"I think you always have to motivate kids," said Sharon coach Jim Wildman. "You have to remind them."

With 109 yards, Sharon's T.J. Phillips (5,089) will pass Greenville's Joe Korcinsky (5,197) and become Mercer County's all-time leading rusher. He needs only 48 to become the school's career rushing leader (Mike Archie, 5,136). Last week he posted a 21-carry, 259-yard performance.

Phillips moved into fifth place on the county scoring list with 65 TDs. He passed Hickory's Andre Coleman (64), and trails Korcinsky (89), Archie (75), Greenville's Andy Blatt (70) and Reynolds' Ron Park (66). Stopping Phillips and the rest of the Tigers' skill position players -- quarterback Jeff Valentino, tight end Bear Shimrack et al -- is a big key for the Greyhounds.

"I think it's obvious Sharon has a lot of talent in the skill positions," said Wilmington coach Terry Verrelli. "That's one of the keys, the other is being able to move the ball offensively."

To do that, Verrelli will be able to rely on quarterback Matt Robison who returns after suffering a concussion in last week's 14-0 loss to Greenville.

"What they do this year, they do very well," Wildman said. "They are playing well within the framework of what they have."

Should the Hounds lose, their three losses this season would equal the total number of losses the last three years combined. It would also be the first time Wilmington lost consecutive games since 1993 when it lost to Aliquippa (26-13) and New Brighton (16-8) during weeks four and five.

• Rochester (6-0, 7-0) at Farrell (6-0, 6-1) -- Heading into this season Farrell coach Lou Falconi knew his team was young. Therefore, he was hoping they would mature enough during the season to finish as one of the top four teams in the league and subsequently earn a playoff berth.

  What he didn't expect was his team to be on the verge of the league title, which is what his team will clinch at least a share of with a victory tonight.

  "No not really," Falconi said of his expectations. "We were hoping to make one of the top four teams, which we've clinched. But we can still end up in fourth. But no, we didn't figure to be in this position."

  Farrell quarterback J.J. Wilson has emerged as one of the top signalcallers in the WPIAL and has tilted the balance of power from running to passing in Farrell's playbook.

  But Falconi insists Wilson can't be the only one to play at his highest level if his Steelers are going to win.

  "I don't know how much more he can pick it up," Falconi said. "Everybody else will have to pick up. They'll have to play above their heads."

  Farrell will be without two two-way starters in Terrance Gash who is serving a one-game suspension for an alleged kicking incident in last week's game. Also out is Frank Tamber with an ankle injury.

• West Middlesex (0-0, 5-2) at Sharpsville (1-0, 7-0) -- The Blue Devils can clinch their third consecutive Class A title with a victory, all under coach Paul Piccirilli who has a 29-4 record at Sharpsville's helm.

  He'll have to protect against a letdown tonight as his team comes off an emotional 21-14 victory over arch-rival Kennedy Christian last week.

  It was the first real test his team, ranked third in the state in Class A, has faced this season and they passed.

  A win by a much-improved West Middlesex team playing in its first league game this year would go far in disrupting the MCAC Class A hierarchy.

  Wins over Sharpsville and then Kennedy Christian next week would give the Big Reds the Class A crown, something nobody expected heading into the season.

  A win tonight and then a loss to Kennedy would create a three-way tie, again, something nobody expected heading into the season.

  So, which team has history on its side? The Blue Devils have won the last four meetings, including the last two by an 81-6 margin. In the '90s Sharpsville is 8-6 against the Big Reds.

• Greenville (5-0, 7-0) at Oil City (5-0, 7-0) -- The Trojans are riding one of the best regular-season streaks in Pennsylvania, having won 31 consecutive games.

  According to the Associated Press, that is currently tied with eastern Quad-A power Central Bucks West for the longest current streak scholastically in the state. The Trojans have also won the last five Northwest titles and 35 straight league games.

  Looking to snap all of those streaks is a powerful Oil City team.

  "They're a good football team," said Greenville coach Bob Stone. "This is what everybody works for, for a chance at the conference championship. When it comes down to the tail end of the season you have to win."

  Oil City's first-team defense has allowed just one touchdown all season, a 42-yarder to Meadville star Javar Manning last week.

  Oil City also enters the game with the league's top-rated offense, which clicks at a 334 yards/game pace. Leading the way is quarterback Todd Fishinger who has 9 TD passes against 2 interceptions.

  "Obviously we have to stop the top offense," Stone said. "And we have to show a little offense ourselves."

  Fishinger will have to guide his team through the league's top overall defense, however. The Trojans allow slightly more than 100 yards/game.

• Hubbard (3-1, 4-3) at Brookfield (3-1, 4-3) -- With three losses already, the Eagles are having one of their worst seasons in the last couple of years. The good thing, however, is nobody else in the league is playing well either.

  With a win over rival Brookfield, the Eagles will be in the driver's seat for their second consecutive TAC-8 title, which they hadn't won in 31 years before last season.

  A victory by Brookfield will afford the Warriors the same luxury of looking down on the rest of the league. Brookfield hasn't won the TAC-8 since 1994.

  The Eagles have blown out Brookfield the last two years, including 47-6 in their meeting last season. But the Warriors are a much improved squad under the leadership of Spike Bayus. His status for tonight is uncertain after a leg injury in last week's victory.

  Hubbard enters the game a winner of three of its last four games and won't need a pre-game pep talk to get up for the Warriors.

• Reynolds (0-4, 0-7) at Grove City (2-2, 2-5) -- The Eagles can clinch at least share of the MCAC AAA title -- their second in a row under coach Jeff Bell -- with a victory over the winless Raiders.

  Grove City is coming off an impressive 41-13 victory over rival Slippery Rock. Senior back Julian Pierce led the way with 198 yards and three TDs.

  Pierce has topped the 100-yard mark in his last four games and scored 42 points in that span -- more than the entire Reynolds team has scored all season (34).

  Reynolds came close to its first victory last week against Mercer, but couldn't hang on to a 13-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter and fell 14-13.

• Mercer (1-3, 1-6) at Hickory (2-3, 2-5) -- The Mustangs posted their first victory under new coach Ed Klutcher last week over Reynolds.

  Hickory enters on a four-game skid after opening the 1998 campaign 2-1 under first-year coach Phil Annarella.

• Kennedy Christian (5-2) at Slippery Rock (2-5) -- The Golden Eagles get a break between Class A games and will likely be keeping an eye on the out-of-town scoreboard.

  Despite losing to Sharpsville last week, Kennedy put up a fight and was in it until the end. Knowing they were close to upsetting the Blue Devils should carry over into this game.

  Making it easier are backs Jason Cecil and Brian Trimboli who have rushed for a combined 1,500 yards. With seven more yards, Cecil, who has more than 2,700 career yards, will surpass the 1,000-yard mark and he leads area scorers with 18 TDs.

• Cochranton (0-6, 0-7) at Lakeview (1-5, 1-6) -- The Sailors are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, but go against the French Creek Valley Conference's last-place team.

  Lakeview hasn't won since the second week, a 42-25, victory over Union City. Since then, the Sailors have been outscored 220-45. Justin George has been the one constant for Lakeview and he has rushed for more than 100 yards the last two games.