From The Portsmouth Daily Times, Friday 10 Nov 2000, pg. B1-B2
"Round 2: PHS to Face Purcell Marian
in Regional Semis:
"Trojans Square Off in Preparation for Cavliers
"By Adam VanKirk, Times Sports Writer
"Purcell Marian is Portsmouth's opponent at hand and has literally turned the Trojans against each other - if only for one day.
"When Portsmouth takes the field Saturday night at Richards Memorial Field in Hillsboro for its Division III regional semifinal against Purcell Marian, the Trojans will be facing what coach Curt Clifford said will be the 'best' team they've played all year.
"And coming from a coach who has gone up against the likes of Ironton and defending state champion Amanda Clearcreek this season, that's saying a lot for Purcell Marian.
"And while the Trojans (11-0) have played a 'first class' schedule this year, so have the Cavaliers (8-3).
"'We haven't played anywhere remotely close to the schedule they've played,' Clifford said. 'The shoe's kind of on the other foot this week. This is the first time this year that we've gone into a ballgame where we felt like we weren't going to bring something to the table that our opponent hasn't seen. They've seen fast teams and big, physical teams in the league in non-league teams they've played, so they've seen what we can bring. I really believe if they would have played our schedule this season, they would have been 10-0.'
"While the Cavaliers have played arguably the best schedule of any of the Trojans' opponents this season, they are also 'fast like Jeremy Hamrick and Jo Parker,' according to Clifford.
"While Hamrick, 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, and Parker (5-8, 173) have combined to rush for 2,770 yards and 44 touchdowns this season, the Cavaliers hae a potent offensive backfield as well.
"Justin Blackley (5-10, 190) and Vince Berry (5-10, 160) have combined for 1,625 yards to lead the Cavaliers' rushing attack.
"'They've got a lot of them,' Clifford said of Purcell Marian players with speed. 'We haven't seen all year what these guys can bring to us, so we're hoping our defensive front can control the game and not give them any lanes to run through. Because if they get loose they have the capability of taking it the distance.'
"Clifford will be relying on the Trojans' defense to keep the Cavaliers' offense in check and in order to prepare his defense for that task, Clifford found the ultimate challenge.
"That challenge came from the Trojans' offense.
"In anticipation of the Cavaliers' speed, Clifford took the Trojans' first team offense, including Parker, Hamrick and quarterback Josiah Young, and put it up against the first-team defense during practice Wednesday.
"While Clifford admitted it was a risk putting his first teams against each other, he said he felt like he 'didn't have a choice' and was satisfied with the results of the challenge.
"'They passed the test,' Clifford plainly pointed out.
"Clifford's experiment of putting the first-team defense against the first-team offense was just part of what the 12th-year coach said was a 'very good' week of practice as No. 1 seeded Portsmouth is coming off a 34-7 win over Jackson in a game in which the Trojans didn't play up to their capabilities.
"Before last week, the last time the Trojans' offense didn't perform, according to Clifford, was the first week of the season against Amanda Clearcreek - a game in which the Trojans scored only 13 points.
"And while No. 5 seeded Purcell Marian, whose coach Tom Stickley could not be reached for comment Thursday night, is coming off an impressive 41-12 victory over No. 4 seeded Gallipolis, one thing does pose well for the Trojans.
"After beating Amanda Clearcreek 13-7 this year, the Trojans responded with a 66-0 shutout of Division I Chillicothe.
"'We're hoping history repeats itself,' Clifford said."
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