SMCC returns to Northern 8 title game

St. Mary Central Catholic is ready to run it back. The Panthers already have a 28-24 win over Chalker in a game that was played Oct. 4 in Southington. When the two teams rematch at 6 p.m. Saturday in Leetonia near the Pennsylvania state line, the stakes will be a bit higher. Second-seeded SMCC (10-1) takes a five-game winning streak into the Northern 8 championship game against the top-seeded Wildcats (10-1). "It is not too different," said SMCC coach Toby Hammond of a rematch, noting the Panthers lost to Fremont St. Joseph in the first meeting before beating the Crimson Streaks last week. "Our kids know how good Chalker is." In the first meeting, SMCC senior running back Bryan Gibson tallied 28 carries for 206 yards and four touchdowns. For the season, he has totaled 151 rushes for 1,505 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground. He has set a single-season school record with 35 total touchdowns for the Panthers. "They're definitely a strong team, but we're a very physical team up front," Gibson said. "I think we can beat them in the trenches." Vince Delvecchio and Colt Levensky did all of the damage for Chalker the first time the two teams played. Delvecchio threw touchdown passes of 69 and 90 yards to Levensky in the first half. Levensky caught two-point conversions from Delvecchio after both scores. In the second half, Delvecchio added a 17-yard touchdown run and the two-point conversion. "They have so much speed," Hammond said. "We can't miss tackles because we won't catch them." Sophomore Cullen Dillard took over for senior Grant Swain at quarterback after Swain was injured in a Week 5 win over Danbury on Sept. 20. Dillard has completed 18 of 36 passes for 174 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions while running 67 times for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. Josh Will has 42 attempts for 255 yards and four touchdowns while leading the team with nine receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns. "Running the ball is what got us here, but we will have to throw to keep them off balance," Hammond said. The Panthers opened the season with four straight shutouts and are allowing only 11.1 points per game. Trace Smith leads the defense with 82 tackles while Will and Smith each have a team-high four interceptions. Jackson Grimm has 56 tackles and a team-high five sacks and three forced fumbles. He tackled a SJCC runner in the end zone last week for a safety that helped the Panthers defeat the Crimson Streaks 39-18. "This means a lot, honestly," Grimm said. "I think it means more to the seniors. I want to give them the best experience. "We're going to have to keep the same mentality as when we played St. Joe. We have to keep pushing through even if we have some bad plays." SMCC came up short in last year's title game against Toledo Christian. A win over Chalker would write the Panthers down in school history. "We have to block, tackle and take care of the ball," Hammond said. "It's another long, business trip."