No. 4 Derry set to host No. 2 North Catholic in 1st-place showdown

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 | 7:00 PM

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Since Tim Sweeney has taken over as football coach at Derry, the Trojans have been consistent winners.

But Sweeney, who dresses in a button-down shirt, tie and slacks for games, takes no credit for the team’s success. He credits the players for their commitment to turning around a program that went 0-10 in 2013 and allowed 50 points or more in every game that season to a team that went 11-1 in 2016.

No. 4-ranked Derry, which has won consecutive conference titles, leads the Class 3A Big East Conference standings heading into Friday’s first-place showdown with No. 2 North Catholic (4-0 2-0).

Elizabeth Forward (3-0, 3-0) also sits atop of the standings and will face Trojans on Sept. 28.

The Trojans have won 15 consecutive home games and are 17-5 at home under Sweeney.

But this is the Trojans’ biggest challenge and toughest opponent since they defeated Central Valley in the WPIAL playoffs in 2016.

“We’re fortunate to be 4-0 at this point,” Sweeney said. “We had a couple tough games early on. I thought last week against Mt. Pleasant we played our best game and started playing pretty consistent football across the board.“

The Trojans rolled over Mt. Pleasant, 48-7, behind a five-touchdown performance from Justin Flack. Flack rushed for 114 yards and caught two passes for 112 yards.

Sweeney knows his team must play well and needs more players to step up against North Catholic.

“Everything concerns me about them,” Sweeney said. “Their defense is stout, and they probably have six or seven playmakers on their offense.

“Their quarterback (Zack Rocco) is arguably the best passer we’ll face this season. He runs the ball well, throws it and has weapons all over the field. I think he wakes up in the morning and he has two weapons bedside. That’s how many weapons they have. It’s going to be a tough task for our defense.”

Rocco is a junior who is starting to get Division I offers. He has completed 46 of 63 passes for 826 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His top receivers are Nikhai Hill-Green and Tyree Brown. Hill-Green has 12 catches for 261 yards and four touchdowns, and Brown has 11 catches for 238 yards and four scores. Cameron Branch is the leading rusher with 222 yards.

North Catholic escaped with a 14-13 victory against Central Valley in a nonconference game last week. Brown sealed the victory by picking off a pass in the end zone.

“It was a physical game, and Central Valley is a lot better than its record (0-4),” North Catholic coach Pat O’Shea said. “We tell our kids that football is a physical game and will always be a physical game. So be prepared for tough games every week.

“The thing that stands out about Derry is how physical they are. You can tell that in how they play. They’ve been coached that way, and we have to match their physical play.”

Derry’s defense, led by Dom DeLuca and Colton Nemcheck, must find a way to get pressure on Rocco. DeLuca had numerous big plays, including two sacks, against Mt. Pleasant. The defense held Mt. Pleasant to minus-17 yards rushing.

But as concerned as Sweeney is about North Catholic, his focus is making sure his team plays the right way.

“We concentrate on ourselves and our preparation in preparing ourselves the best we can on things that we preach all year long,” Sweeney said. “If we go out and play a good football game on Friday, I don’t know any coach in the right mind who would not be happy with their players, win or lose.”

Derry will be missing two key players: running backs Onreey Stewart (shoulder) and Justin Huss (leg). Sweeney is hoping both will return later this season.

Nemcheck, who missed action to begin the season while nursing an injury, is back and Sweeney said he’s getting more confident every game.Last week, Derry saw improved play from sophomore quarterback Paul Koontz, who completed 5 of 9 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns .

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Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Derry Area