SHADYSIDE - With their playoff lives hanging in the balance, Mark Holenka's Shadyside Tigers came out fired up Saturday afternoon at a cold and rainy Fleming Field.

The end result: a methodical 28-7 triumph against Holy Cross High School of Covington, Ky.

With the much-needed victory, the Tigers (5-5) punched their ticket into the Division VI, Region 23 playoffs. However, their final destination will be determined today.

''We snuck in and we're going to keep on sneaking until someone knocks us off,'' Holenka told his group in a joyous locker room.

Following last week's lackluster performance against Bridgeport (a 26-0 setback), Holenka said it would have been easy for his team to pack it in.

''They didn't,'' he said, ''and I'm very proud of them for that. They kept the faith and it turned out to be a good thing.''

The Tigers scored in every quarter in rolling to a 28-0 advantage until surrendering a late touchdown to the Indians (5-5), who have already qualified for Kentucky state playoffs.

Senior quarterback Dylan Kimble tossed two of the touchdowns, finding classmate Tyler Cline on a 38-yard scoring strike in the first quarter.

Junior fullback Brendon Sedinger bulled his way from a 1 yard out in the second quarter. Kimble connected with Nick Schuetz on the 2-point pass for a 14-0 margin.

On the first series of the third quarter, the Tigers marched 63 yards on eight plays with junior fullback Evan Marling busting up the middle on a 11-yard scoring jaunt. Cline's placement made it 21-0.

Kimble and Ellis Brown accounted for the final TD, with Brown hauling in a 38-yard pass while falling down in th end zone.

Sedinger finished with 101 yards on 23 carries, while Kimble passed for 151 yards on seven completions.

''The kids were focused and the coaches did a great job of getting them prepared,'' Holenka noted.