Now all they'll have to do to reach the PIAA Class AA state championship game is prove they are King of the Western Region.

"Truly, I think there's a resolve among these kids," said Sharon coach Jim Wildman, who will lead his team into a state Final Four for the third time in five years. "Three of them" -- Jeff Valentino, T.J. Phillips and Ralph Odem -- "were on this field in 1995 for the Western Final. They'll always remember going to the state championship as freshmen, but I think these three seniors, along with a lot of other seniors who have been around for three years, would like to go back."

To go back, Sharon will have to defeat the winner of today's WPIAL title game between Shady Side Academy (12-0) and Washington (11-1). That contest is set for 1:15 p.m. at Three Rivers Stadium and will be televised live by Fox Sports Pittsburgh.

The Tigers (12-1), winners of 12 straight, rode a superb defensive effort in the PIAA AA quarterfinal clash, and also benefitted from several big plays en route to posting the shutout over the previously unbeaten Lions (12-1) before more than 2,500 fans.

"We beat a good football team tonight," Wildman said. "Our defense came up big, caused some things and created some opportunities for our offense. And our offense did what they had to do. But the key to the game was we played great defense."

Phillips reached a couple of milestones following his 27-carry, 136-yard outing, improving his season mark to 2,088 yards and his Mercer County-record career mark to 6,054 yards, but it was a defensive play that might have had the biggest impact on the game's eventual outcome.

Sharon had built a 13-0 lead on a 63-yard Valentino-to-Chris Anderson strike at the 3:14 mark of the first quarter and a 37-yard Anderson run with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter. The two drives totaled four plays and 1:47.

But a 50-yard return on the ensuing kickoff by Brandon Robertson put United in business at the Sharon 34, giving the Lions their best field position of the contest since their initial possession of the game was thwarted at the Tigers 30 when United quarterback Keith Respet mishandled a snap and John Alan Anderson recovered a fumble for the Tigers.

This time, however, the Lions seemed intent on getting on the scoreboard, methodically marching down the field until they reached the Sharon 1 where they faced a third-and-goal with some seven minutes left in the half. On the ensuing play, however, the alert Phillips burst through a hole in the line and nailed tailback Allen Luther for a two-yard loss. Then on fourth down, a Respet pass fell incomplete. United wouldn't get within 14 yards of the end zone the rest of the game.

"They came up big like we've doing all year defensively," said United first-year coach Chris Matava. "That was crucial. If we take it in there and score, you don't know what's going to happen."

Wildman concurred.

"There's no question (it could have been a different game had they scored there)," he said. "Momentum is always such a key and if they score right before the half, certainly their thoughts are much different at halftime than being down three touchdowns. And I think it would have given both sidelines a different perspective in terms of how they would have approached the second half."

Sharon went four-and-out after stopping the Lions on the three and a short Jim Morocco punt gave the Lions the ball at the Sharon 33 with 4:14 left in the half. But on third-and-eight, the Tigers' defense came up big once again.

Blitzing linebacker Mike Roberson blind-sided Respet forcing him to cough up the ball, which an alert Bear Shimrack snatched out of midair and then raced 60 yards for a touchdown that gave Sharon a 19-0 advantage at the 3:11 mark.

"We knew they were very athletic and very quick and we were concerned about them popping the big play," Matava said. "And they hit three big ones us in the first half."

Before adding a fourth in the second half as a Valentino-to-Terrance Phillips 36-yard screen pass capped the scoring with 7:23 left in the game.

Valentino finished 4 of 11 for 139 yards and no interceptions and the Tigers committed no turnovers compared to three for the Lions. His effort, along with Phillips', enabled Sharon to enjoy a 324-245 edge in total yards, although United tacked on 73 of those yards on its final possession of the game.

"We thought we'd be able to handle (their pass rush), but they were giving us some problems early and then we had to start going to the short passing game" Matava said. "And that took a lot of things away that we wanted to do."

Including big-play receiver Josh Vasas, who entered the game averaging more than 20 yards per catch, but was held without a reception until nearly midway through the third quarter. He finished with a pair of catches for 75 yards, but one -- a 62-yarder -- came on United's final unsuccessful drive of the game.

"They did a good job on Vasas," Matava praised. "(Marlin Jackson) did a good job covering him."

Notes: In addition to his fumble return, Shimrack caught two passes for 40 yards, while Roberson was credited with a pair of sacks and forced fumble. ... Valentino improved his season passing yardage to 1,918 yards. ... Phillips became only the seventh county back to surpass the 2,000-yard plateau in a single-season. ... Sharon's three offensive scoring drives totaled six plays, while the fourth was the one-play fumble return. ... Despite what the final score might indicate, Sharon definitely received a hardfought game from United. Of its 11 possessions in the contest, Sharon pieced together only one drive more than six plays and that one, an 11-play series, was halted on downs at the Lions 26. ... Valentino returned two punts for 52 yards, including a 36-yarder that set up Anderson's 37-yard scoring dash. ... The semifinal game will be played in Erie. Time and date will be announced.

UNITED 0 0 0 0 0

SHARON 7 12 0 6 25

Scoring plays

S -- Anderson 63 pass from Valentino (Morocco kick)

S -- Anderson 37 run (kick failed)

S -- Shimrack 60 fumble return (run failed)

S -- Te. Phillips 36 pass from Valentino (kick failed)

Team stats

UNITED SHARON

13 First downs 11

142 Rushing yards 185

103 Passing yards 139

18-5-1 Att-comp-int 12-4-0

245 Total yards 324

5-2 Fumbles-lost 1-0

5-43 Penalties-yards lost 6-45

Individual stats

Rushing: UNITED -- Luther 17-80, Burda 12-47, Respet 7-7, Robertson 3-3, Team 2-5; SHARON -- T.J. Phillips 27-136, Anderson 2-37, Schweiss 3-6, Valentino 4-6.

Passing: UNITED -- Respet 18-5-1-103; SHARON -- Valentino 11-4-0-139, T.J. Phillips 1-0-0-0, Squatrito 0-0-0-0.

Receiving: UNITED -- Vasas 2-75, Luther 2-17, Robertson 1-11; SHARON -- Shimrack 2-40, Anderson 1-63, Te. Phillips 1-36.