Published Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1997
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1997 season preview
Sharon hopes to be in title hunt
Sharon's Jim Wildman reached the pinnacle of the Mercer County career coaching list last season with his 157th win, but it was the one win he didn't get that he and most fans probably remember.
The Tigers, ranked No. 1 the entire season among the state's Class AA teams, roared to an 8-0 start before seeing their outstanding season come to a premature end after a 27-7 loss to Wilmington in a memorable regular-season finale before some 8,000 fans at Tiger Stadium.
Wildman, entering his 21st year with a 157-64-6 record, moved past former Reynolds coach Frank Amato (156-67-9) in Week 8, but in the finale the following week _ with the league title and a District 10 playoff AA spot on the line _ the Tigers came up short.
``There were great expectations by a number of people and when you lose that last game, no matter when it occurs, in the regular season or postseason, it takes you three or four weeks to get over it,'' Wildman said. ``Then, just like we do every year, we got together as a staff after the dust had settled, so to speak, and kicked around what maybe what we could have done differently or should have done differently and came up with a few answers.''
Among them?
``I think there will maybe be a different approach from the outset this year in terms of mental toughness,'' Wildman said. ``Football is a pretty structured game mentally and it's important to have some strong leaders. Our concentration has been moreso to develop a chemistry in the offseason and this summer leading up to the season.''
With what league favorite Wilmington has returning this year, it appears the Tigers will need that chemistry to challenge for the league crown, which they had won outright or shared for eight consecutive seasons and 11 of the last 14 seasons prior to 1996.
``On paper Wilmington certainly is the team to beat,'' Wildman said. ``The nice thing is we don't have to think about them for two weeks of the preseason and eight[JU]weeks of the regular season.''
And with only 11 seniors and a four starters returning on both sides of the ball, Wildman realizes he just may need that time to get his squad, which also boasts 18 juniors and seven sophomores, ready for such a big game.
``We're going to be a young team,'' Wildman said. ``We'll have to get better and get tougher each week, and hopefully win the ones that maybe we're supposed to and win a couple maybe we're not.
``The kids seem to be coming together and encouraging each other, realizing what maybe they lack in experience they're going to have to make up for in intensity.''
Among that experience gone are: Brian Griffin, a two-way starter for three years and a two-time all-state selection, and another Heralded 22 selection in Steve Byerly. Other notables among the ``19 or 20 seniors'' not returning are: Brad Bacon, Ken Messina, Manny Norris, Matt Torr, Steve King, Bryan Phillips, Randy Clark, Jeff Songer, Duane Confer and Josh Ott.
Although Wildman will have to fill seven starting spots on either side of the ball, he does have a couple of good building blocks with which to start.
Leading the return is junior running back T.J. Phillips, who carried 189 times for a Mercer County Athletic Conference-best 1,414 yards and 19 touchdowns. In two seasons, the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder has amassed 1,979 yards and 23 touchdowns on 263 carries. He is on target to surpass ex-Tiger star Mike Archie's school and county career marks of 5,136 yards.
``The things that T.J. does that people don't see will determine his future,'' Wildman said. ``What he does between Friday at 10:30 and the next Friday at 7:30 _ classroom-wise and behavior-wise _ will determine what his future is.''
Wildman said Phillips compares favorably athletically with Archie (Penn State and Tennessee Oilers) and another ex-Tiger star, Marko Jackson (Temple), but that doesn't guarantee his success.
``He can be as good as he wants to be,'' Wildman said. ``He's definitely a Division I prospect, but the other decisions he makes will determine whether we're reading about him like we're reading about the other couple.''
Also returning is junior quarterback Jeff Valentino, who not only started as a sophomore but saw extensive playing time as a freshman, including a start in the state championship game against Berwick.
Valentino went 38 of 85 for 514 yards, with 9 touchdowns and 7 interceptions a year ago, and has compiled career totals of 736 yards on 51-for-123 passing with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
``Valentino had a good summer throwing the football,'' Wildman said. ``He's an intelligent kid. He's been around the game since he was old enough to build forts out of standup dummies with his father. He's done a lot of things, work-wise, on his own.
``Probably the thing Jeffrey has to learn is he can't do it all himself, he doesn't have to force some things, and just be a little bit more patient.''
Senior Marty Barnett, who was the team's third-leading receiver with 7 catches, and junior Ralph Odem also return. Both, along with Valentino and Phillips will also start defensively.
Another big difference in the Tigers this year will be their size up front. For two years, Sharon has enjoyed a decided advantage over most opponents with lines that averaged more than 260 pounds per man. This season that average will be closer to 220 pounds.
``I think somewhat it will alter our strategy,'' Wildman said. ``With the linemen we had the last couple years, we felt going into games we could just pound some people and wear some people down. This year we might have to finesse a few more.''
Wildman is projecting the following as offensive starters: Valentino, quarterback; Phillips, tailback; senior Dave Bodien, fullback; Barnett, split end and placekicker; Odem, flanker; junior Bear Shimrack, tight end; senior Nate Walker, center; junior John Anderson and senior Josh McCullough, guards; junior Jim Nelson and senior Mark Petrini, tackles.
Defensively, the Tigers will look like this: Barnett, Phillips and junior Jesse Coon, defensive backs; Bodien, Valentino, Anderson and junior Mike Roberson, linebackers; Walker and Petrini, tackles; and Shimrack and McCullough, ends. Bodien will also handle the punting chores.
Wildman said returning senior letterwinner Eric Mausser was projected to start at center and linebacker, but is out for several weeks after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Assisting Wildman are: Bill Sham, Mike Donato, Dan Schneider, John Baldinelli, Wally Carpenter, and part-time volunteers Bo Reichart and Brian Wildman. Chris McCombs and Jeff Krecek are coaching the 9th-graders, while Kenny Smith, Tom Hall and John Vannoy head up the 7th- and 8th-grade squad.
