Local Ties amounst the finals
Posted: December 17th, 2005, 2:19 pm
There's a person who is at the top of the heap when it comes to being around winning ways. & this person is none other than Dr. "D". (Or) known in some areas as Windber's Emery P. D'Arcangelo. He's now the head man ( Superintendent at Franklin Regional ). Dr. Emery just can't stay away from those winning ways. He was a former stand-out at Windber Area High School, back in the 70's, & even took a Windber Boys CLASS (AA) basketball team in 1987 to Hershey. Only to come up a little short against a District #3 team called: Columbia Crimson Tide.
As life would have it. Windber still does well in Sports after Dr. "D"'s leaving to explore new avenues in life. & Franklin Regional would be that place.
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Reserves Lead Franklin Regional to First Ever State Title
12/9/2005 -
The magical postseason run ended Friday night with another key starter getting injured for Franklin Regional...oh yeah, and a 23-13 victory over Pottsville in the P.I.A.A. Class (AAA) finals to cap off an improbable run that gives the Panthers their first ever state football championship.
There weren't many people that envisioned this Franklin Regional run after star quarterback and Northwestern University recruit Brad Phillips was injured early in the W.P.I.A.L. finals against Thomas Jefferson. However Panthers coach Greg Botta turned to junior quarterback Lenny Gallo, who guided the Panthers to a first ever W.P.I.A.L. championship and two wins in the P.I.A.A. playoffs.
On Friday night at Hersheypark Stadium, Phillips returned to the Panthers line-up, but only as a defensive back as Gallo remained under center.
However early in the first quarter against Pottsville, Botta had to call on a Panthers backup after leading rusher Robby Armstrong left the game with an injury after only three carries.
Again, Franklin Regional didn't miss a beat.
Lee Howatneck came in and took over for Armstrong by rushing for 99 yards on 19 carries.
The Panthers jumped out to a 17-0 over the Crimson Tide after one quarter on touchdown runs by Gallo and Mike Schilling sandwiching a 42-yard field goal by Glen Halperin.
Franklin Regional extended the lead to 20-0 by halftime after a 27-yard field goal by Halperin.
However after a Gallo pass was intercepted and returned inside the Franklin Regional 5-yard line early in the third quarter, Pottsville finally scored on a Steve Pilconis 4-yard pass from Jake Wartella.
Halperin booted a third field goal, this time a chip shot from only 17-yards out to make it 23-7 Franklin Regional heading into the final quarter.
The Crimson Tide made things interesting early in the 4th quarter on a 2-yard score by Andy Buziak capping off an 80-yard drive. Pottsville went for two points in an effort to close the gap to 8 points, however Wartella's pass fell incomplete.
The Panthers killed off the remaining time, thus giving not only the Murrysville school it's first crown, but it also marked the first time in the 18 year history of the P.I.A.A. championships that a school from Westmoreland County won a state football title.
POTTSVILLE : 0 - 0 - 7 - 6 = 13
FRANKLIN REGIONAL : 17 - 3 - 3 - 0 = 23
1st Qtr: Len Gallo 11-yard run (Glen Halperin kick) FR 7 - Pott 0
1st Qtr: Glen Halperin 42-yard field goal FR 10 - Pott 0
1st Qtr: Mike Schilling 15-yard run (Glen Halperin kick) FR 17 - Pott 0
2nd Qtr: Glen Halperin 27-yard field goal FR 20 - Pott 0
3rd Qtr: Steve Pilconis 4-yard pass from Jake Wartella (J.J. Moran kick) FR 20 - Pott 7
3rd Qtr: Glen Halperin 17-yard field goal FR 23 - Pott 7
"THE CHOPS".
As life would have it. Windber still does well in Sports after Dr. "D"'s leaving to explore new avenues in life. & Franklin Regional would be that place.
===============================================
Reserves Lead Franklin Regional to First Ever State Title
12/9/2005 -
The magical postseason run ended Friday night with another key starter getting injured for Franklin Regional...oh yeah, and a 23-13 victory over Pottsville in the P.I.A.A. Class (AAA) finals to cap off an improbable run that gives the Panthers their first ever state football championship.
There weren't many people that envisioned this Franklin Regional run after star quarterback and Northwestern University recruit Brad Phillips was injured early in the W.P.I.A.L. finals against Thomas Jefferson. However Panthers coach Greg Botta turned to junior quarterback Lenny Gallo, who guided the Panthers to a first ever W.P.I.A.L. championship and two wins in the P.I.A.A. playoffs.
On Friday night at Hersheypark Stadium, Phillips returned to the Panthers line-up, but only as a defensive back as Gallo remained under center.
However early in the first quarter against Pottsville, Botta had to call on a Panthers backup after leading rusher Robby Armstrong left the game with an injury after only three carries.
Again, Franklin Regional didn't miss a beat.
Lee Howatneck came in and took over for Armstrong by rushing for 99 yards on 19 carries.
The Panthers jumped out to a 17-0 over the Crimson Tide after one quarter on touchdown runs by Gallo and Mike Schilling sandwiching a 42-yard field goal by Glen Halperin.
Franklin Regional extended the lead to 20-0 by halftime after a 27-yard field goal by Halperin.
However after a Gallo pass was intercepted and returned inside the Franklin Regional 5-yard line early in the third quarter, Pottsville finally scored on a Steve Pilconis 4-yard pass from Jake Wartella.
Halperin booted a third field goal, this time a chip shot from only 17-yards out to make it 23-7 Franklin Regional heading into the final quarter.
The Crimson Tide made things interesting early in the 4th quarter on a 2-yard score by Andy Buziak capping off an 80-yard drive. Pottsville went for two points in an effort to close the gap to 8 points, however Wartella's pass fell incomplete.
The Panthers killed off the remaining time, thus giving not only the Murrysville school it's first crown, but it also marked the first time in the 18 year history of the P.I.A.A. championships that a school from Westmoreland County won a state football title.
POTTSVILLE : 0 - 0 - 7 - 6 = 13
FRANKLIN REGIONAL : 17 - 3 - 3 - 0 = 23
1st Qtr: Len Gallo 11-yard run (Glen Halperin kick) FR 7 - Pott 0
1st Qtr: Glen Halperin 42-yard field goal FR 10 - Pott 0
1st Qtr: Mike Schilling 15-yard run (Glen Halperin kick) FR 17 - Pott 0
2nd Qtr: Glen Halperin 27-yard field goal FR 20 - Pott 0
3rd Qtr: Steve Pilconis 4-yard pass from Jake Wartella (J.J. Moran kick) FR 20 - Pott 7
3rd Qtr: Glen Halperin 17-yard field goal FR 23 - Pott 7
"THE CHOPS".