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BRADFORD BATTLES PERRY IN
PIAA CLASS AAA SECOND ROUND |
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| PIAA Class AAA
Second Round Game at Warren High School |
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| Perry (11-1) vs.
Bradford (9-2) |
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| Friday, Nov. 21, 2003 - 7 p.m. | |
| PERRY
LEADERS |
BRADFORD STATS |
| By
Chris Rossetti WARREN – Bradford (9-2) continues it run in the PIAA playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday night when the Owls meet perennial state powerhouse Perry (11-1) in Warren. The Owls enter the game off of a 25-10 win over Huntingdon in the first round of the playoffs last Friday in State College. The Owls offense owned the game rushing for 414 yards on the night. Perry come into the game off of a hard-fought 17-7 win over Erie Strong Vincent, a game won by the Commodore defense which intercepted seven passes and returned two fourth-quarter interceptions for touchdowns. The defensive touchdowns were the only touchdowns Perry managed in the game. The Perry offense managed just 102 yards of total offense and a field goal in the game. Bradford’s offense, which is almost totally a running offense, is averaging a District-9 leading 294.9 yards per game. Sean Hvizdzak, the second leading rusher in District 9, paces the way for the Owls with 179 carries for 1,433 yards and 12 touchdowns. A dangerous returnman, as well, Hvizdzak has returned three kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns this year. In Bradford’s two playoff games he has scored eight touchdowns, and last week he ran for 225 yards and three touchdowns against Huntingdon. Hvizdzak is one of three running backs who have paved the way for the Owls this season. Dave Snyder is second on the team and 11th in the district this season with 832 yards and 11 touchdowns on 160 carries, while Aaron O’Toole is the 15th leading rusher in District 9 with 97 totes for 736 yards and seven touchdowns. The three running backs have accounted for 3,001 of Bradford’s 3,473 yards (86.4 percent) yards this year. The Owls rarely pass the ball with quarterback Mike Austin completing just 19 of 44 passes this year for 229 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions. Bradford has thrown just three passes in its two playoff games. Jake Wells (6 catches, 112 yards, 2 touchdowns), Hvizdzak (6 catches, 87 yards, 1 touchdown) and O’Toole (6 catches, 35 yards, 1 touchdown) are the leading receivers. Perry, meanwhile, uses a more balanced approach. Quarterback Scott Knapp is the leading passer in the Pittsburgh City League having gone 70-for-132 (53 percent) for 1,345 yards. Last week Knapp was just 6-for-19 passing for 56 yards and an interception. He also left the game late in the fourth quarter with what the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review called a slight ankle sprain. Paul Favres is Knapp’s top receiver with 35 catches for 723 yards. A dangerous returnman, he has scored 18 total touchdowns this season including a 95-yard return in Perry’s 42-0 City League Championship Game victory over Brashear. Gary Lee is the leading rusher for the Commodores having gained 899 yards on 138 carries while also scoring 18 total touchdowns. Bradford and Perry last met in 2001 when the Commodore blitzed the Owls 41-7 a week after Bradford had beaten Huntingdon 38-14. Lee had 69 yards rushing and two touchdowns in that game, while Knapp was 6-for-12 passing for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Elliott George led Bradford with 15 carries with 54 yards, while Jason Casey had 14 carries for 60 yards. Overall, Perry has ended a District 9 team’s season in each of the last two seasons having beaten Clearfield 61-0 in last year’s second round. |
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