William Sennick 
November 19, 1997 
William O. Sennick, 65, Of Birchwood Estates, Exeter, Died Wednesday At The 
Department Of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hospice Unit, Plains Township.

Aldo Neri 
November 16, 1997 
Aldo J. Neri, 76, Of South Hanover Street, Nanticoke, Died Sunday At The Mercy 
Hospital, Wilkes-barre.

By TOM HOUSENICK; Times Leader Sports Writer
 Wednesday, November 19, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1B 





The pressure is off. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The unbeaten record is still intact. Wyoming Valley West is one of 11
football teams in Pennsylvania with a perfect record. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And the Spartans are preparing for their first state playoff game, as they
will go up against Central Bucks West (12-0), the fourth-ranked team in the
country according to USA Today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 However, coach Jim Cantafio's team will go to Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium
on Saturday with smiles on their faces. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "There was as much pressure before the Williamsport game as I've felt in a
long time," Cantafio said about Monday's District 2 Class AAAA final. "I was
very emotional that I couldn't talk to the kids." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Valley West spoke all season of setting itself apart from previous teams at
the school by winning the Wyoming Valley Conference Division I and District 2
AAAA championships. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Spartans did it in impressive fashion, complete with a 43-14 whipping
of Williamsport in Monday's district final. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The pressure is off now," Cantafio said. "(Monday night), everybody
expected us to win. We were supposed to. We were the better team. We beat them
once already. That was pressure. That was history in the making. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Now, it's all gravy." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The 1997 Spartans have assured themselves of a place in school history with
their performance the last three years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The senior class is the most successful since the school opened in 1966 by
winning 27-of-35 games. This year's team also set a record for most victories
in a season with 12. And, the district championship was the first postseason
crown ever for the football program. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I remember what it felt like at Conestoga Valley winning the school's
first-ever District 3 championship in football," the third-year Valley West
coach said. "I've been real fortunate to be part of the same thing here. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I told these kids that this year is something they'll never forget. Nobody
will forget what they've done." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * * * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Valley West isn't the only WVC team breaking records. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lake-Lehman captured its first District 2 football championship with a
21-20 overtime victory over Montrose in Saturday's AA final. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "These kids have been a tremendous surprise. They don't quit," said
Lake-Lehman coach Rich Gorgone. "Nobody expected much from them, but they
refuse to quit." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lake-Lehman's desire will be tested in Friday's PIAA Class AA Eastern final
at Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium against District 4 champion South
Williamsport (12-0). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Mounties are coming off impressive district victories over
Montoursville (13-7) and defending state champion Mount Carmel (14-6). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 South Williamsport, which bumped up to AA in 1995, lost in the 1993 Class A
final, 24-21, to Duquesne in its only state finals appearance. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * * * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Central Bucks West (12-0) is no stranger to the postseason. The Bucks lost
in dramatic fashion in the 1993 AAAA state final, 15-14, to Pittsburgh North
Hills. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Coach Mike Pettine's club won the 1991 AAAA crown with a 26-24 victory over
Erie Cathedral Prep. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Bucks haven't been in a game decided by less than 14 points. That
spread came in last Saturday's District 1 final, a 36-22 victory over
Plymouth-Whitemarsh. In that game, C.B. West didn't attempt a pass and scored
on five of its six possessions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * * * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Riverside, the District 2 Class A champion for a second year in a row, is
getting the opportunity to avenge its loss in last year's state playoffs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Vikings (11-1) have been focused on getting a rematch with Shenandoah
Valley (12-0), which beat them 13-6 in the same round in 1996. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That chance comes Friday at Blue Mountain High School in Orwigsburg. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * * * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A pair of fullbacks will be in the spotlight this season. And for good
reason. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Central Bucks West's Dave Armstrong and Strath Haven's Dan Mulhern are
studs and the focal point of their offenses. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Armstrong, a 6-foot-4-inch 255-pounder, verbally committed to Michigan back
in August. Mulhern did likewise to Delaware. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Armstrong has 1,784 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns, averaging seven yards
per carry. He also is the Bucks' leading tackler from his inside linebacker
spot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mulhern has 3,500 yards rushing in his career, including 1,116 yards and 16
touchdowns this season. He also is a standout linebacker. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * * * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Central Bucks West last won the District 1 AAAA title in 1993, beating
Coatesville, 32-31. Since then, it has been a struggle. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Bucks lost in the 1994 and '95 finals and lost in the 1996 semifinals
to Plymouth-Whitemarsh. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Strath Haven won the District 1 AAA title in 1993, '96 and '97, but last
year's state playoff appearance against Berwick, a 29-2 loss, was the
Panthers' first PIAA postseason game. That's because prior to last year,
District 1 did not receive an automatic berth to states in Class AAA. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * * * &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Whitehall's 21-10 upset victory over Parkland in the District 11 AAAA
championship forced the Whitehall football team to postpone its scheduled trip
to Disney World this week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Zephyrs rescheduled their trip to Orlando until March because they are
playing District 3 champion Central Dauphin in Saturday's PIAA Eastern
semifinals. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 H.S. FOOTBALL &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 NOTEBOOK &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

`now, It's All Gravy' For Wyoming Valley West