Run the ball, run into the playoffs — a seemingly safe adage in high school football.

The 2004 Butler County Sweet 16 offensive all-star football team highlights three passing combinations that led their respective squads to postseason play, however.

Grove City reached the District 10 Class AA playoffs — and the PIAA quarterfinals Friday — with a balanced ground game that had no running back rush for as many as 600 yards.

But quarterback Jim Jaskowak has thrown for 1,397 yards and nine touchdowns, including five scoring connections to receiver Jesse Alfreno.

Alfreno accounted for almost half of Jaskowak’s passing yardage as he pulled in 28 throws for 584 yards.

Karns City rode a brother act — and Josh Fiscus, the Butler County scoring leader — to the District 9 Class AA playoffs. Stephen Black threw for 1,292 yards and 12 touchdowns.

David Black, his older brother, caught 52 passes for 753 yards and nine touchdowns. The brother combo led the county in passing yards receptions and receiving yards.

“They came together as a combination over the summer,” Karns City coach Ed Conto said. “David was a standout receiver for us last year and was already established in our offense.

“I’m sure the fact that they’re brothers helped. They live together and they’ve passed the football to each other quite a bit.”

Two teammates helped as well — Kyle Texter and Fiscus.

Texter, a Sweet 16 selection on defense, caught 25 passes for 325 yards. Fiscus won the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy by rushing for 1,141 yards and 15 touchdowns.

“We really had a balanced attack,” Conto said. “Because Kyle and David lined up on opposite sides, they couldn’t be double-teamed.

“With Josh’s ability to run the ball, no defense could gear up to stop our passing game.”

Knoch reached the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs in large part because of the passing combo of quarterback Jordan Shoop and receiver Curtis Compton.

Shoop didn’t complete a high percentage of passes — just 64 of 163 — but he threw for 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

“As a coach, you don’t worry about incomplete passes,” Knoch coach Mike King said. “The interceptions are what can hurt you.

“The Steelers are excited about Ben Roethlisberger because he doesn’t throw interceptions and he can make plays happen with his feet. We’re excited about Jordan Shoop for the same reasons.”

Compton caught 25 passes for 476 yards — 19 yards per catch — and four touchdowns.

“Curtis didn’t draw a lot of headlines last year because Jordan was our leading receiver. But he made some big catches during that season and I knew he’d emerge as a force this year.

“You could see he and Jordan developing a rhythm in preseason. They were on the same page almost from day one.”

Fiscus, Paul Ferrese of Mars and Trevor Gallo of Slippery Rock are 1,000-yard running backs who made the Sweet 16 offensive.

“Josh played behind a young offensive line this year,” Conto said. “If our line was a veteran one from the start, he would have run for 2,000 yards.”

Ferrese rushed for 1,162 yards and 14 touchdowns, just under 50 percent of the Planets’ total offensive production this season. Gallo’s 1,055 yards rushing accounted for 40 percent of Slippery Rock’s offense.

Butler’s Bob Alexander, who fell eight yards short of 1,000, also made the squad.

“Considering Bobby didn’t start our opener and missed another game and a half, he had an exceptional junior year,” Butler coach Garry Cathell said.

Other skilled position players on the squad are Seneca Valley receiver Zach Duggan and Freeport running back Nate Kurtz.

Offensive linemen on the squad are centers Nate Hartung of Butler and Tony Aloisio of Grove City, who weigh nearly 700 pounds, combined, and Moniteau guard Jim Cottrill.

OFFENSIVE HONORABLE MENTIONS

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Quarterbacks: Tyrell Knight (Summit Academy), Nick Monteleone (Butler), Garth Kohlmeyer (Moniteau).

Running Backs: Rocco Crapis (A-C Valley), Colton Davis (Union),Colleal Cottom (Summit Academy), Adam Cousins (Moniteau), David Bergamasco (Knoch), Ian Kaminski (Freeport), Sean Ray (Slippery Rock).

Wide Receivers: Brett Moore (Union), Jim Paulin (Seneca Valley), Eric Hilliard (Moniteau), Noah Hartung (Butler).

Tight Ends: Matt Whittington (Mars), Josh Wachter (Butler), Ryan Protzman (Moniteau).

Linemen: Nate Capello (Slippery Rock), Mike Genes (Summit Academy), Tom Gaul (Butler), Aaron Anderson (Moniteau).