COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area coach Pat DiRienzo is proud of how his team played last week in a 33-32 overtime loss to Mount Carmel in the Coal Bucket game, but he had different words for the Indians when they got together Monday to practice for Friday's District 4-AAA semifinal game against unbeaten Jersey Shore.
"The Mount Carmel game is important but it's just one game," DiReinzo said. "The game this week is what we're playing for. One of our goals was to get in the playoffs, which we've done. Another is to have a winning season, which we can still do. We're still here."
Make no mistake, last weekend was tough for the Indians.
"We gave them the weekend off, then got back to lifting and watching film on Monday," DiRienzo said. "I think the school is proud of them for the way they played. But there are no moral victories. They're still feeling the effects a little bit. We didn't have a very good practice today (Tuesday)."
But one positive about the practice was that the Indians were laughing and joking their way through the session.
"We're having fun," DiRienzo said. "This is the playoffs. This is what we're here for."
The 5-5 Indians lost to 10-0 Jersey Shore 36-14 on Oct. 3 at Kemp Memorial Stadium, and the Bulldogs will be solid favorites when the teams meet again at Jersey Shore. But DiRienzo said Jersey Shore coach Tom Gravish is probably at least a little concerned after watching tape of the Mount Carmel game.
"Our offense is clicking," DiRienzo said. "We're putting points on the board."
But in order to have a shot at the Bulldogs, the Indians must do some things they didn't do in the first game.
"We didn't tackle well at all in that game," DiRienzo said. "We can't let (running back Levi) Lorson have 49 carries again."
Lorson carried the ball that many times for 246 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting, and Jersey Shore ran 76 offensive plays. That just can't happen again for the Indians to have any shot, DiRienzo said. For the season, Lorson has 1,556 yards on 291 carries, but he is just part of the offense.
Quarterback Logan English has completed 81 of 144 passes (56 percent) for 1,219 yards and 17 touchdowns and has two deep threats in Brody Smith (31 catches, 636 yards, 7 TDs) and Dominic Loffredo (14-246-3).
DiRienzo is just as impressed with the defense, which is giving up just 7.8 points per game.
"They have one of the top-ranked defenses in the state," he said. "They are a well balanced, solid team. They have two great defensive ends (Loffredo, with 65 tackles including 14 sacks) and Zach Miller (56 tackles, 9.5 sacks).
"We're not changing anything," DiRienzo said. "I'm proud of the kids for the way they've stuck with our system and the effort they've put forth. I think we can give them (Jersey Shore) a game and I think we can still accomplish some things we want to accomplish."