At first glimpse, you'd might not think that Matt Schandelmeier and Paul Ferrese have much in common besides the No. 22 on their football jerseys.

Schandelmeier stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 211 pounds.

Ferrese is 5-8 and tips the scales at 175 pounds.

They don't play for conference rivals. In fact, their respective teams aren't even in the same district.

But the two have one common bond that transcends the differences in stature and PIAA boundaries: both are the heart and soul of their teams' offenses.

Mars' Ferrese and Moniteau's Schandelmeier are Butler County's leading returning rushers from 2004, gaining 1,162 and 1,096 yards, respectively.

Both players scored 14 rushing touchdowns a season ago, learning to use their size to their advantage.

"The biggest factor with Paul is that you can't see him until he's already through the line," said Mars coach Scott Heinauer. "He's a dedicated kid and loves the game of football."

Schandelmeier gives opponents a bigger target, but that didn't stop him from bulling them over for a 6-yard average on 181 carries a season ago.

"I'm always telling Matt that he looks like a tight end," said Moniteau coach Steve Wilson, laughing.

Both players learned of their opportunities to start before the 2004 season began.

"One of the assistant coaches came up to me and told me the job was mine," said Ferrese. "I figured I'd do an OK job and help the team win some games, but I was really surprised at the numbers I put up."

Those numbers included rushing for at least one touchdown in every game, surpassing the 100-yard mark in seven of nine contests (not including 99 yards against Pine-Richland) and tallying six scoring runs of 37 yards or more.

Ferrese also scored Mars' first nine touchdowns of the 2004 campaign.

"If there's a hole, I just think about getting to it," said Ferrese. "And from there, I know I can take it all the way."Schandelmeier saw significant playing time as a sophomore in 2003, spelling starter Steve Saul. He gained 390 yards on 82 carries that season."Watching Matt as a sophomore, he needed to get a bit quicker with his feet," said Wilson. "But we also noticed that he was always falling forward when he got tackled. So he was consistently getting that extra yard or two.""I knew that a breakout season was possible for me last year," said Schandelmeier. "But I also knew that I would have to step it up to make it happen."Schandelmeier rushed for at least 100 yards in eight of Moniteau's 10 games in 2004, including a season high of 141 yards that helped the Warriors defeat KSAC power Clarion-Limestone for the first time since 1986."Our offensive line did a great job in front of me," Schandelmeier said. "They gave me the blocks when I needed them."One would expect Schandelmeier to be the power back and Ferrese to have the speed, but both of them bring more to the table than just the obvious.Schandelmeier was clocked running a 4.69 40-yard dash this summer while Ferrese is now bench-pressing 275 pounds.The two backs don't sit out their teams' defensive series, either.Schandelmeier plays defensive end for the Warriors, garnering Butler County Sweet 16 Defense status with 12 sacks a season ago. He was an honorable mention at that position in 2003."He's so far ahead on the defensive line that teams often have to double-team him," said Wilson. "His biggest asset is that he's not only physically big, but he's got the speed to go with it."When asked if he'd rather score a game-winning touchdown or make a game-saving tackle, Schandelmeier quickly replied, "A game-saving tackle - because I love to hit people."Ferrese, a Butler County Sweet 16 Offense selection in 2004, has played a solid cornerback the last two seasons, earning a starting spot last year.He also contributed on special teams a year ago, racing 95 yards for a score on a kickoff return."He probably won't be back there to start the season," Heinauer said of Ferrese's special teams duties. "That's a very vulnerable position to put your best running back."With Ferrese and Schandelmeier in the backfield, opposing defenses are always in a vulnerable position.