Fairview quarterback Vinny Campoli contributes to comeback win at Harbor Creek
Mark Soboleski's football oratory can be fiery when he deems it necessary.
Halftime of Friday's Region 5 game between Harbor Creek and Fairview, when the Tigers trailed by 14 points, wasn't such a moment for their fifth-year coach.
"It wasn't a time to browbeat them or try to get them motivated," Soboleski said. "That's on them. We've talked to them about how they've got to motivate themselves."
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Whatever wasn't said by Soboleski or his assistants, or was said by Fairview's players, definitely worked.
The Tigers shut out the Huskies throughout the second half of their 23-14 road victory at Paul J. Weitz Stadium. The comeback left them 2-0 in Region 5 action and 3-1 overall.
Harbor Creek, despite its dominant first half, dropped to 1-1, 2-2 in coach John Angerer's first season.
There was no splash play, turnover or penalty that permanently swayed momentum in Fairview's favor.
The turning point, according to Vinny Campoli, was when the Tigers' defense forced Harbor Creek's offense into a three-and-out for the second half's opening possession.
"(Harbor Creek) has good running backs," Campoli said. "We had to wrap up their legs to stop them. We did a bad job of that in the first half, but we really picked up (doing that) in the second half. I'm proud of us for doing that."
Harbor Creek backs TyShawn Jones and Gavin Zillman accounted its first-half touchdowns. Jones scored on a 49-yard carry early in the second quarter.
Fairview's front seven, though, largely contained each after the break.
"That was the difference," Soboleski said. "We tackled better. Once we stopped (Harbor Creek) on that first series, I thought our spirits lifted."
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Campoli's personal comeback
Campoli accounted for the first and last touchdowns of Fairview's rally.
The senior quarterback got the Tigers on the board when he called his own number for a 3-yard score. He did the same on an 8-yard carry that gave them their final nine-point advantage with 5 minutes, 7 seconds left in regulation.
Campoli's two TDs highlighted his 115-yard rushing performance. He also was efficient through their air, completing 5-of-8 pass attempts for 65 yards.
Campoli showed no noticeable effects of the knee injury that prematurely ended his 2023-24 basketball season for the Tigers.
"I'm feeling great," he said. "I'm just glad to be back."
Soboleski was rhetorical as he spoke of Campoli's impact and influence.
"What more can you say about a kid who goes out and puts on about 25 pounds of muscle after he was injured?" Soboleski said. "He's a mentally strong kid and, boy, did he respond (throughout) our second half."
Who's next
Fairview's comeback occurred in the last of a rare three-game road trip.
The 2024 Tigers debuted with a 35-0 shutout of Slippery Rock. They then lost 13-6 at Grove City and won 31-20 at rival Girard.
Fairview, for its first game in nearly a month at Keck Field at Jack Bestwick Stadium, will host Oil City on Sept. 20.
Harbor Creek visits Mercyhurst Prep that same night.
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Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Fairview rallies for Region 5 victory vs. Harbor Creek
