Erik Olson has won 22 games as Bethel Park's starting quarterback ... the Black Hawks are hoping he has two more victories in him.

Olson, a senior, has helped lead Bethel Park to the WPIAL Class AAAA championship and PIAA semifinals this season, his second as a starter. Having a rock-solid, dependable and experienced senior quarterback has been quite a starting point around which the Black Hawks could build their championship team this season.

"He's had a lot of success winning a lot of big games," Bethel Park coach Mike Metheny said. "He's been there before, made a lot of plays and has a lot of confidence. He's been in so many big-game situations now, so he's really pretty calm when he goes about his business.

"He's been able to do it before, and we have a lot of faith in him. We think he can lead us out to Hershey."

Should the Black Hawks (14-0) defeat West Lawn Wilson (14-0) at State College High School 1 p.m. Saturday, they will play for the PIAA title Dec. 13 at Hersheypark Stadium.

Olson is 22-4 as a starter, having won one game in relief during his sophomore season and having been the starter since the beginning of last season. Bethel Park went 7-4 and advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals when he was a junior, losing to eventual PIAA champion Central Catholic in that round. The Black Hawks haven't lost since.

"The experience definitely helps," Olson said. "There aren't as many nerves now. I'm getting used to being in situations where my team needs me to make plays. I feel like I've been there, and hopefully I can draw off my experience of 25 starts and come through any time my team needs me."

Olson, 6 feet 2, 203 pounds, has completed 56 percent of his passes this season (75-for-134) for 1,375 yards and 15 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. That followed a 2007 season in which he passed for 1,438 yards on 88-for-147 (60 percent) with 12 touchdowns and one interception. He also has four rushing touchdowns.

The two-season totals are impressive: 2,813 yards, 58 percent completions and a 27-to-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. By NFL standards, Olson's quarterback rating would be 110.8, high enough to lead the league.

"He's a great student of the game, a really good decision-maker," Metheny said.

"He's pretty good in pressure situations. He's able to get the ball to the guys to make the plays. We're really pleased to have him. I think he's played extremely well. We need him to play well to beat the caliber of competition we're playing against this time of year."

That decision-making comes in part from Olson's smarts -- he is a good student -- and partially from his experience.

"The last four years of studying the offense, being a backup and then coming in last year and starting, it all adds up," Olson said.

"It's been a lot of work, watching film, going through the offense, through plays, reading the progressions with coach before school, during the day, after school and at practice.

"I caught onto it real well, and now I understand it like it's the back of my hand. I feel like all that preparation helps me a lot as a quarterback."

Of course, a quarterback is only as good as the line that protects him and the playmakers around him to whom he can distribute the ball. A team captain, Olson is more than willing to point that out.

John Schademan has 35 catches for 880 yards and 11 touchdowns and Lyle Marsh 22 receptions for 333 yards and three receiving touchdowns. Marsh (1,098 yards) and Bre Ford (717) have been the biggest gainers on the ground.

"We're a very balanced and dynamic offense," Olson said. "Our line is doing great. They're blocking for Lyle and the running game and doing great protecting me when we pass, too.

"When the running game is going well, it can open up play-action passing because the defense brings the secondary a lot closer to the line. And when we throw, Schademan makes things happen."

Olson is being recruited by Ivy League and other Division I-AA schools. He said he is likely going to attend one of the Patriot League colleges that is recruiting him, such as Lehigh or Georgetown.

"He's a great teammate, there's no question," Metheny said. "He's a very, very team-oriented guy and a guy who helps the younger players out. He doesn't care about stats and all that kind of stuff. He just wants to win."

The game

• What: Bethel Park (14-0) vs. West Lawn Wilson (14-0).

• When: 1 p.m. Saturday.

• Where: Memorial Field, State College High School.

• The skinny: On the line is a trip to the PIAA Class AAAA final 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Hersheypark Stadium.