Nov 15, 2002 By Dave Stofcheck 3 min read

If Carmichaels thought Fort Cherry liked to run the football, wait ’til they get a load of this. They don’t pass the salt in Rochester, they prefer to hand it off.

The Rams, winners of 14 straight postseason games, including two WPIAL and PIAA Class A titles, will pose a stiff test for the Mikes, who are trying to make it back to the District 7 finals for the first time in 40 years.

“I have nothing but respect for Rochester,” Carmichaels coach John Menhart said. “They are so well-prepared. Gene (Matsook) has done a great job. He always has them ready to go and they always get better as the year goes on.

“But we’re going to come to play. We’re going to play hard, and whatever happens, happens. Our attitude is that sooner or later, they have to lose a playoff game. And why not against us?”

In playoff victories over Frazier and Sto-Rox, Rochester (9-2) attempted just six passes. With Nate Waldron and Mitchell Goettman running the way they have been, the Rams haven’t needed to pass.

A week ago against Sto-Rox, Goettman carried 13 times for 125 yards and a touchdown, while Waldron ran for 101 yards and three touchdowns on 17 attempts.

For the season, Waldron has 1,148 yards on 182 carries with 19 touchdowns.

“They’re you’re typical Class A football team,” Menhart said. “They love to run the football and play defense.”

Rochester has been doing both well, as has Carmichaels. The Mikes (11-0) are Class A’s lone unbeaten team, and have been a force in the playoffs, outscoring Canevin and Fort Cherry, 74-7.

Carmichaels will throw a pair of 1,000-yard running backs at the Rams, seniors Bobby Hathaway and Colby Giles. Behind fullback Justin Zielensky and an experienced offensive line led by six-foot-five, 375-pound Andrew Penich, Hathaway has carried 167 times for 1,455 yards and 22 touchdowns, while Giles has accumulated 1,024 yards on 114 carries with 16 rushing touchdowns.

Rochester started its season with a loss to New Brighton and ended the regular season with a one-point defeat at the hands of Big Seven Conference rival Monaca.

Matsook has never made it through the regular season undefeated, but he’s never lost in the playoffs.

Carmichaels, meanwhile, encountered little resistance during the regular season, having its way with a weaker Tri-County South Conference.

The school’s first postseason victory in 22 years followed, and last week, the Mikes defeated a Rangers’ team which lost to Rochester last year in the WPIAL title game.

To defeat Rochester, Carmichaels must do exactly what it has done to get to this point.

“We have to eliminate any mistakes,” Menhart said. “We pride ourselves in not turning the ball over. Turnovers were the difference in the Fort Cherry game. Anytime you get to this point, the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins.

“We have to be careful though. Rochester can be deceptive. They love to run the football, but they beat Farrell when they scored on a kick return and two touchdown passes. They’ll pound you and pound you, then slip in a play-action.”