Starting lineups
SHARON
Offense
  No. Name       Pos.  Ht.  Wt.  Yr.
  89  Bear Shimrack        TE  6-4  235  12
  76  Jim Nelson            T  6-3  290  12
  54  Russell Porterfield   G  5-6  180  11
  68  Ashten Beach          C  6-0  220  12
  55  Jon Anderson          G  6-0  220  12
  75  Robbie Martell        T  6-1  260  12
  16  Jeff Valentino       QB  6-4  195  12
  6  Chris Anderson        FB  5-9  175  12
  4  T.J. Phillips         RB  6-2  215  12
  2  Jon Murray            SE  6-1  185  12
  22  Ralph Odem           FL  6-0  180  12
Defense
  No.  Name      Pos.  Ht.  Wt.  Yr.
  89  Bear Shimrack        DE  6-4  235  12
  55  Jon Anderson         DT  6-0  220  12
  54  Russell Porterfield  DT  5-6  180  11
  9  Mike Roberson         DE  6-0  195  12
  4  T.J. Phillips         LB  6-2  215  12
  5  Terrence Phillips     LB  6-1  180  12
  6  Chris Anderson        LB  5-9  175  12
  3  Marlin Jackson        DB  6-2  170  10
  1  Carmone Parchman      DB 5-10  160  10
  8  Jesse Coon            DB  6-2  170  12
  16  Jeff Valentino       DB  6-4  195  12
BROOKVILLE
Offense
  No.  Name      Pos.  Ht.  Wt.  Yr.
  9  Ben Marzullo          QB  5-10  171  11
  49  B.J. Thomas          FB  5-9  181  12
  8  Adam Allshouse        HB  5-10  148  11
  10  Shawn Bailey         WR  5-10  157  12
  5  Emil Johnson          WR  5-9  154  11
  77  Marty Dunlap          T  6-0  172  11
  68  Andy Marshall        G  5-10  237  10
  61  Andy Shrecengost     C  5-11  201  12
  78  Jeremy Byerly        G  5-10  246  10
  51  Ben Marshall         T  5-10  242  12
  99  Jake Marzullo       TE  5-11  180  12
Defense
  No.  Name      Pos.  Ht.  Wt.  Yr.
  77  Marty Dunlap         DE  6-0  172  11
  51  Ben Marshall        DT  5-10  242  12
  68  Andy Marshall       DT  5-10  237  10
  82  Casey Belfiore      DE  5-11  180  11
  99  Jake Marzullo      OLB  5-11  180  12
  31  Eric Painter       MLB  5-11  169  11
  49  B.J. Thomas         MLB  5-9  181  12
  33  Mike Richards      OLB  5-10  152  11
  25  Nathan Henry        CB  5-10  160  11
  10  Shawn Bailey        CB  5-10  157  12
  9  Ben Marzullo          S  5-10  171  11

Most times it is merited. But overlooked much of the time is the offensive line. And, in some cases, the individual would not achieve those numbers without the collective five, or six when you include the tight end, members of the offensive line.

Such is the case for Sharon, which enters the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs Saturday on a 10-game winning streak.

The District 10 Class AA champion Tigers (10-1) play Division 9 titlist Brookville (6-5) at DuBois High School. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

While individual talent has led star back T.J. Phillips to rush for 1,866 yards and 28 touchdowns thus far and led quarterback Jeff Valentino to complete 85 of his 136 attempts for 1,587 yards and 19 TDs, they likely would not have those numbers without the guys in the trenches.

It is well known in football circles that offensive linemen have their own little quirks and cliques. Quite often they shy away from the spotlight.

Sharon coach Jim Wildman characterized them thusly:

"Offensive linemen belong to a kind of mushroom society where they're not looking for accolades," Wildman said. "They understand who they are and what their role is."

TEAM STATISTICS
SHARON	OFFENSE	BROOKVILLE
2824	Rushing yards	1271
256.7	Per game	115.5
1626	Passing yards	1680
147.8	Per game	152.7
140-86-4	Att-comp-int	194-93-16
4150	Total yards	2895
377.3	Per game	263.2
489	Points scored	192
44.5	Per game	17.5
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SHARON	DEFENSE	BROOKVILLE
1061	Rushing yards	2238
96.5	Per game	203.5
490	Passing yards	814
44.5	Per game	74
90-42-7	Att-comp-int	117-45-8
1366	Total yards	3053
124.2	Per game	277.5
89	Points allowed	264
8.1	Per game	24.0

He then noted that his five -- guards Jon Anderson and Russell Porterfield, tackles Jim Nelson and Robbie Martell and center Ashten Beach -- were unproven entering this season.

"That was a big question in our minds as coaches at the beginning of the season," Wildman said. "Certainly their teammates will tell you the same thing. I think it's been a marathon and not a sprint. It didn't happen overnight. It didn't happen between the first and third games. It's been a process."

Aiding in the progression of the group, which averages 234 pounds including tight end Bear Shimrack, day-in and day-out in practice are line coaches: Dan Schneider, who works with the centers and tackles, Bill Sham, who works with the tackles and Bo Reichart, who works with the tight ends. The three are veterans of Wildman's system and know what the head coach expects.

"I think the impact they've had on them is difficult to measure, other than they've done a great job," Wildman said. "Bill has been with me since I started. Dan's been here since 1986. And Bo's been here now for three years. He played at Brookfield and Toledo and is well known in the district. They recognized at the start of the season, maybe the pressure was on them. Their patience and loyalty to the (offensive line's) development has worked out."

Wildman expects the line's stability to continue into Saturday's game. Coaches are always concerned about a letdown when their team comes off an emotional victory in a big game, like the Tigers' win over Wilmington last week in the District 10 championship game and Wildman is no different, to an extent.

"I was more afraid a week ago," Wildman said. "Any coach is afraid. They're concerned about how their team will come out of the box. I really feel the kids, collectively, have a resolve and know that they have to concentrate on how we play and not who we're playing against and their record."

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing SHARON -- T.J. Phillips 253-1,866; Jeff Valentino 35-265; Chris Anderson 30-141 BROOKVILLE -- B.J. Thomas 105-504; Eric Painter 55-271, Ben Marzullo 103-260 Passing SHARON -- Valentino 136-85-4-1,587, 19 TDs BROOKVILLE -- Marzullo 188-91-14-1,654, 16 TDs Receiving SHARON -- Bear Shimrack 19-420; Ralph Odem 15-347; Jon Murray 14-259 BROOKVILLE -- Shawn Bailey 37-788; Emil Johnson 17-310; Jake Marzullo 14-274 Scoring SHARON -- Phillips 28 TDs, 170 pts.; Shimrack 11 TDs, 66 pts.; Jim Morocco 2 FGs, 58 PATs, 64 pts.; Valentino 8 TDs, 48 pts. BROOKVILLE -- B. Marzullo 5 TDs, 16 PATs, 48 pts.; Bailey 7 TDs, 42 pts.; Johnson 4 TDs, 26 pts.

Brookville's 6-5 record is somewhat misleading in the fact that they played a difficult regular-season schedule that was loaded with Class AAA opponents.

For example, Brookville came to Grove City and defeated the Eagles, 21-20, by coming back in the final minutes of the game.

That philosophy of playing a hard schedule is paying off in the post-season.

Brookville, led by coach Chris Dworek (18-13 in three years) opened the District 9 playoffs with a 23-16 upset of previously-undefeated Karns City. They followed with a 33-6 rout of Brockway in the title game.

If the Raiders have any advantage in the game, it is that they will be playing their third game at DuBois this year. The two previous games were victories.

"They're playing well now and obviously that's important," Wildman said. "Offensively they do a lot of different things both running and passing. The do some trick plays, so to speak. Their quarterback is an outstanding athlete and he has a good corps of receivers."

Brookville may have a strong passing game with quarterback Ben Marzullo (92-of-188 for 1,654 yards and 16 TDs), but Sharon's defense is laudable as well.

They couple a strong pass rush with a talented and speedy group of defensive backs.

"That's one of the keys, how well we can defend their passing game," Wildman said. "We have to get them to do something they don't want to do or aren't accustomed to."

Notes: Brookville split a pair of games with Wilmington in the first round of the 1994 and '95 state playoffs, winning 23-14 in the first meeting before falling 21-0 in the second meeting.

GAME-BY-GAME