One week after beating the Pittsburgh City League champion (Brashear) for the first time in school history, the Bisons must now contend with the District 10 champ Erie Strong Vincent in the PIAA Class AAA playoffs..

The Colonels come into Friday's clash with the Bisons as the second-ranked Class AAA team is the state. Strong Vincent is undefeated at 12-0, scoring 44.1 points per game while giving up only 4.4.

The Colonels have scored 35 points or more in all but one game and have pitched five shutouts this season. The latest whitewashing was last week's 28-0 victory over Erie Cathedral Prep in the D-10 title game.

"We have to keep things in perspective," Bison head coach Tim Janocko said. "There is no question they have a lot of talent. But at this point in the season, everybody does. We just beat the Pittsburgh City League team on the road, which was quite a challenge. Now we have a tall order to go and compete with Strong Vincent."

The Colonels feature a Wing-T offense with several Division I college prospects in the backfield.

Their leading rusher is Darrell Brooks, who has amassed 1,464 yards and 22 touchdowns on just 112 carries, good for a 13.1 yards per carry average. Brooks has put up two of his best games in the postseason, going for 158 yards on two scores two weeks ago against Meadville and piling up 165 yards and two scores last week.

Deonte Flemings, who had shared quarterback duties with D.J. Barney most of the season, moved to running back against Prep to fill in for fullback Jordan Ferraro, who suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier last week. Flemings ran eight times for 76 yards and two scores and added two receptions for 48 yards. Flemings has 513 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing on the season.

Strong Vincent doesn't throw often but is more than capable of moving the ball through the air as well. Barney has completed 30 of his 55 pass attempts for 550 yards and eight touchdowns. Flemings has thrown for over 200 yards and tossed three touchdown passes as well.

"They have a lot of speed, more than anyone they play," Janocko said. "(Brooks) is a Division I player. All three in the backfield could go Division I.

"It's not so much what they do on offense (that makes them successful), it's their speed. They run pretty much the same offense as St. Marys. We have to be smart on defense. We need to stay in position and make plays."

The secret to the Colonels' defensive success is much the same as the offense - speed.

Strong Vincent often runs a 4-3 with two safeties over the top. The Colonels like to play man defense and blitz out of it.

"They don't do anything fancy," Janocko said. "They run well to the ball. We have to be patient on offense. Teams tend to get behind and do what Strong Vincent wants them to do. If you let them get you out of your element, it makes it tough."

The Colonels wins this season have come against: Central Tech (61-6), Franklin (48-6), Cathedral Prep (40-14 and 28-0), Warren (35-7), Corry (47-0), Bradford (62-0), Erie East (51-0), DuBois (39-0) and Meadville (42-6 and 35-14).

"We're real excited," Janocko said. "The kids are out there practicing in the cold. They've been working hard for 15 weeks. It's something they love to do."

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at DuBois' E.G. Mansell Stadium.