Despite their youth, Tigers could be a force in '99

By Ed Farrell
Herald Sports Writer

There's an admonition to all who enter Sharon High School's Tiger Stadium: "Tigers in the '90s -- Simply the Best -- 93 wins and counting.''

That statement speaks volumes about the program and its latest architect and current caretaker, head coach Jim Wildman, who enters his 24th campaign at Sharon's helm as Mercer County's all-time winningest coach (177-69-6), including last year's 12-2 PIAA Class AA Final Four campaign.

On a wall in the Tigers' refurbished lair, a resume' is painted with the following credentials:

• 10 10-win seasons.
  
• 12 league championships.
  
• 14 District 10 playoff appearances.
  
• 6 District 10 championships.
• 4 state playoff appearances.
  
• 2 PIAA runner-up berths.
  
• 15 (NCAA) Division I scholarship players.
  
• numerous successful graduates.

"I think we have a good mixture of kids here. We have some outstanding young kids, we have a handful of experienced kids, some coaches who are good teachers on and off the field.

"I'm cautiously optimistic,'' Wildman related.

Although the area's all-time leading rusher, T.J. Phillips, and prolific passer Jeff Valentino no longer are prowling Tiger Stadium and only nine seniors dot the roster, Wildman feels a corps of youthful veterans from the club that bowed 21-14 to Shady Side Academy in last season's western regional final will blossom from role players to leaders.

"With only having eight or nine seniors (led by returning two-way starting lineman Russell Porterfield) on the team, a lot of the leadership is gonna have to come from the underclassmen, like Marlin Jackson, Terrance Phillips, Carmone Parchman, Ryan Squatrito, Kevin Harris, James Barnett, kids who were on the field last year a lot or somewhat. Those juniors and sophomores, really, when you talk about it, it's the '99 team, but it's basically an underclassmen group.

"Realistically, it's probably a year away,'' Wildman related, adding, "I think, right now, we have the opportunity to be a good, young football team; time will tell whether we can be a good football team.''

Led by Valentino's 2,066 passing yards and 23 touchdowns and Phillips' 2,275 rushing yards and 33 TDs, Sharon mauled opponents by a aggregate scoring margin of 40.6-8.2 and outgained foes by a composite 368.1-142.3 differential. But Valentino, a 3-year starter whose immediate predecessors included Anthony Snowell and Bob Fromm, has matriculated at Kent State, creating a void under center.

"I think, right now, the two kids that are competing are a junior, Ryan Squatrito, and a sophomore, Mike Schneider,'' Wildman said regarding the starting signal-caller's slot. "Now last year, Ryan Squatrito played fourth quarters (completeing 3 of 4 passes for one TD) and Mike Schneider didn't take a (varsity) snap. But both of them have worked extremely hard in the offseason and at this point, I'd say Ryan Squatrito is somewhat ahead of Mike, but that's not to say that may or may not change.

"You'd always like to know who it's gonna be coming in(to the season),'' Wildman said of choosing a starter. "But we spent a lot of time in the summer with three kids -- Justin Schweiss also competed, but we moved him to fullback out of necessity -- yeah, you'd like to go in knowing who your 11 are, having a pretty good idea, but I think the competition at that position has been good and it has carried over to other positions.''

Replacing Phillips -- Mercer County's all-time leading rusher (6,241 yards) -- will be Parchman (21 carries, 185 yards, 8.8 yards/carry), while the primary aerial targets will be Jackson (4 catches, 81 yards, 20.3 yards/catch and 7 TDs) and Phillips (4 TDs), both of whom drew rave reviews at a Penn State University camp this past summer.

Another valuable weapon could be placekicker Jimmy Morocco, who accounted for 72 points, including a pair of field goals, last year.

The key, according to Wildman, is how quickly that youthful nucleus matures, owing to the Tigers' traditionally tough early-season, non-league slate.

"Certainly, putting it simply, we better get better each week,'' the veteran mentor insisted. "When we're coming out of the chute (with) Woodland Hills, Farrell, Grove City, Ursuline, if we're not better by week 5, then. ... We have to win a few of those, we have to win a couple of those to give ourselves a chance. If we haven't one or two of those, maybe, after the first month of the season, then maybe we're not doing our job.''

Following a season-opening setback to Quad-A Woodland Hills last year, Sharon strung together a dozen consecutive wins before that season-ending setback.

"I'd like to be able to say we had a few more undefeated seasons here, but it's still that last game they remember you by,'' Wildman said. "I think, any time, losing that last game is always the toughest, especially in a playoff situation,'' Wildman, who took his '94 and '95 clubs to the PIAA Class AAA title tilt, bowing to Berwick on both occasions.

"But I think, once you give yourself time to get away -- over time I've learned when you're emotional, you're not rational -- but after you lose, for a day or a week or two weeks, maybe a month, depending on your age, then, yeah, it becomes a motivation where you look and you say, 'Holy smokes, only nine seniors back, this is gonna be a real challenge.' But then you think, 'Hey, with these nine seniors and a good group of underclassmen, if we can be more than just competitive this year, then maybe we have that chance to get back to Hershey.'"

Whether or not the Tigers trek to Hershey Stadium in mid-December, Wildman noted, "Our goals have remained pretty constant the last 10, 12 years: No. 1 is a winning season; No. 2 is to try and win the league championship; (No.) 3, get in the playoffs; (No.) 4, win the D-10 championship, and then go from there.

"I think (tradition) is extremely important,'' he explained. "We have a couple banners in our meeting room that highlight all the teams throughout the '80s and '90s that have had winning records and the accomplishments of this program in the last 20 years.

"And I firmly believe, even with the (senior class) chemistry, we had enough young kids last year around that senior team that learned by osmosis, so to speak, that there's a way to behave and a way to do things and that winning is important. I think when they come into our program they sense an urgency to want to be remembered as one of those teams that maybe put their 'paw on the wall,' or whatever the case may be.''

Wildman will be assisted by Bill Sham, Mike Donato, Dan Schneider, John Baldinelli, Bo Reichart, Brian Wildman, Chris McComb and Jeff Krecek, while Fromm and Matt Schneider will volunteer their time and Tom Hall, Ken Smith and John Vannoy will lead the junior high program.