BRADFORD TO FACE PERRY IN PIAA CLASS AAA SECOND ROUND

It is the second straight year the Owls have reached the PIAA's second round. A year ago Bradford was defeated soundly by Wilmington 35-0. This season Bradford reached the second round with a 38-14 win over Huntingdon.

Things won't be any easier this season for the Owls, as they face one of the toughest teams in the state in the Commodores. Perry, which is ranked third in the state in Class AAA by both the Pennsylvania Football News and the Harrisburg Patriot, has outscored its opponents 513-19 this season and is coming off a convincing 35-7 win over Wilmington in the opening round of the PIAA Playoffs.

Bradford, meanwhile, is hoping to test the Perry defense with an offense that has produced 411 points this season. The Owls defense has given up 157 points on the year.

Bradford's offense is heavy on the running game led by four running backs who have been the top man at one point or the other this season. The top runner for the Owls is Jason Casey, who has rushed for 871 yards and eight touchdowns on 105 carries. Last week Casey was not the feature back for Bradford rushing for 87 yards on 11 carries.

Casey, though, isn't the only weapon on offense for the Owls. Elliott George, Jim Nuzzo and Mike Fair are also very good running backs for Bradford.

George has rushed for 774 yards and 11 touchdowns on 100 carries this season. Last week he was the star for the Owls rushing for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Huntingdon.

Nuzzo, meanwhile, has rushed for 612 yards and four touchdowns this season, and Fair has added 277 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Last week Nuzzo ran for 32 yards, while Fair had a touchdown.

While the Owls don't use their passing attack often, when they do it usually is successful. Quarterback Kevin Rose has thrown for 530 yards on 26-for-60 passing. He has six touchdowns and two interceptions. Rose's top receiver is Ben Copeland, who has caught 17 passes for 454 yards and six touchdowns in 2001.

Perry's offense is a balanced one that is led by running back Kelvin Drewery and quarterback Scott Knapp.

Drewery has rushed for 1,369 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, while Knapp has completed 49-of-103 passes (47.5%) for 1,019 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Last week Knapp was 5-for-11 passing for 120 yards and four touchdowns against Wilmington, while Drewery rushed for 124 yards.

Drewery is complimented in the backfield by Lionel Williams who has rushed for 457 yards and six touchdowns this season..

Four different receivers caught scoring passes for the Commodores last week including fullback Gary Lee, tight end Kareem Ferguson and wide receivers Brandon Pezzelle and Eric Wicks.

Wicks was the key player on defense for Perry in their win over Wilmington interception three Greyhounds' passes on the day.