By Josh Rizzo
PITTSBURGH -- Rod Rutherford hasn't attended many Perry football games since he graduated in 1998. Being back on the South Side for a game night brought out a different feeling.

The former Commodores and University of Pittsburgh standout felt like a backseat driver during his coaching debut Thursday night at Cupples Stadium, a 49-0 Perry win over Carrick.

"It's hard, being that I played on this field," said Rutherford, who led Perry to the 1997 PIAA Class 3A championship game. "Not being in control of my destiny in a way I guess. All I can o is call a play. I'm not out here creating and doing the things I would love to do. It was interesting."

Rutherford, a former quarterback, bounced between the NFL and various indoor leagues from 2004-2012. He also had stints as a coach at Pitt, St. Vincent College and Indiana (Pa.). What he's trying to bring to Perry, which hasn't won a City League championship since 2012, is variety.

"I think it's a fun offense," Rutherford said. "I think it gives a bunch of guys opportunities to make plays. I want to put them in a position to be successful."

Perry quarterback David Freeman helped keep the ball moving. Freeman tossed two touchdown passes to Randy Williams and returned an interception 37 yards for a score. The Commodores, which led 12-0 at the half, broke open the game with 30 third-quarter points.

Maleik mania

Bishop Canevin transfer Maleik Hemingway left an immediate impression on his Perry teammates. Fielding a punt off several bounces, Hemingway weaved through Raiders defenders for a 78-yard touchdown with 9 minutes, 29 seconds left in the first quarter.

"I was thinking I had to take it to the house," Hemingway said. 

Hemingway spent a lot of time there. He also scored on a nine-yard run in the third quarter and had two other touchdown runs called back by penalties.

Last season, Hemingway piled up over 1,500 yards rushing for Bishop Canevin. Hardship forced Hemingway back to his hometown school.

"The tuition at Bishop Canevin was putting me in a deep hole," Hemingway said. "I had to go to my home town school."

Fitting in hasn't been an issue. He played at wide receiver in the backfield. On defense, he was tasked with playing cornerback.

"The sky's the limit for him," Rutherford said. "We have to continue to keep working him hard."

Carrick fights through low numbers

Carrick, which dressed 19 players, had its best scoring drive halted at the Perry 7. At the beginning of the second quarter, a pass by Raiders quarterback L.J. Orbovich was tipped and intercepted by Perry defensive back Jakar Tucker in the endzone.

The Commodores intercepted four passes and wore down the smaller Raiders' team. Carrick (0-2, 0-1) has lost 14 straight and hasn't scored in double figures since a 34-26 win over Imani Christian Sept. 25, 2015.

"The kids come out and fight hard," Carrick coach Ed White said. "We condition hard and the kids work hard during the week. Once we get down, we go to the old mentality of the old Carrick. They look down and they try to question themselves some times. We're trying to change the culture. That's the biggest thing we can do. Even without as many kids as we should have. We want to change the culture."

West Mifflin native is 13 sacks away from all-time collegiate mark

By Josh Rizzo
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Marcus Martin wasn't a traditional scout-team defender. After being declared ineligible by the NCAA during his freshman season, the now 6-foot-2, 255-pound Slippery Rock University defensive end was relentless in practice.

Martin's sparring partner was Cory Tucker, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound Division II All-AMerican tackle. This would become a blessing for Martin, who had earned a spot in The Rock's starting rotation before the NCAA called.

"I utilized every practice," said Martin, who is a West Mifflin native. "(Tucker) hated me because I was good enough to play and I was embarrassing him sometimes and it's just practice. He would hate me in practice. Then he would come up to me in the locker room and tell me to keep working, I love it."

Looking back, Martin identified this as the turning point while reflecting on his career Monday at SRU's Mihalik-Thompson Stadium. Martin, who is a three-time All-American and has 40.5 career sacks, is 13 from tying the NCAA's all-time record.

Waynesburg's Mike Czerwien, a North Hills product, holds the record with 53.5 while playing for the Division III school from 2004-07.

Martin's pursuit of Czerwien's mark will start Sept. 2 in Frankfurt, Ky., when SRU takes on Kentucky State University.

"I knew from when he first got there he was something special," said Tucker, who had brief stops with the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers. "It didn't stop after that year though. We worked with each other until my last practice as a senior (in 2015). He is one of the many reasons why I was as successful as I was. I knew I wasn't going to go up against anyone else like him. He's the total package: quick, strong and hard working. Not too many guys like him."

Taking a redshirt allowed Martin to improve as a player. More importantly, it gave Martin the patience to not rush into poor decisions.

Following The Rock's 7-4 finish last season, Martin briefly considered departing to the pro ranks like his teammate Titus Howard. But Martin knew the odds of making the leap from the NCAA's Division II ranks to the NFL were long enough already. Possibly leaving college too soon could make them even longer.

Six Division II players were drafted by NFL teams in 2017 and 90 were on team's rosters for at least part of the 2016 season.

Howard, a cornerback who transferred to SRU after from Pitt, earned a tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs during the spring for rookie camp. Howard, who had five interceptions in two seasons with The Rock, wasn't able to catch on in Kansas City.

Martin wanted another year to add polish. That way Martin could show pro scouts he was a finished product.

"I thought about it," Martin said. "We graduated a lot of guys last year and it crossed my mind. I don't want to be that old guy who says if I stayed one more year I would have made it or I would have had a better career."

Martin's performance through three seasons has set a high standard. Entering this season, Martin holds the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and SRU record for career sacks. His total ranks sixth all-time in Division II history, six away from equaling the total set by McKendree's Lucky Bear in 2016.

"I want to give it my all," Martin said. "When you leave early, especially from a Division II, it's tough. I haven't peaked out yet. I still have room to grow."

Martin wasn't convinced Slippery Rock was the place for him. The Rock has produced six NFL players (see table below), but hadn't been to the NCAA playoffs since 1999. After Martin earned a spot in the prestigious Big 33 Football Classic as a senior, current Rock coach Shawn Lutz was convinced there was no way Martin would come to Butler County for college.

"I saw him once during the regular season and once during their playoff game against West Allegheny," Lutz said. "I didn't think we had a chance to get him, he is a Division I football player. Whether they missed that or what, I'm not complaining now."

Lutz's initial read was correct. There was another school Martin fell in love with. But it wasn't a Division I powerhouse. Martin wanted to go to SRU's PSAC West rival Indiana (Pa.) University.

"Initially, I was committed to IUP," Martin said. "I visited there and loved it. I went there twice. Once was a full visit and once way a day visit to show my father around. I canceled my visit to Slippery Rock. Then Lutz called me and was talking to me. He said 'Give us a chance and come up here and see what it's like."

Martin decided to visit to see former West Mifflin teammate Shamar Greene, who was The Rock's running back at the time. Once on campus, Martin attended a player's panel at the Gail Rose Lodge, which is box seating above the visitor side bleachers of Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.

SRU brings recruits in and has the coach introduce 12-15 current players. Following the introduction, the coaches depart and allow parents and potential recruits to ask any question. One mother of another recruit broke the ice by firing off a ton of questions. Any initial awkwardness Martin felt quickly dissipated.

Sure, he wanted to know if he could play right away. But Martin wanted to know if SRU could offer him support. The players told him it was like a brotherhood.

"One thing they preached -- the big question I asked is why did you come here -- the biggest reason was family," Martin said. "I didn't want to play college football where it was just a business where it was just about wins and losses. ... Hearing how much of a family it was meant a lot to me. Alumni come in and they love us as much as we love them."

Having an opportunity to play helped too. Entering the 2013 season, Martin worked relentlessly to make the starting lineup. The work led to a spot in the starting rotation. The elation was ruined by a call from the NCAA during the week leading up to The Rock's season opener against Northwood (Mich.) University.

At West Mifflin, Martin took career prep Biology during his freshman year. The course was challenged by the NCAA and he was declared ineligible. Martin tried to substitute a high school accredited Algebra class he took in the 8th grade, but he was still one credit short.

Instead of continuing to fight, Martin chose to redshirt. It was a tough day.

"Well, we both cried when he got redshirted," said Martin's mom, Karen Peterson. "He learned from it and he got an award that year for his dedication for the team. He went to every practice and tried his hardest to help their defense and offense."

Tucker reaped the rewards. Instead of working against a traditional scout-team defender, Tucker had to line up against Martin. Martin was always aggressive.

"I tried to do the same for him," Tucker said. "We had that understanding it was all business between the lines. It was never hostile, just football."

Once Martin got onto the field his sophomore season, he started carving up opposing offenses. Against Kutztown Sept. 6, 2014, Martin racked up two sacks. He ended up with 16 on the year and set the SRU and PSAC record for sacks in a season.

Martin's dominance kicked off a resurgence for The Rock's football program. SRU won the PSAC in 2015 and 2016 and reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 2016.

"Each year he finds ways to get better," Lutz said. "He's a tireless worker in the offseason and he has an individual instructor he works with all offseason. He's in the best shape of his life and continues to get better."

For 2017, Lutz would like to see Martin break the record. But to do so, Martin will need to work through double and triple teams. 

Being able to be a fluid playmaker will require doing things outside o

"The biggest thing is him understanding pass-rushing lanes with the tackles," Lutz said. "Marcus is so by the book. He does everything you ask him to do. At times in football, I want him to take chances. If your job is to stay outside and if the tackle vertical steps, it's ok to go inside. Football isn't perfect. I don't want him to think and be robotic. I want him to take chances."

Martin will accept the challenge. When it comes to completing goals, Martin has a never-ending list.

"If I got to the NFL, I'm not going to be satisfied until I'm a starter," Martin said. "If I'm a starter, I'm not going to be satisfied until I'm in the Pro Bowl. It's never-ending for me. I set a goal for myself and that's what keeps me satisfied."