It started badly, but it has the potential to end superbly.

The Grove City High School football team's season has been a study in extremes. From a 0-2 start and desperation to a seven-game streak of dominance, to a blocked extra point to stay alive in the first round of the playoffs, to a piece of paper deciding the PIAA Western Final and sending it on its way to Hersheypark.

And now the Golden Eagles are 48 minutes away from a PIAA Class AA championship.

Here is a game-by-game look at the season:

Week 1, Sept. 3. Harbor Creek 34, Grove City 21

- The Eagles opened the season with high expectations and led Harbor Creek 14-7 at halftime.

But Grove City wore down in the second half and coughed up 27 points to drop the opener.

Jesse Alfreno rushed for 142 yards, including an 80-yard romp for the Eagles' first score of the season. He also caught five passes for 105 yards and an 89-yard touchdown reception.

Week 2, Sept. 10. Greenville 21, Grove City 14

- Trojans' running back Jared Zuschlag scored on a 2-yard run with 7:31 remaining in the fourth quarter to break a 14-all tie and send Grove City to 0-2.

It was the Eagles last loss.

Week 3, Sept. 17. Grove City 41, Reynolds 0

- One of the few games played on Friday night during the brunt of Hurricane Ivan, the Eagles blew through the Raiders with some hurricane-force winds of their own.

Grove City gave up just nine total yards and Alfreno was on the receiving end of scoring strikes of 34 and 45 yards from Jim Jaskowak.

The Eagles led 33-0 at the half and forced eight Reynolds fumbles.

Week 4, Sept. 24. Grove City 24, Slippery Rock 0

- The Eagles' defense hunkered down again, holding Slippery Rock to just 109 total yards in their second-straight shutout.

Alfreno gained 100 yards on the ground and linebacker Jack Vallely turned away the Rockets' Trevor Gallo on a fourth-and-goal run in the first half to preserve the shutout.

Week 5, Oct. 1. Grove City 21, Hickory 14

- The Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter and held on against a dangerous Hornets team.

Vallely caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Jaskowak with 6:22 remaining in the game to give the Eagles' the lead and the game.

Week 6, Oct. 8. Grove City 21, Wilmington 0

- Even with just 48 yards rushing, the Eagles were able to beat the Greyhounds on the road on the arm of Jaskowak.

The senior quarterback completed 10-of-19 passes for 219 yards, including a 51-yard scoring pass to Alfreno.

The defense earned its third shutout in four games, limiting Wilmington's potent attack to just 194 total yards and forcing three pivotal turnovers.

Week 7, Oct. 15. Grove City 42, Mercer 0

- Jaskowak ran for three touchdowns and threw for one more as the Eagles rolled past the Mustangs.

The defense gave up just nine yards and pitched its fourth shutout in its last five games.

Dan Wise had 82 yards on just eight carries and scored a touchdown rushing and receiving.

Week 8, Oct. 22. Grove City 47, Sharon 0

- The story again was the defense, which notched another shutout and held the Tigers to just 73 yards.

Grove City led 26-0 at the half and 40-0 after three quarters in cruising to its sixth-straight win - five by shutout.

The Eagles thought the winning streak would be enough to get them the at-large bid in District 10, but the committee, torn between Grove City and Fort LeBoeuf, decided to wait another week to decide.

Week 9, Oct. 29. Grove City 28, Brookville 0

- The Eagles concluded the season with another dominating performance. It was enough to finally clinch the fourth and final spot in the district playoffs.

District 10 Semifinals, Nov. 13. Grove City 30, North East 27 (OT)

- Trailing 27-19 after Zac Kuchta plunged in from the 1 with 6:20 remaining in the game, Kent Uber blocked the extra point to keep the Eagles alive.

Jaskowak then hit Tim Waxenfelter with a 41-yard touchdown pass and then found him in the end zone again for the two-point conversion to tie the score at 27 with 4:23 remaining.

In overtime, Uber threw Kuchta for a loss on fourth down on North East's possession before Grove City kicker Andy Hay hit a 27-yard field goal to win the game.

It didn't end without some confusion. After being hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that started the Eagles' overtime possession at the 25, the officials incorrectly signaled the chain gain to set up the first down marker at the 15.

Grove City earned what it thought was a first down, but officials concluded they were in error in setting up the sticks. That set up Hay's game-winning boot.

District 10 Championship Game, Nov. 20. Grove City 33, Harbor Creek 7

- The Eagles avenged their season-opening loss with a lopsided win to capture their first district title since 1961.

Grove City held Harbor Creek to just 143 yards and Alfreno rushed for 87 yards.

PIAA quarterfinal, Nov. 26. Grove City 27, Brookville 12 -

Dan Sonntag scored two touchdowns as the Eagles beat the Raiders for the second time in four weeks.

This one wasn't as easy as the first one. The Eagles took a 21-0 lead at the half, but Brookville stormed back with two quick touchdowns in the fourth quarter to trail by nine.

But Sonntag cliched the game with a 25-yard scoring run.

Sonntag finished with 40 yards on just three carries.

PIAA semifinals, Dec. 4. Grove City 21, Tyrone 17 -

The "Paper Game." The Eagles converted on a fourth-and-1 play with 1:30 remaining when the line judge couldn't slide a piece of paper between the yard marker and the tip of the football, giving the Eagles a first down by the narrowest of margins.

Grove City scored two plays later on a 10-yard run by Wise - who also gained that longest yard on fourth down - to earn its first-ever trip to the state title game and a matchup with Lansdale Catholic.