2005 Oilers recap: All's well that ends well

Oil City's football players and coaching staff should be commended for turning around a potentially disastrous season with three consecutive victories to close out the campaign.

When all appeared lost following a 46-0 defeat at the hands of arch-rival Franklin, the Oilers pulled together, the coaches made adjustments and the end result was a joyous scene on Stewart Field in Greenville after Oil City's 51-27 victory over the Trojans.

The smiles on the faces of the players, coaches, parents and fans were never so broad during the grueling 10-week season.

On many occasions the Oilers could have folded.

Adversity struck before the opener with Erie East when senior Nick Stallone broke his fibula during the team's first scrimmage and was ruled out for the season.

Stallone was the team's leading returner in passing, receiving and scoring and had the second-most rushing yards the year before. Defensively, he was the leading returner in solo tackles and interceptions.

In retrospect, it definitely wouldn't be going too far to say that with Stallone, a playmaker on offense and force on defense, the Oilers would have won three more games and finished 7-3 on the season.

Stallone's presence and talent on the field would have enhanced the performance of those around him. His experience and leadership would have been keenly apparent both on offense and defense.

Stallone did get to see live action.

His cameo appearance at free safety on the second-to-last play of the Greenville game was met with a standing ovation from the Oil City fans.

Reviewing the season, it was more like a dive off a cliff than a rollercoaster ride, but finished with an uphill climb that established pride and respectability.

Oil City opened the season with a 34-19 victory over Erie East, but it was a costly one as the team lost starting fullback and leading returning rusher Dante Jones, wide receiver/cornerback Joe McIntyre and cornerback Drew Reinsel, who also handled the punting and placekicking duties.

A 41-35 loss to Warren, in which all three injured players were sorely missed, followed.

Strong Vincent then handed the Oilers a 41-12 defeat in Week 3 and in Week 4, turnovers were once again costly in a 7-0 loss to Erie Central.

Oil City committed five turnovers and had no takeaways against the Falcons and quarterback Tanner Hall struggled in a 4-for-20 passing performance with three interceptions.

The injury and illness bug hit before and during the Oilers' 18-14 loss to Corry in Week 5.

OC was without starting offensive linemen Joe Drozdo (tackle), Zack O'Brien (tackle) and Tom Havranek (guard). Drozdo and O'Brien also were starters on defense. To make matters worse, starting linebacker Kevin Ochalek broke his ankle during the game and was lost for the season. Oil City turned the ball over twice to run its turnover ratio to minus 10 on the season.

General McLane, which would finish the regular season unbeaten and ranked fourth in the state in Class AAA, was up next.

The Lancers rolled to a 34-6 halftime lead, but the Oilers fought back to post a 30-26 advantage in the second half - against the McLane starters.

Oil City's 36 points were the most allowed by the Lancers this season, including games against Cathedral Prep, Strong Vincent and Franklin.

The 46-0 loss to Franklin followed.

Despite the fact a playoff berth and winning season no longer within reach, there was no finger pointing among the Oilers.

Rather, a determined effort on all fronts which resulted in a 55-30 triumph over Titusville in the next game.

The win snapped both Oil City's six-game losing streak and a five-game slide against the Rockets.

All facets of the OC offense excelled in the 404-yard effort.

Tanner Hall was 9-for-18 for 225 yards and four touchdown passes, two each to receivers McIntyre and Reinsel. Jones rushed for 174 yards and three TDs.

What a difference it made having the trio join Hall on the field.

Oil City then welcomed Meadville and used its quick-strike capability to log a 26-6 win and extend its winning streak to eight over the Bulldogs.

Hall threw touchdown passes of 29 and 52 yards to Reinsel and both were on their way into the Oil City football record books.

Greenville, however, was waiting in Week 10.

Coach Bob Stone's Trojans had won 26 of the last 28 meetings between the two teams and three straight dating back to Oil City's 1998 District 10 championship season.

Greenville capitalized on OC miscues and used its own passing attack to take a 14-0 first-quarter lead, but once again the Oilers were resilient.

Hall completed 15 of 27 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns, the Oiler defense rose to occasion and special teams also contributed when needed in the 51-27 win.

Reinsel ran for a score and had one receiving touchdown to vault into a three-way tie in the OC record books for most TD receptions in a single season with six. Brian Hahn had eight last season to tie Brendan Brown's record set in 1991.

Hall's performance allowed him to set these records:

n Single-season passing yardage record 1,388 yards, old record was 1,327 by Chris Delmonaco in 1989.

n Single-season completions record with 98, old record was 91 by Delmonaco in 1989.

n Most touchdowns scored - rushing and passing - by a quarterback with 18, old record was 16 by Matt LaVerde in 1995 and Delamonaco in 1989. Brandon Hall, Tanner's brother, holds the career record with 36 from 1999-2001.

Hall tied these records:

n Single-season touchdown passes with 14, Delmonaco had 14 in 1989.

n Most touchdowns scored - rushing and passing - with 18, Jack Cleaves had 18 in 1916.

Oil City's largest accomplishment, however, was that despite adversity created by injuries, illnesses and just plain bad luck, the Oilers persevered and went out winners.

(Craig Phillips is a sports writer for The Derrick.)