PIAA Class A  Playoff Bracket

For local news in Clarion County check out www.exploreclarion.com and in Venango County www.explorevenango.com  

By Andy Close

PORT ALLEGANY – Back again. 

Port Allegany once again finds itself in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals against the District 10 Champion Sharpsville Blue Devils (11-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Bradford’s Parkway Field – the Gators new home away from home.

The unbeaten Gators (12-0) took the same route to get to this point as they did in 2011, but in far more dominant fashion.

Port squeaked by Clarion 35-34 in last season’s District 9 title game. This season, however, was far different, as the Gators built a 33-0 halftime lead over the Bobcats en route to a 47-8 win.

They will be looking to reverse their fortunate against a Sharpsville team that beat them in the quarters in 2011, 35-33. That game saw Port build a 26-6 second quarter lead only to see the Blue Devils come storming back.

This is a different Port Allegany team, however. They have dominated in every facet of the game, offense, defense and special teams, averaging 52.4 points per game, (10.2 higher than last season) and are allowing just 10.2 ppg (7.7 less than last season).

Record-setting QB Matt Bodamer sets the tone. Smart and savvy, Bodamer is completing 72.7 percent of his passes (194-of-267) for 3,522 yards (301 yards shy of Pennsylvania single-season record set by Brockway’s Derek Buganza) 49 TDs (3 shy of state record set by South Fayette’s Christian Brumbaugh) and five interceptions (two of which came last week).

While Bodamer’s numbers are staggering, the play of his receivers and offense line is what helps make the Gators truly explosive on offense.

Nick Conway and Tyce Miller team to form the top statistical receiving duo in the state.

Conway had a monster game against Clarion last week, accounting for three touchdowns and 203 yards receiving, a District 9 championship game record. On the season, the 6-2 senior has 61 receptions for 1,248 yards and 22 touchdowns (a District 9 record).

Miller has been equally impressive, catching 67 passes for 1,311 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

Rickie Bova (31 catches, 413 yards, 6 TDs) and Trey Miller (20 catches, 385 yards, 1 TD) are also threats in the passing game. 

Defensively, the Gators are led by Alex Gular (111 tackles), Victor Bandish (56 tackles, 2.5 sacks), Bodamer (4 defensive touchdowns), Nick Budd (42 tackles, 7 sacks) and Johnny Sena (55 tackles).

Sharpsville, conversely, is back in the quarterfinals after a 28-0 win over West Middlesex.

The Blue Devils come in averaging 33.2 ppg and are allowing 12.3 ppg.

Veteran coach Paul Piccirilli led the Blue Devils to the eighth District 10 championship in program history, this after losing to West Middlesex 21-14 in the regular season.

Sharpsville once again features a run-heavy attack led by 5-9, 175-pound senior Ross Llewellyn, who has 914 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 6.8 yards per carry.

Derrick Odem (806 yards, 5.8 ypc, 11 TDs) and Joey Pagliaroli (547 yards, 7.1 ypc, 13 TDs) also carry a heavy workload.

When they do go to the air, QB Bryan Stafford is often looking in the direction of Tyler Luchey.

Stafford is completing 59.7 percent of his passes (71-of-119) for 1,105 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions.

Luchey has caught 44 of those passes for 758 yards, a 17.2-yard average and eight touchdowns.

Unlike last season, when Port had to travel to Slippery Rock, Sharpsville will have to make the long trip north to Bradford’s Parkway Field.

NOTES - The Gators will attempt to become the first D9 Class A team to win a state playoff game since Kane beat Mercyhurst Prep 12-7 in 2007. District 9 Class A teams are 16-24 all-time in the PIAA playoffs … Port Allegany has never won a PIAA playoff game and the last team from the AML North to secure a PIAA playoff win was Coudersport in 2005 … The winner gets the winner of the Clairton vs. Berlin-Brothersvalley game in the semifinals next week. Clairton has won a PIAA-record 60 consecutive games.