In 2005, it was all about throwing the football.

That’s evidenced by the Butler Eagle’s Sweet 16 selections on offense. Three quarterbacks and six receivers are on that list.

Butler quarterback Nick Monteleone led the county with 1,782 passing yards and threw for 12 touchdowns. Freeport signal-caller Bryan Zimmerman threw for 1,498 yards and 13 TDs.

Mars quarterback D.J. Cannon had 1,120 yards passing and 12 touchdowns.

Throw the ball and somebody has to catch it. Monteleone had two guys doing plenty of that: Jordan Roycroft with 47 catches for 606 yards, Andy Strutt with 44 for 589.

And all three of them are juniors.

“We really didn’t start to steadily throw the ball until the North Hills game (Week 5),” Butler coach Garry Cathell said. “If we start out with that type of offense for a whole season, all of their numbers can increase.

“Those guys have stayed together since the end of the season. They lift weights together. They know what they’re capable of.”

Monteleone has been receiving overtures from colleges at all levels, including Big Ten schools.

“I think he’s going Division I,” Cathell said. “There’s a chance he could sign early.”

Zimmerman’s favorite target at Freeport — Josh Schrecengost — is also among the Sweet 16. He caught 22 passes for 498 yards and was on the receiving end of eight of his quarterback’s 12 touchdown passes.

Cannon spread the ball around at Mars and became the first Planets quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards since 1988.

“We were pleased with D.J.’s play this season,” Mars coach Scott Heinauer said. “He put the ball where the kids could catch it.”

Other receivers among the Sweet 16 were Zach Duggan of Seneca Valley, Hank Heeter of A-C Valley and Kasil Butler of Summit Academy.

Butler averaged a whopping 28 yards per catch on 20 receptions. Duggan caught 43 passes for 612 yards — nearly half of quarterback Kevan Smith’s 1,439 passing yards.

“When you’re under-sized and playing in the Quad North, you have to have a certain degree of toughness,” Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle said.

“Zach took a lot of hits this season, but he also gave out some as a blocker. He actually de-cleated some defensive players this year.”

Heeter caught 34 passes for 430 yards for A-C Valley.

“He was the heart and soul of the team,” Falcons coach Randy Lemmon said. “Everybody in the stadium knew we were going to throw him the ball and he still ends up catching 34 passes.”

Three running backs, two linemen and two kickers round out the selections on offense.

Paul Ferrese of Mars rushed for 1,020 yards and scored 16 total touchdowns, becoming the first Planet player to win the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy.

Moniteau’s running back tandem of Matt Schandelmeier and Adam Cousins made the squad. Schandelmeier made the Sweet 16 on defense last year with 12 quarterback sacks. He rushed for 1,389 yards and 16 touchdowns this year, including playoffs.

“He’s been a stud on this team for the past two years,” Warriors coach Steve Wilson said.

Cousins rushed for 661 yards and five TDs, caught 12 passes for 179 yards, returned a kickoff for a touchdown and booted three field goals.

Pete King was a standout two-way lineman for Mars and Karns City’s Kory Kusick was named the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference Lineman of the Year.

Butler kicker Chris Haley booted 11 field goals and had 11 touchbacks in his junior year.

“That’s approximately one out of every three kickoffs reaching the end zone and that percentage will be better next year,” Cathell said. “That’s what makes Chris a Division I prospect.”

Grove City kicker Gordon Craig also kicked 11 field goals this year. He also made honorable mention on the Eagle’s Elite 11 boys soccer team.