| build a web site| fundraising| community| collect fees online| blogz |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
SHARON TIGERS ALL-TIME TOP 10 TEAMS Selected by our panel of Tiger fans as well as using imput from the emails we received we have finally completed the Sharon Tigers All-Time Top 10 Teams. The rankings were based on many factors and were determined by both young and older fans. Results, strength of schedule, talent and other factors were used to make the determination. Some teams were harder to rank than others. The 1998 and 2000 teams were probably the most talented, but they both lost their final games as well as their first games. The 1994 and 1995 teams both went deep into the playoffs, but lost two and three games during the regular season. It's hard to determine what some of the teams that did win their final game, but was unable to go any farther due to the way the playoffs were set up with the old "point system" or no playoffs at all. Nevertheless, here is the Sharon Tigers All-Time Top 10 Teams... 1. 1966 10-0 (AA) MAC Champions 26.4 PPG, 10.9 PA, 15.5 Diff. Aliquippa W 32-12, Ambridge W 32-12, Beaver W 13-6, Beaver Falls W 16-13, Butler W 35-19, Ellwood City W 40-21, Farrell W 13-6, Hickory W 34-7, New Castle W 16-6, Sharpsville W 33-7. They weren't the biggest or fastest team Sharon has ever had, but if you ask most Tiger fans through the years what team wasn't necessarily the most talented, but was the "best" many would tell you the undefeated 1966 team. Boasting two all-state linemen Neil Gargano and Pitt alumn Jon Stevens the Tigers swept up the tough competition week in and week out ending the season with a thrilling 13-6 win over the Farrell Nightriders at Tiger Stadium in front of over 10,000 fans. Tom Bell was the signal caller as running backs Fritz Tobias and junior Joe Veres led the rushing attack that helped the Tigers capture the Midwestern Athletic Conference championship. 2. 1990 11-1 (AAA) KFL Champions 33.0 PPG, 5.2 PA, 27.8 Diff. Bishop McCort W 56-12, Erie Tech W 20-12, Farrell L 16-17, Grove City W 41-0, Hickory W 41-0, Kennedy Christian W 50-0, Meadville W 24-14, Reynolds W 13-0, Slippery Rock W 46-0, West Middlesex W 34-0. Playoffs...Erie Strong Vincent W 28-0, Greenville (D-10 title) W 27-7. Led by all-state and all-american Mike Archie who would later go on to play for Penn State and the Tennessee Titans the Tigers outscored their opponents by four touchdowns a game. Archie, who was AP Pennsylvania Player of the Year and Big 33 participant ran for an oustanding 2,334 yards in just 12 games. He was joined on the all-state team by Pitt bound Tony Reardon who was a force on both offense and defense. The season ended on high note with a 27-7 trouncing of the Trojans from Greenville who was previously undefeated. Unfortunately for Sharon after they won the District 10 title game because of the "point system" they did not qualify for the playoffs. Their only setback was a 16-17 loss to Farrell on a late 4th quarter fumble at the goal line in which the Tigers could have sealed up the game. Farrell later went on to become A state-runner-up. Oddly enough even if Sharon would have beat Farrell and went undefeated they still would not have qualified for the state playoffs due to the "old point system". 3. 1956 10-0 (AA) MAC Champions 23.3 PPG, 5.5 PA, 17.8 Diff. Aliquippa W 20-19, Beaver Falls W 15-6, Butler W 12-6, Ellwood City W 28-0, Erie Prep W 19-6, Farrell W 12-0, Girard (Oh.) W 25-12, Meadville W 41-0, New Castle W 41-6, Sharpsville W 20-0. What a group a talented athletes. Sure they didn't have the overall talent as most of the other top teams had, but they simply put it all together for a perfect season. Led by future Big 33 participents Bob Long and Bob Hanak the Tigers played a brutel schedule winning games relatively close, but by beating very good teams. It is believed that that years class was the only school in Pennsylvania history to have both an undefeated football and basketball season in the same school year. That within itself shows just what kind of athletes Sharon had that year. 4. 1998 12-2 (AA) MCAC Champions, District 10 Champions, PIAA Western Finalist 40.6 PPG, 8.3 PA, 32.4 Diff. Boardman (Oh.) W 37-3, East Canton (Oh.) W 62-19, Grove City W 45-0, Hickory W 41-7, Mercer W 49-6, Reynolds W 70-0, Slippery Rock W 62-6, Wilmington W 40-13, Woodland Hills L 6-20. Playoffs...Fort LeBoef W 42-8, Wilmington (D-10 title) W 35-7, Brookville W 41-6, United W 25-0, Shady Side Academy L 14-21. Sharon's 1998 team was one of only a few teams in the history of the PIAA to have a 2,000 rusher and passer in the same season. All-staters T.J. Phillips who ran for 2,275 yards (7 ypc) and 33 TD's and Jeff Valentino, who threw for 2,066 yards, 62% comp. 23 TD's and 5 INT's both led the Tigers along with all-stater "Bear" Shimrack who played great defense while also getting 548 yards receiving (12 TD's) at tight end. Sharon averaged nearly 40 PPG while outscoring their opponents by five touchdowns a game. They played a tough schedule opening up with AAAA power Woodland Hills and dominated a tough Division 1 Ohio team Boardman team in Boardman 37-3. The season ended in the Western Finals with a loss to highly ranked Shady Side Academy up in Erie after a blocked FG attempt which could have sealed it for the Tigers, who throughout the game out played the Indians. It was a tough loss for a Tigers team who had 10 all-state or future all-state players, eight of which were recruited Division 1 and six who played at Division 1 colleges. 5. 2000 12-2 (AA) MCAC Champions, District 10 Champions, Western Finalist 37.2 PPG, 7.5 PA, 29.7 Diff. Grove City W 63-0, Hickory W 49-0, Mercer W 63-0, Reynolds W 42-0, Slippery Rock W 54-14, Wilmington W 34-16, Youngstown Mooney (Oh.) W 52-8, Youngstown Ursuline (Oh.) L 27-17. Playoffs...Mercyhurst Prep W 54-0, Girard W 35-0, Karns City W 14-6, Tyrone W 21-14, Aliquippa L 7-20. Very well could have been the best defense the Tigers ever had and could have also been the best offense they ever had. Led by four all-staters Marlin Jackson (Michigan), Terrance Phillips (Penn State), Kevin Harris (Pitt) and Carmone Parchman the Tigers dominated opponents. Parchman ran for 2,107 yards (7.07 ypc) and a school record 34 TD's. Junior QB Mike Schneider threw for over 1,500 yards and 17 TD's with only 5 INT's. Jackson and Phillips both had over 600 yards receiving averaging over 22 ypr and 16 ypr. The Tigers only two losses of the season was the first game to Ursuline (Ohio) who went on to win the Ohio State Championship and Aliquippa the last game who went on to be state runner-up. 6. 1994 12-3 (AAA) MCAC Champions, District 10 Champions, PIAA State Runner-up 27.1 PPG, 11.1 PA, 16.1 Diff. Grove City W 35-6, Hickory W 21-0, Mercer W 42-8, Penns Valley W 53-6, Reynolds W 34-19, Slippery Rock W 44-0, Wilmington W 23-13, Youngstown Mooney (Oh.) L 14-21, Youngstown Ursuline (Oh.) L 6-14. Playoffs...Erie Strong Vincent W 36-12, Greenville (D-10 title) W 21-20, Peabody W 29-6, Lock Haven W 28-7, McGuffey W 14-7, Berwick (state championship) L 7-27. Although they had two regular season losses to their two Ohio foes both those losses were to two very good teams and were both within a touchdown. When the playoffs rolled around the Tigers took it to the next level as they rolled to the PIAA State Championship only to lose to a great Berwick team 27-7. All-state selection and eventual running back for the Temple Owls, Elmarko Jackson led the Tigers in rushing with an amazing 2,380 yards. 7. 1982 10-1 (Div.1) KFL Champions 19.6 PPG, 7.3 PA, 12.4 Diff. Aliquippa W 14-0, Erie East W 28-6, Farrell W 14-7, Grove City W 29-14, Hickory W 20-7, Kennedy Christian W 7-6, Laurel W 34-0, Massillon (Oh.) L 7-28, Reynolds W 7-0, Sharpsville W 28-0. Playoff...Meadville W 28-12. One of the most talented team ever, the Tigers were led by all-state selection Teryl Austin who would move on to play for Pitt. Austin also played in the Big 33 game that season. Junior linemen Chris Wallace and sophomore Jim Hubicz both went on to the Big 33 game their senior years and eventually played for West Virginia and LSU while Tom Crawford went on to Pitt. During the season Sharon had a big win (14-0) over a very good Aliquippa team who was WPIAL runner-up. Sharon's only loss came to nationally ranked Massillon (Ohio), who was ranked #1 in the country when the Tigers visited Massillon. Sharon won the Keystone Football Leauge title and then went on to beat Meadville, who won their leauge title in a one game playoff. It would have been very interesting if their was a state playoff system at that time. The Tigers were loaded that year. 8. 1993 10-1 (AAA) KFL Champions, District 10 Runner-up 36.5 PPG, 7.0 PA, 29.5 Diff. Brookfield (Oh.) W 41-13, Farrell W 20-0, Franklin W 54-14, Grove city W 10-6, Hickory W 62-9, Mercer W 29-0, Reynolds W 37-0, Sharpsville W 54-20, Slippery Rock W 47-0. Playoffs...Corry W 40-6, Greenville (D-10 title) L 7-9. After an undefeated regular season and a big win over a tough Grove City team the Tigers lost a heartbreaker at Farrell to Greenville in the District 10 Championship game. Sharon appeared to have won the game (7-6), but a penalty on the Tigers late in the game gave the Trojans another field goal opportunity, which they took advantage of and defeated the Tigers 9-7. Greenville went on to lose in the AAA Western Finals to Blackhawk 9-6. Sophomore runningback Elmarko Jackson led the Tigers in rushing with 1,432 yards. 9. 1985 11-1 (Div.1) KFL Champions, District 10 Champions 26.0 PPG, 8.1 PA, 17.9 Diff. Blackhawk L 0-26, DuBois W 28-0, Farrell W 13-0, Franklin W 20-0, Grove City W 42-15, Hickory W 14-7, Kennedy Christian W 36-6, LaBrae (Oh.) W 7-6, Reynolds W 45-18, Sharpsville W 40-12. Playoffs...Corry W 14-0, Greenville (D-10 title) W 53-7. Junior quarterback Kevin Keryan led Sharon to their first District 10 title by crushing Greenville 53-7. Ron Harden led the Tigers rushing attack with 1,105 yards. The Tigers (6-0 in league) shutout Farrell (5-1) 13-0 to win the KFL title. The 1985 team may have been higher on the Top 10 list if it wasn't for a 26-0 loss to Blackhawk during the regular season. 10. 1995 11-4 (AAA) MCAC Champions, District 10 Champions, PIAA State Runner-up 23.4 PPG, 11.5 PA, 11.9 Diff. Grove city W 29-6, Hickory W 21-8, Mercer W 64-0, Penns Valley W 34-0, Reynolds W 20-6, Slippery rock W 41-0, Wilmington L 0-7, Youngstown Mooney (Oh.) L 13-27, Youngstwon Ursuline (Oh.) L 0-14. Playoffs...Erie Strong Vincent W 34-28, Greenville (D-10 title) W 20-6, Westinghouse W 34-0, Central Cambria W 13-12, Belle Vernon W 22-16, Berwick (state championship) L 6-43. Although not one of the top most talented teams overall that team overachieved like no other. After 3 regular season losses, the Tigers came together and put together a great playoff run. Freshmen Jeff Valentino led the Tigers in the Western Finals and in the State Championship after QB Anthony Snowell was injured. RB J.D Harden came out of nowhere and gained 2,042 yards a year after Elmarko Jackson led the Tigers with 2,380 yards, but was unable to play for the Tigers his senior season. The Tigers offensive line was a big part of Sharon's success and was led by Jon Stevens and Brian Griffin. HONORABLE MENTION 1988 10-2 KFL Champions....Very possibly the best defense the Tigers ever had. Led by all-state selection Eugene Phillips Sharon only gave up 4.3 points per game while recording 7 shutouts. In maybe the biggest upset in Sharon history the Tigers fell to a 3-7 Grove City Eagles team and ended the year losing in the District 10 title game to Erie Prep. They did however knock off one of Hickory's best teams ever sending Hickory to a 11-1 season. Sophomore Mike Archie led the Tigers with 1,314 yards rushing. 1989 9-1-1 KFL Champions....Led by Junior Mike Archie's 1,488 yards rushing the Tigers averaged nearly 30 points per game. Like the season before the Tigers had one of if not the biggest upset in Sharon history when the Tigers lost in the first round of the District 10 playoffs by an inferior Titusville team who would then lose to a Reynolds team Sharon crushed earlier in the season. The Tigers also tied one of Farrell's best teams ever 6-6 at Farrell the first game of the year. The Tigers faced three future NFL players during the season...Hickory's Andre Coleman, Erie Tech's Dietrich Jells and Erie Prep's Mark Tate. 1996 8-1....After being ranked #1 all year the Tigers lost to a very good Wilmington team in their final game in front of over 8,000 people at Tiger Stadium. Led by a massive offenseive line anchored by all-stater Brian "Bubba" Griffin (270)and Many Norris (335) the offense scored five touchdowns a game. Sophomores Jeff Valentino and T.J. Phillips (1,414 rushing yards, 7.5 ypc., 19 TD's) were major contributers on offense as linebacker Steve Byerly (73 tackles, 7 sack, 5 int's, 2 fumble recoveries) lead the defense. The biggest win was an opening season win at YSU Stadium over a tough Ursuline team led by eventual Ohio State running back Sean Penny. 1991 10-2....The season will go down as the season that "almost was". After a very good regular season (9-1) blemished by a rare 14-13 loss to Hickory the Tigers fell to Erie Strong Vincent 14-10 on a contriversial call up in Erie in the Ditrict 10 Championship game. Erie Strong Vincent ended up winning the PIAA AAA championship three weeks later. QB Chris Buchman led the Tigers offense who was without a 1,000 yard rusher for the first time since 1984. Since the 1991 season, only in 1992 and 2001 did Sharon not have a 1,000 yard rusher. |
|
|||||||
|
|
SHARON TIGERS FOOTBALL View Our Guestbook | Sign Our Guestbook 73 visitors have signed our guestbook. |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
