Before their teammates have filtered into the locker room for practice, and sometimes after they have departed for the night, Grove City High quarterback Jim Jaskowak and receiver Jesse Alfreno are on the field, running pass patterns and honing their timing.

Sometimes other receivers join them, picking apart the imaginary secondary.

The additional work has paid dividends for the Eagles as the passing game has picked apart the real foes as if they were on the practice field all over again.

"That's where staying after practice, going early before practice, running routes, getting our timing down - that's what makes us good," Alfreno said. "You see (Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton) Manning and (Colts receiver Marvin) Harrison do that all the time. We do the same thing."

The passing attack has been a large part of Grove City's 10-2 run and trip to the PIAA Class AA semifinal game.

Jaskowak has completed 80-of-178 passes for 1,526 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has thrown just six interceptions.

Jaskowak, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior, has been particularly effective throwing the deep ball in the Eagles' vertical attack.

"Jimmy has a cannon arm," Alfreno said. "He throws a great deep ball."

And Alfreno is good at catching them, as he did on a 63-yard touchdown bomb on the last play of the first quarter in the Eagles' 28-12 win over Brookville last week.

The junior has caught a team-leading 31 passes for 652 yards and six scores.

But Alfreno isn't the only standout pass catcher on the roster. Jaskowak has his pick of worthy targets.

Four Grove City players have caught more than 10 passes this season. Tim Waxenfelter has 11 for 208 yards; Adam Rudolph has 10 for 208 and Dan Sonntag has 10 for 138. Throw in fullback Jack Vallely, who has been on the receiving end of eight more passes, and the Eagles air attack is as diverse as they come.

"It's definitely a good feeling when you have confidence in each and every one of your receivers," Jaskowak said. "Jack Valley catches balls out of the backfield and makes big runs. Adam Rudolph - I've looked to him the last couple of weeks - he's made some great catches, Waxenfelter and then you throw in Jesse. Man, he's a great receiver."

Alfreno has caught at least one pass in 29 of the 30 games he has played since starting as a freshman.

Jaskowak shared time at quarterback with Mike Bashline as a sophomore, then blossomed last season as a junior.

The passing game has made Grove City one of the most balanced teams in the state.

"It's a bonus," said Grove City coach Jeff Bell. "The problem with Western Pennsylvania is you sometimes get bad nights when it is hard to throw it. But we still can. We come up with some big plays."

Alfreno isn't the only big-play threat. Waxenfelter averages nearly 19 yards per catch, while Rudolph nets a team-leading 24.7 yards every time he hauls in a pass.

"Jimmy knows where we're going to be. All of us," Alfreno said. "We have a lot of weapons. You gotta cover all of us."

Jaskowak said the key to the passing success isn't all on his arm or his receivers.

The line of tackles Josh Woods and Kent Uber, guards Matt Turek and Ian Turner and mammoth center Tony Aloisio has kept Jaskowak upright in the pocket most of the season.

At first, Jaskowak was concerned about the line, especially with Woods, a sophomore, at tackle. It didn't take long for those fears to be dispelled.

"The line, at the beginning of the season, I wasn't really sure what I could expect from those guys," Jaskowak said. "But we all picked it up. They don't let up any sacks."

Jaskowak also has showed off his running ability this season. Although he has gained just 190 yards this season, he has scored eight times on the ground.

He ran 36 yards for a touchdown against Brookville.

"It's kind of exciting when you are getting the ball," Jaskowak said. "It's like, 'Oh, man, I've never really done this before.' But, you know, you just go out there and get as many yards as you can."

Bell is hoping college coaches will take notice.

"He does a heck of a job running it and throwing it," Bell said. "Hopefully some colleges will see he can run and throw."