures from last year's classic are back for each team. For Sharon, senior quarterback Gha'fir Lampkins takes over as the full-time starter after splitting time in 2025. A multi-year starter at safety, Lampkins saw his first extensive varsity quarterback action at Cathedral Prep and finished the game 16 of 23 for 174 yards and four touchdowns.

Lampkins finished the season 40 of 68 (59 percent) for 568 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

Cathedral Prep senior running back DaZarie Carson ran for 293 yards and two touchdowns against Sharon. He concluded the season with 1,165 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

Lampkins is Sharon's leading returning rusher, gaining 71 yards last year. Seniors AaNavyon Brown and Cassius Hosey have both seen time at tailback during their careers, as has junior Marius Best. Senior tight end Logan Perks and senior wide receiver Cyliem Smith, a pair of All-Conference selections, are also back for the Tigers.

Senior All-Region selection Jazya Hueston returns to help lead veteran offensive and defensive lines for Sharon. Best and Brown respectively earned All-Region at linebacker and defensive end last season.  

Kholton Cleveland and Jose Colon return as starters on the offensive line for Cathedral Prep. All-Region performers Cam Miller and Tucker Palotas will lead the linebacking unit.

Cathedral Prep has dropped to Class 4A this season. The Ramblers will play as members of Region 5, along with Franklin, General McLane, Harbor Creek, Meadville, Oil City and Warren. Head coach Mike Mischler is in the second year of his third stint as Prep head coach. He owns a 234-72 record in 24 seasons as a head coach, 21 at Prep and three years at Iroquois. The Ramblers went 3-6 last year.

This is Cathedral Prep's first visit to Tiger Stadium since September 13, 1996, when Sharon downed the Ramblers, 19-10.

Sharon "hosted" Prep at Westminster College's Memorial Field two years ago due to field replacement at Tiger Stadium.

Sharon is 3-2-1 at home against Cathedral Prep. In 1988, Prep edged host Sharon, 12-10, for the District 10 Division I title. John Baumann's 25-yard field goal with 7:12 left in the game gave Prep its first and only lead of the night.

Sharon has won 26 straight games when out-rushing its opponent.

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

SATURDAY

Hickory vs. Westinghouse, at Woodland Hills, 12:00 p.m.

Series History: Tied 2-2
Last Hickory Win: October 5, 2018 (23-22)
Last Westinghouse Win: October 4, 2019 (58-14)
First Meeting: September 23, 2016 (Hickory won 38-22)

Defending Region 4 champion Hickory travels to the Pittsburgh area Saturday to open the season against perennial powerhouse Westinghouse as part of KDKA radio's season-opening football festival at Woodland Hills High School.

Hickory returns three All-Region performers from last season, including senior tailback Kelvin Morrison. The Virginia Tech-bound Morrison ran for 1,640 yards and 19 touchdowns last season while averaging 9.3 yards per carry. Morrison now has 3,797 career rushing yards, along with 48 rushing touchdowns.

Junior quarterback/safety Christian Dungee earned All-Conference decoration on both sides of the ball in his sophomore season. He completed 63 percent of his pass attempts while throwing for 1,084 yards and 14 touchdowns. Dungee also ran for 880 yards and nine touchdowns in his first season as the Hornets' starting quarterback.

Classmate Dante Evans earned All-Region at tight end and linebacker. Meanwhile, injuries limited senior wide receiver/cornerback Jadon Phillips to four games last season. An All-State performer in 2024, Phillips still had 15 catches and three interceptions in 2025. The Kent State recruit will likely be a top Dungee target again this season.

Graduation took a tool on Hickory's offensive line and front seven defensively, however. Senior Jakai King-Husband and sophomore Jaxson Schneider project to return at linebacker with Evans. Senior Bryson Applegarth returns at strong safety, joining with Dungee to give Hickory one of District 10's most experienced safety tandems.

Westinghouse won the Pittsburgh City League title in 2022, 2023 and 2024 before being upended by University Prep last season. Westinghouse then fell to Bishop Guilfoyle in the Class 1A state quarterfinals, 7-6. Now in Class 2A, the Bulldogs feature six players with Division I offers on their roster.

Junior defensive end Daejour Pinckney has received offers from Pitt and West Virginia. The 230-pounder is a City League wrestling champion. Senior K'shawn Hawkins has several FCS level offers. He will play wide receiver but could also see time at quarterback or running back.

Quarterback Zahir Ismaeli returns for his second season as Westinghouse's starter. Overall, Westinghouse returns 10 starters on offense and nine defensive starters. Seven All-City performers are among those 19 total starters.

The teams played each season from 2016 to 2019. The home team won all four meetings. Saturday's game will be played at a neutral site, although Westinghouse is only 8.5 miles from "The Wolvarena."

This is Hickory's first season opener outside of District 10 since September 1, 2007, when Western Beaver edged the visiting Hornets, 13-7, in Frank Antuano's first game as Hickory head coach. This is Hickory's southern-most season opener. It is also the Hornets' first-ever neutral site Week One game.

The game will be broadcast on Sports Radio Z-104. Live Video and Live Stats also available.

Mercer at Maplewood, 1:00 p.m.

Series History: Mercer, 5-3
Last Maplewood Win: October 29, 2021 (19-7, District 10 Class 1A quarterfinal at Oil City)
Last Mercer Win: September 29, 2023 (24-13)
First Meeting: September 1, 2000 (Maplewood won 46-6 at Mercer)

Can Mercer make it a "Perfect 10"? The Mustangs have won nine consecutive season openers and will look to push that streak into double digits Saturday afternoon at Class 1A Maplewood.

The Mustangs will feature plenty of new faces in key positions after graduation claimed approximately 70 percent of the 2025 starting lineup. Senior fullback/linebacker Preston Michael, senior quarterback/safety Noah Miller-Frye and senior tight end Parker Barish are among the returnees in 2026.

Miller-Frye saw time at halfback and quarterback last season while Michael ranked second on the team with seven catches.

Maplewood returns senior quarterback Kyle Jordan for his fourth year as the Tigers' starter. Jordan ran for 639 yards and nine touchdowns last year while also throwing for 538 yards and two scores. He has accumulated 2,122 career passing yards, along with 1,405 rushing yards over the last three seasons. Junior Gavin Reynolds caught 21 passes for 288 yards last year as Jordan's top target.

Senior All-Region selection Jerad Lane returns on the offensive and defensive lines for second-year head coach Robert Finkbeiner.

This is the third time the programs have met in Week One. Maplewood opened the 2000 season with a 46-6 win at Mercer. The next year, the Tigers pulled out a 7-0 home win in a monsoon.

Mercer is playing its third straight Saturday season opener. The Mustangs are 13-1 in their last 14 openers. All-time, Mercer is 5-1-1 in Week One games played in Crawford County. The lone loss came 25 years ago at Maplewood. Mercer's Week One winning streak is the longest in the area since Wilmington won 14 consecutive openers from 2008 to 2021.

Farrell vs. Clairton, at Woodland Hills, 3:30 p.m.

Series History: Farrell, 6-4
Last Clairton Win: December 1, 2016 (24-6 at Slippery Rock University, PIAA Class A semifinal)
Last Farrell Win: November 29, 2019 (13-10 at North Allegheny, PIAA Class 1A semifinal)
First Meeting: November 14, 1988 (Farrell won 14-0 at Clairton, D-7 Class A quarterfinal)

Two programs that closed the 2025 season in the state championship round at Cumberland Valley High School will open the 2026 regular season by facing each other Saturday afternoon in Turtle Creek. Farrell finished as Class 2A state runner-up last season while Clairton claimed the Class 1A state championship.

Farrell returns ample experience in the offensive and defensive backfields, as well as at wide receiver and linebacker. Senior quarterback Aaron Pegues returns for his third season as Farrell's starter after throwing for a Mercer County-best 23 touchdowns last season. He also ran for 505 yards in 2025.

Junior Jason Marshall added 362 rushing yards and has the inside track to replace the graduated Juelz Johnson at running back. On the outside, seniors Dey'mar Cain, Dorean Cain, Timmy Jackson and Jadon King-Vincent all return. King-Vincent caught 29 passes in his first season at Farrell while also adding six combined kick return touchdowns.

Dorean Cain averaged 23.4 yards on his 20 catches while Dey'mar Cain and Jackson both had nine catches. The Cain brothers are also expected to help lead the Steelers' secondary this year.

Marshall, senior Omario Boatwright and sophomore Deyontay Gillespie return at the linebacker position. Farrell led Mercer County in total defense last year, allowing only 183.3 yards per game and 3.8 yards per play.

Clairton returns four starters on each side of the ball, highlighted by junior safety Brandon Murphy. Murphy is considered one of the nation's top high school recruits in the Class of 2028 and has offers from Indiana, Penn State, Pitt and others. He led the Bears in sacks, tackles and interceptions last season.

Senior D'Kota Harris returns on the defensive line while senior linebacker Darren Pinson and senior safety Jaece Booker are back from a defense that posted 10 shutouts in 2025.

Head coach Wayne Wade (137-32) begins his 14th overall season as Clairton head coach. He is a 1990 Clairton High grad.

Clairton competes in District 7's Class 1A Eastern Conference, along with Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette, Leechburg, Riverview, Serra and Springdale.

Eight of the previous 10 Farrell-Clairton games have taken place in the postseason. The teams met in the state semifinals in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016 and 2019. Farrell defeated Clairton in the District 7 playoffs in 1988, 1990 and 1999. Farrell also defeated the Bears in the 1990 regular season, 34-8, on the way to a state runner-up finish in Class A. The next year, Farrell topped visiting Clairton, 13-3, in the regular season. 

This is Farrell's first season opener outside of District 10 since a 40-16 win August 24, 2018 at University Prep.

The game will be broadcast on Sports Radio Z-104. Live Video and Live Stats also available.

Union (D-7) at Sharpsville, 7:00 p.m.

Series History: Tied 2-2
Last Sharpsville Win: September 1, 1995 (13-6 at Union)
Last Union Win: September 3, 1994 (26-7 at Sharpsville)
First Meeting: August 30, 1986 (Sharpsville won 14-0)

Sharpsville hosts a District 7 team for the first time in 19 years Saturday night when Union visits the Blue Devils at historic McCracken Field. Both teams look to rebound in 2026 after tough campaigns in 2025.

Injuries and inexperience hampered Sharpsville last year as the Blue Devils went 1-9. Union elected for a second scrimmage last year in lieu of a Week One game and ultimately finished 0-9 in the regular season.

Sharpsville welcomes back plenty of veterans for the 2026 season, most notably junior fullback Geno Currie. After rushing for 1,014 as a freshman, the 220-pounder chewed up 884 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025.

Junior quarterback Brady Gerlach also returns after missing the final eight games due to injury. He completed 10 of 21 passes over the season's first two weeks. His return allows junior Lincoln Breit to return to split end. Breit finished the year with 479 passing yards after being pressed into emergency quarterback duty last year.

Breit, junior Landen Hassel (28 catches) and senior wingback Caleb Koncar (12 catches) are all back, as is tight end Luke Adkins. Up front, three-year starting guard Jordan White will lead an experienced offensive line that also features veterans Leland McCarrell, Ryan Bair and Joey Gill.

All-Region specialist Finn Leary also returns to handle kicking chores. Head coach Paul Piccirilli, now in his 31st season, welcomed a roster of 41 players, the largest Blue Devil roster in a number of years. This is the sixth year of Sharpsville's co-op agreement with West Middlesex.

While Sharpsville features a larger roster and a longtime head coach, Union has an interim head coach for the 2026 season. Dave Commesso, previously the Scotties' defensive coordinator, has been appointed as head coach after previous head coach Kim Niedbala resigned in early August. Commesso and his staff are working with a 25-man roster that has been thinned by transfers.

Union welcomes back running back Gianni Million, who ran for 484 yards last year. Sophomore Stephen Lane will take over as the starting quarterback.

Union has dropped back to Class 1A this year. The Scotties will compete in the eight-team Big 7 Conference with Cornell, Laurel, Northgate, Rochester, Shenango, South Side Beaver and Summit Academy.

Each of the first four meetings between Sharpsville and Union has been a season opener. In 1995, Sharpsville pulled out a 13-6 win at Union in Week One. Fred Sloan gave Sharpsville a 7-0 lead with a five-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Quarterback John Napotnik pushed the lead to 13-6 with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Cody George in the fourth quarter.

This is the first time since September 1, 2007 that a District 7 team has visited Sharpsville. That night, South Side Beaver downed the Devils, 14-6. Sharpsville's last home win over a D-7 squad came August 31, 2001, as the Blue Devils edged Western Beaver, 11-8. 

Sharpsville has won three straight season openers at home.