PAGE12 THE POST SPORTS Sunday, October 28, 2007 Old Shoe Game still big after 60 years By DAVE KONOPKI dkonopki@timesleader.com With one team playing its best football of the season and the oth- er struggling through a season of bad breaks, it might appear on pa- per as though the 60th edition of the Old Shoe Game could be a one-sided contest. But football games — especially back yard rivalry games — aren't played on paper. Rivals Dallas and Lake-Leh- man will square off in the 60th an- nual Old Shoe Game at 7 p.m. Fri- day at Edward H. Edwards Stadi- um in Lehman Township. Dallas is under the direction of longtime head coach Ted Jackson, while Lake-Lehman is led by second- year coach Carl Kern. At press time, the Mountain- eers were 6-2 entering their game against Meyers. Dallas is also . third among District 2 Class 3A teams in state points, with the top four teams making the play- offs. Meanwhile, Lake-Lehman was taking a 1-7 record into its game against winless Nanticoke Area. The Black Knights lost four games this year by a touchdown or less and, in another, was lead- ing in the fourth quarter. Dallas has won six consecutive games against Lake-Lehman, in- cluding last year’s 350 win against an injury-depleted Black Knight squad. Here’s a look at how the teams match up: OFFENSE While Dallas and Lake-Leh- man have quality skill players, both teams are led offensively by their quarterbacks. The Mountaineers are led by 6- foot-4, 220-pound Fred Mihal. De- spite playing in a relatively con- servative offense, the senior has completed 51 percent of his pas- ses for 853 yards and a Wyoming Valley Conference-leading 12 touchdowns. Mihal has also thrown just three interceptions and has compiled a quarterback rating of 141.24. He’s also rushed for almost 200 yards. The Black Knights are led by junior Nate Volkel, who has thrown for a WVC-high 1,220 yards — and that total could have increased significantly against winless Nanticoke Area. Volkel has thrown 10 touchdowns and has a quarterback rating of 120.65. His 111 completions are by far the most of any WVC Class 2A quarterback. Hanover Area’s Eric Popovich is second with 65. But the quarterbacks aren’t the only performers on offense. At Dallas, senior running back Joe Hayes leads a balanced rush- ing attack with 445 yards and three touchdowns. The receiving corps is deep and has big-play ca- pability. Pat Murray leads a group of six players who average more than 12 yards per catch. The senior has 12 receptions for 267 yards (15.3 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns. Hayes has caught 12 passes for 193 yards (12.4), followed by Vito Recchia 4-88 (22.0), Kyle Arnaud 4-67 (16.8), Joe Collini 576 (15.2) and Scott Gallup (13.8). The Black Knights have big- play guys of their own. Six play- ers have at least 100 receiving yards, led by Cody Lamoreaux’s 36 catches for 373 yards. Tight end Kenny Pollock is second in the WVC 2A with 255 yards on 25 receptions. Other players with at least 100 receiving yards are Co- dy Komrowski (191), T.J. Stepan- ski (141), Keith Roberts (129) and Aaron Setzer (126). Lamoreaux is also a threat to run, compiling a team-high 528 yards on 93 carries. Setzer (220), Komrowski (191) and Volkel (168) have also run for at least 150 yards each. DEFENSE Both teams have looked im- Nov. 8, 2, &10 Graduate Of Lehman ¢ Kids Go To Dallas Best Of Luck To Both Teams Quality Children’s 8 Maternity Consignment Shop 30% Off Fall into Winter Sale 20% OFF Weds. ALL DAY & Friday 5pm-8pm Dallas Shopping Center Rt 309, Memorial Highway Dallas, PA (570) 675-5911 Mon-Th 10-6pm @ Fri 10-8pm ® Saturday 10-4 ® Closed Sunday Michael |. Fino RPH Good Luck to Both Teams! 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Lake-Lehman has posted similar numbers, al- lowing only 19 more points than Dallas. With the exception of giv- ing up some big plays — very cost- ly big plays — the Black Knights played solid defense in losses against Meyers, GAR and Crest- wood. Dallas has also been able to force turnovers by its opponents. The Mountaineers have reco- vered 12 fumbles and intercepted five passes for 17 takeaways — sec- ond in the league. The Black Knights, meanwhile, have reco- vered six fumbles and recorded one interception. With both teams full of poten- tially-explosive offensive players, the team that allows the fewest big plays might walk away with the trophy. SPECIAL TEAMS Lake-Lehman struggled early in the season with its placekick- ing, but seems to have found a re- liable kicker in soccer player Ga- ry Knauer. Although he’s missed several extra-points, Knauer has shown a strong leg at times. Dallas has a solid kicker all sea- son in Recchia. The senior has made 25 extra points, the second most in Class 3A and No. 3 in the entire conference. Murray has al- so done a nice job as the punter, pinning the opponents inside their own 10-yard line at least five times this season. COACHING CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Senior members of the Dallas High School football team who will play in their last Old Shoe Game against the Black Knights of Lake-Lehman on Friday are, from left, first row, Kyle Arnaud, Anthony Rubbico, Joe Collini, Steve Pearson and Matt Luksick. Second row, Steve Pearson, Vito Recchia, Patrick Murray, Fred Mihal, Jeremy Fike and Mike Adams. Senior members of the Lake-Lehman football team who will play in their last Old Shoe game against the Mountaineers of Dallas this Friday are, from left, kneeling, Wally Simko, Eli Foss and Re- mington Boyd. Standing, Matt Sikora, Ken Pollock and Dan McHugh. Jackson has won more than a dozen championships — includ- ing a state title — during his 23 years at Dallas. But this year might be his best job of coaching. The Mountaineers entered the season with just 32 players on the roster. The team featured just H four players who started a varsity game last season and an offensive line with four sophomores. The result: a chance for an $2 record in the regular season anfl a berth in the District 2 Class 3A playoffs. See SHOE, Page 13 Good Luck to Both Teams == T= Physi WEIGHT LOSS Centerse Michael Goodrich Qwner Bhvaoiciane Weight Loss Centers® 550 Memorial Highway Dallas, Pennsylvania 18612 e-mail: mgoodrichpwic @epix.net Fax: (570) 675-4534 Tel: (570) 675-4599 Phone: (570) 477-2232 or (570) 256-DO IT Good Luck Knights! Lumber & Building Materials doit center Sweet Valley Do It Best 5297 Main Road Sweet Valley, PA 18656 Memorial Hi Phone: 675-115 Hrs: Mon-Wed Good Luck to Both Teams! 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