Sharon advanced to the District X Class 3A championship game on Friday night after defeating rival Grove City 27-14 in a semifinal contest.
The game, held at Wilmington High School, saw Sharon extend its winning streak to eight consecutive games following an 0-2 start to the season, according to Yahoo Sports reporting.
Cyleim Smith played a pivotal role for the Tigers, recording two touchdown receptions and securing the win with a late interception in the end zone.
The two teams entered halftime tied at 14-14, as noted by WKBN.
Sharon opened the scoring with a 33-yard screen pass from Gha’Fir Lampkins to Smith.
Grove City responded in the first quarter when Heath Homan connected with Tanner Mong for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Cassius Hosey later added a touchdown for Sharon, but Grove City narrowed the gap before the break when Gavin Purdy scored on a quarterback keeper.
The Tigers’ defensive unit proved decisive in the second half by forcing three interceptions, which allowed the team to pull away from the Eagles.
Hosey contributed significantly to this defensive effort by recording two of those interceptions on consecutive possessions, per local outlets.
Marius Best provided the go-ahead score in the third quarter with a 33-yard touchdown run, marking his 15th touchdown of the season.
This victory marks the second time Sharon has beaten Grove City in recent weeks, as the Tigers previously defeated the Eagles during their regular-season finale on October 23.
With the win, Sharon now moves forward to face Hickory in the upcoming District X Class 3A title game.
The Tigers will look to maintain their momentum as they compete for the championship trophy next week.
The outcome solidifies Sharon’s postseason run after their difficult start to the year.
Fans and analysts alike are looking toward the next matchup to see if the Tigers can continue their current streak.