Sharpsville completes improbable comeback to win over Mercyhurst Prep.

Tagged under: District 10, News, pfn, Playoffs

Josh Hosier | November 5, 2024

Sharpsville completes improbable comeback rallying from 18 down to
win 35-31 over Mercyhurst Prep.

The Sharpsville Blue Devils and the Mercyhurst Prep Lakers arrived at
Erie’s Veterans field with one goal, advance in the District 10 AA
playoffs at any cost. Both teams would demonstrate that effort in the
game tonight.

Mercyhurst received the opening kick and took it 60 yards but a
penalty brought them back to their own 37 to start the drive. 8 plays
later Everett Cottrell hung the pass a little high and it was
intercepted by Aiden Puskar of Sharpsville.

Sharpsville showed a commitment to the run, rattling off 12 straight
rushing plays before attempting a pass. 80 yards and 14 plays from the
beginning of the drive found the Blue Devils in the end zone with a
pretty touch pass from Aiden Cadman to Jaiden White. Sharpsville
missed the extra point and lead 6-0.

Mercyhurst would need only 3 plays to answer as Vinnie Feliciano took
off for a 66 yard touchdown run. After a successful extra point the
Lakers lead 7-6.

Sharpsville was not deterred, The ran 15 plays driving 45 yards to the
20 but their field goal attempt from there went wide and handed the
ball back to the Lakers.

Mercyhurst Prep would make could use of the possession with only one
play, a 80 yard touchdown run for Vinnie Feliciano. A failed extra
point left the Lakers with a 13-6 lead.

Things were certainly heating up at Vets stadium as Sharpsville
started the next drive on their own 37 but needed only 3 plays to find
the end zone again. Cadmen hit White on another nice pass, this time
for 73 yards and the game was tied at 13.

Mercyhurst Prep was able to take advantage of the final 2 minutes of
the first half moving the ball 44 yards before finishing the half with
a 27 yard field goal right down the middle by Carson Mertz.

The Second half began with a long and impressive drive for
Sharpsville. 11 plays and 49 yards later the Blue Devils were poised
to score but a fumble cost them the possession. The fumble was
recovered by Mercyhurst Prep and they returned it all the way to the
Sharpsville 17 yard line.

Mercyhurst would make the turnover count just 5 plays later when Clay
Wojtecki found the end zone on a 2 yard run. This would put the Lakers
ahead 24-13.

A 3 and out for Sharpsville and Mercyhurst punched in another Clay
Wojtecki touchdown this time from 8 yards out pushing the Lakers to a
31-13 lead.

Other members of the media and fans began to exit the stadium assuming
that the 18 point lead was insurmountable in the 10 minutes that
remained. Sharpsville did not give up on themselves though.

The Blue Devils were down 18, and forced to turn to a back up
quarterback in Brady Gerlach who came in for an injured Aiden Cadman.
This didn’t stop Sharpsville as they marched down the field lead by
Freshmen Geno Currie who eventually found the end zone from 1 yard out.
The drive was aided by multiple Mercyhurst Prep penalties including 2
on the same play resulting in a 30 yard advancement of the ball.
Sharpsville was back within 11, trailing 31-20 but their onside kick
attempt would go out of bounds.

Mercyhurst Prep started at their own 45 with 7:11 remaining and the
obvious goal to use up the clock. 8 straight carries by Vinnie
Feliciano ate up over 4 minutes of that clock before the Lakers turned
the ball over on downs at midfield.

Sharpsville turned to Geno Currie once again and he got the job done
scoring on a run from 9 yards out. That score and the two point
conversion that Currie also took into the end zone made the score
31-28 in favor of the Lakers.

Sharpsville had rallied to make it interesting but with only 1:05
remaining, the Blue Devils attempted another onside kick but this time
the ball bounced off a Mercyhurst defender and was recovered by
Sharpsville.

Sharpsville had the ball at the Mercyhurst 44 with a minute to play in
a 3 point game, no one in the stadium could believe the incredible
turn of events. The Blue Devils didn’t plan on stopping there and with
the return of The previously injured Aiden Cadman they were playing
for a playoff win. After 3 straight in-completions including an
intentional grounding, Sharpsville faced 4th down and long. In the
face of adversity just like when they were down by 18, the Blue Devils
stood tall and Cadman hit Aiden Puskar for 24 yards and a first down.
2 plays later Aiden Cadman hit Aiden Puskar in the back of the end zone
for a 28 yard touchdown and the lead with only 17 seconds remaining.
After the extra point it was 35-31 Sharpsville.

After 2 deep Laker pass attempts were denied by Sharpsville, the clock
expired and the Blue Devils were winners who move on to the 2A
District 10 Championship.

When asked about the comeback and the onside kick, Coach Paul
Piccirilli said “Wow, shocking, when we scored deep and came back with
the onside kick, as soon as we got the ball man we were rolling and we
knew we could score if we got the ball back there and we did.”

Sharpsville 35 Mercyhurst Prep 31

Score by Quarters

Sharpsville – 6,7,0,22—35

Mercyhurst Prep – 0,16,8,7—31

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

S – Jaiden White 26 yd pass from Aiden Cadman

2nd Quarter

MP – Vinnie Feliciano 61 yd run (Carson Mertz PAT)

MP – Vinnie Feliciano 80 yd run

S – Jaiden White 73 yd pass from Aiden Cadman (Rylan Piccirilli PAT)
MP – Carson Mertz 27 yd field goal

3rd Quarter

MP – Clay Wojtecki 2 yd run (Vinnie Feliciano 2pt rush)

4th Quarter

MP – Clay Wojtecki 8 yd run (Carson Mertz PAT)

S – Geno Currie 1 yd run (Rylan Piccirilli PAT)

S – Geno Currie 9 yd run (Geno Currie 2pt rush)

S – Aiden Puskar 28 yd pass from Aiden Cadman (Rylan Piccirilli PAT)

Individual Stats

Rushing:

S – Geno Currie 26 for 155 and 2 Tds, Jaiden White 14 for 44, Haidyn
McFeathers 4 for 25, Aiden Cadman 4 for -30, Will Vogan 2 for 13,
Brady Gerlach 1 for -1.

MP – Vinnie Feliciano 24 for 267 and 2 Tds, Clay Wojtecki 4 for 18 and
2 Tds, Tyshawn Tate 3 for 12, Everett Cotterill 1 for -12.

Receiving:

S – Jaiden White 3 for 127 and 2 Tds, Aiden Puskar 2 for 58 and 1 Td

MP – Tyshawn Tate 2 for 20, Tyler Quinn 1 for 18.

Passing:

S – Aiden Cadman 4/10 for 155 and 3 Tds, Haidyn McFeaters 1/1 for 30,
Aiden Puskar 0/1, Brady Gerlach 0/1

MP – Everrett Cotterill 3/8 38 and 1 Int

Turnovers:

S – Brian White – 1 Forced Fumble, Aiden Puskar – 1 INT

MP – Zach Kercheval – 1 Forced Fumble

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