Sports:

Friday, July 31, 2009 7:11 PM EDT

Raabe Classic: Pennsy offense looks to match tough ‘D’

By Chuck Pollock
Olean Times Herald

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth in a four-part series previewing the offensive and defensive units for Saturday night’s 36th annual Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Classic. Today, the Pennsylvania offense.)

Mark Morelli hopes it’s the strength of the defense and not the flaws of his offense.

The former Ridgway High School head coach and current defensive coordinator at Cameron County is in charge of the team and running the offense for Pennsylvania in Saturday night’s Don Raabe Big 30 Classic at Bradford’s Parkway Field.

“I KNOW the defense is supposed to be ahead of the offense,” Morelli admitted, “though we’ve had our moments. But I have to say, we haven’t had many good nights against our defense and have had particular trouble getting around those ends ... they’ve kind of had their way with us.”

Pennsy defensive coordinator, Joe Roseto admits the strength of his unit is a trio of players at that position, starting with Kane’s Ross Nicholson (6-2, 220), the Big 30 Defensive Player of the Year.

The other two ends are St. Marys Public’s Shane Krise (6-3, 220) and Cameron County’s Mike Malizia (6-3, 200).

Roseto has two full defenses that will rotate every other series, each group playing half the game ... except the ends. With only three of them, each will play two-thirds of the game.

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