There weren't a lot of happy faces walking off the local high school football sidelines after week one.
Outside of Youngsville that is.
The Eagles started the season with a victory in week one while all three other teams suffered defeat.
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Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Lined up for Week 2
Eisenhower, including Aaron Lundmark, forefront, and Jordan Hefferman, line up in Week 1 against Sharpsville. Eisenhower travels to play Maplewood on Friday.
In week two, the Sheffield Wolverines, Warren Dragons and Eisenhower Knights will step between the lines with the goal of accomplishing what the Eagles did in week one - earning the season's first win.
For Youngsville, it's all about reaching 2-0 and starting another season with a victory - the region football season.
Youngsville (1-0) at Union City (0-1), at Union City High School, 7 p.m., Friday
In week one, Youngsville showed exactly how effective it can be when the injury bug is squashed. The Eagles started an optimistic 2011 campaign with a 19-7 victory over Seneca - a Class AA opponent.
Needless to say, Youngsville coach Luke Alex found plenty to be pleased with in the victory.
"I think the thing that pleased me most was how we stepped up in the fourth quarter," said Alex. "Being down 7-6 and fighting back was just huge for us. In year's past, we would get down in that situation and the result would be a loss. Last week, the kids weren't going to denied."
Sage Sivak led a hard charging running game against Seneca with 56 yards rushing and a touchdown. Kicker T.J. Hardy also proved an effective weapon for the Eagles, booting field goals of 24 and 38 yards.
Union City, Youngsville's week two opponent, started the season with a 27-13 non-region loss to Lakeview. Bears quarterback Tim Vargo was the team's most potent weapon, leading the team with 41 rushing yards and also chewing up 62 yards through the air. Wideout Josh Reinke caught both of Vargo's passes.
This week's game has heightened importance as it serves as the Region 2 opener for both teams.
Last meeting: September 10, 2010- at Mike Shine Field- Union City 34, Youngsville 15
2011 Eagles leaders: Passing- Cory Craig 3 of 10 for 98 yards; Rushing- Sage Sivak 9 for 56, TD; Receiving- Dalton Maze 3 for 98
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Eisenhower (0-1) at Maplewood (0-1), at Maplewood High School, 7 p.m., Friday
Week two will provide Eisenhower with a better gauge of where they stack up this season.
In week one, the Knights matched up with one of District 10's best teams in the Sharpsville Blue Devils and suffered a 52-0 setback. Still, despite the lopsided final score, veteran coach Jim Penley found some positives in the outing.
"We were able to run the option a little bit last week which was nice to see, but we also found some stuff we need to fix on defense," said Penley. "With (John) Pascuzzi, Alex Johnson and Clayton (Coffaro) out of our lineup last week, we were really beat up on the inside of our defense and hopefully we can fix that this week."
New quarterback Rob Wilston never got things going through the air last week, but did lead the team in rushing with 50 yards. The team will also get a lift as John Pascuzzi and Clayton Coffaro are likely to return to the lineup. Alex Johnson will remain out of the lineup.
Maplewood opened the year with a 46-6 thumping at the hands of Kennedy Catholic. The result was especially surprising as Kennedy Catholic had won just one game in each of the previous two seasons. The Tigers are trying to rebound from the loss of their leading two rushers and top receiver from last year's club that narrowly missed the D-10 playoffs. However, they do return several standout linemen in Dakota Keeno, Eric Willey and Mitch Worley.
Last meeting: September 10, 2010- at Eisenhower- Maplewood 41, Eisenhower 13
2011 Knights leaders: Passing- Aaron Lundmark 1 of 2 for 14; Rushing- Rob Wilston 16 for 50; Receiving- Richard Knisley 1 for 14
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East (0-1) at Warren (0-1), at War Memorial Field, 7 p.m., Friday
A lot can happen in a year.
Warren found that out last week when the Titusville Rockets handed it a 19-5 loss just one season after Warren recorded a 58-0 season opening win. Needless to say, there was plenty that rubbed coach Brad Wright the wrong way in the season's opening week.
"I was concerned with our lack of aggression and our inability to execute the basics like blocking, tackling and wrapping up," said Wright. "We need to improve on the little things going forward. Titusville was just more hungry last week and that worries me a lot too."
Warren moved the ball well enough in week one, gaining plenty of offensive yardage and having one long touchdown called back due to penalty. However, the Rockets were able to effectively move the ball on the ground all game - something that East will certainly try to replicate this week.
East dropped a 42-7 decision to Grove City in week one, but certainly showed flashes of promise. Anthony Jordan - who ran for Strong Vincent in 2010 - was outstanding eclipsing 100 yards on the ground, including a 69-yard touchdown run that accounted for the Warriors' only score.
Last meeting: September 10, 2010- at Veterans Stadium- Warren 7, East 6
2011 Dragons leaders: Passing- Austin Jerman 9 of 21 for 108 yards, INT; Rushing- Austin Jerman 7 for 34; Receiving- Justin Pastor 4 for 70
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Sheffield (0-1) at Curwensville (1-0), at Curwensville High School, 7 p.m., Friday
Sheffield has a brutal schedule to open the 2011 season.
It started a week ago with a 44-6 loss to Brockway and continues Friday when the Wolverines travel to Curwensville for a showdown with the Golden Tide.
Curwensville scored 72 points on the Wolverines in week two of 2010 - something that isn't lost on coach Bryan Gould as his team attempts to slow it down.
"(Running back Alex) Holland is back this year and he's a very dangerous runner," said Gould. "We have to hit him at the line of scrimmage and make sure he doesn't get into the open. That's where he's dangerous and can really hurt you. We've had a good week of practice and have a game plan in place. We just have to execute it."
After Hector Collazo ran the opening kickoff back for a score against the Rovers, nothing much went right for the Wolverines. Brockway scored 44 points unanswered and held Sheffield to -4 yards rushing. Kalil Slaughter led the team with just 11 yards on two carries.
Curwensville appeared to be as dangerous as last year a week ago, scoring 53 points in a 53-33 win over Smethport. Alex Holland was a big reason why as the standout scored on runs of 65, 91 and 54 yards against the Hubbers - in the fourth quarter alone.
Holland, who broke the District 9 single season rushing record in 2010 with over 2,600 yards, finished with 312 yards on 24 carries with four touchdowns in the season opener.
Last meeting: September 11, 2010- at Sheffield High School- Curwensville 72, Sheffield 18
2011 Wolverines leaders: Passing- Shequan Wright 4 of 15 for 78 yards, 3 INT; Rushing- Kalil Slaughter 2 for 11; Receiving- Evan Jamison 3 for 50