SHEFFIELD KNOCKS OFF OTTO-ELDRED

Sept. 11, 2004

SHEFFIELD – This is what Sheffield football coach Scott Park was talking about. Park said the Wolverines executed on Saturday afternoon exactly the way the coaching staff had envisioned, winning 21-7 over Otto-Eldred in Sheffield's home opener. Otto and Sheffield are each 1-1 in the District 9 Allegheny Mountain League.

Park wanted an improved ground game, and Sheffield delivered 166 yards on 32 carries, including three long runs from senior fullback Dave Vargas, one a 37-yard touchdown. Vargas ended with 100 yards rushing on only nine carries. Senior tailback Steve Sixt carried 14 more times for 42 bruising yards, wearing down Otto's defense and helping Sheffield control the second-half clock.

Park wanted big plays. Before the season, he said the Wolverines were due to break a long kickoff or punt return. Senior Frisco Brown delivered a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown Saturday that broke a 7-7 tie in the third quarter.

And Sheffield's defense kept the Golden Tide in its own territory for most of the game, despite over 70 offense plays and 13 first downs. The Wolverines sacked Otto's senior quarterback Dan Terrette six times, four times alone by "Mr. Everywhere" Stephen Page, including the last play of the game. The Sheffield junior had five more tackles on the game, including one that forced a fumble recovered by teammate Brown. He wasn't alone as a standout on defense with junior big man Ed Renninger adding seven tackles and a sack, Tyler Fitch the other sack, and Damir Carrol eight tackles.

Park wouldn't dare call it a perfect performance. "I just think we played today the way we should be playing football," he said.

He said the Wolverines came away from its opening 23-6 loss to Brockway with a bit more confidence. Brockway beat Sheffield 43-0 to open last year.

"We were all on the same page (today)," Park said after Saturday's first win. Sheffield next hosts Smethport.

There were a couple of miscues against Otto: first a fumble on a punt return that was recovered by Otto deep in Sheffield's territory. The Golden Tide and bruising back Virgil Graham punched it in from 30 yards in four plays. Graham ended the game with 86 yards on 19 carries;

Also, after Brown's long kick-off return for a touchdown, left-handed quarterback and right-footed kicker Jeremy Borst attempted the extra point kick without a tee that was momentarily lost on the sidelines. The point-after attempt was blocked.

On offense, however, Borst was the picture of composure, completing three passes for 56 yards and leading the time-possession ground game. He was not sacked.

Late in the first quarter, Sheffield's defense pinned Otto back and forced a punt from their own end zone. On Sheffield's very first play from scrimmage after the punt, Vargas ran up the gut for 26 yards down to the one-yard line. Borst took the first snap of the second quarter at the other end of the field and snuck into the end zone for a 7-0 lead (his PAT kick was good).

On Otto's next possession, Borst picked off Terrette in Sheffield territory. To end the first half, Borst just missed a 34-yard field goal, hitting the bottom cross bar.

Sheffield forced Otto to punt on the first possession of the second half, but the ball bounced off Carrol and into Otto's hands. Graham eventually punched it in from five yards to tie the score at 7-7.

Brown returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.

Otto went for a fourth-and-seven play from Sheffield's 44 early in the fourth quarter, but the pass tipped off a receiver's fingers. Four plays later, Vargas ran 37 yards up the middle and down the left sideline for the final score. A two-point conversion pass from Borst to Walt Elmquist made it 21-7. Sheffield took over two more times on downs before the game was over.

Otto Sheffield

Offensive plays 75 51

First downs 13 8

Penalties 6-40 4-37

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1

Rushes-yards 34-147 32-166

Passing yards 89 56

Att.-Comp.-Int. 20-9-1 9-3-0

Total yards 236 222

Scoring:

Otto-Eldred 0 0 7 0 - 7

Sheffield 7 0 6 7 - 21

S-Jeremy Borst 1 run (Borst PAT kick)

S-Frisco Brown 90 kick-off return (kick failed)

O-Virgil Graham 5 run (Eric Freer kick)

S-Dave Vargas 37 run (Borst pass to Walt Elmquist)

Individual leaders:

Rushing: Sheffield- Dave Vargas 9-100, 1 TD, Steve Sixt 14-42, Damir Carrol 6-15; Team 4-(-10). Otto- Virgil Graham 19-86, 1 TD, Ryan Little 6-36, 7-44

Passing: Sheffield- Jeremy Borst 3 of 9 for 56 yard; Otto- Dan Terrette 9 of 19 for 89 yards, 1 INT.

Receiving: Sheffield- Steve Sixt 1-22, Cole Fitch 1-18, Cody Elms 1-16; Otto- Ryan Little 6-55. Team 3-34.