Academically, Lohr, 17, could be many yards ahead. The standout tight end and defensive end at Phoenixville is enrolled in the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, a public school program offering home-schooling curricula and online assistance.

Through the program, Lohr also takes math, sociology and English courses at Montgomery County Community College's Pottstown campus three days a week. By the time he enters Vanderbilt, he could have as many as a freshman year's worth of college credits.

"Not being at the high school, you miss out on some things, obviously," Lohr said. "The social aspect of it is the biggest thing. But, overall, I think it's benefited me."

Lohr and his Phoenixville teammates open the PIAA District 1 Class AAA playoffs tonight at Unionville.

A senior, Lohr was home-schooled by his mother, Kim, from fifth to 10th grade. He enrolled in the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School last year, starting out with composition and math classes at Montgomery County Community College. In the spring, he studied accounting, psychology and chemistry.

"I'm still at the high school a lot," said Lohr, a captain of the football team. "Besides practice and weightlifting, I'm there for dances, youth-group stuff and other events. I get to see my friends and teammates often."

As of January 2007, according to Susan Patrick, president and chief executive officer of the North American Council for Online Learning, there were 173 cyber charter schools in the United States, with 92,235 students in 19 states. With 11 cyber schools, Pennsylvania is one of the leaders.

"The good thing about it is that you don't have other people slowing you down," said Lohr, currently taking an online marketing course. "You can work at your own pace."

At Montgomery County Community College, Lohr said, he "fits in pretty well" with other students. "The experience will definitely give me an advantage next year. I already know what is involved with taking a college course."

Eric Fath, a junior tight end and linebacker for Quakertown, has been home-schooled since the fourth grade. His mother, Lana, a former scientist at Rohm & Haas in Spring House, teaches him.

"She can tailor the lessons to my needs," Fath, 16, said. "Because of that, I can get more work done. It's more efficient."

Fath's Quakertown squad will be looking for win No. 2 tonight at Upper Perkiomen. The Panthers (1-9) also play a Thanksgiving Day game at Pennridge.

Fath's sister, Katie, 21, was also a homeschooler. She is studying fashion merchandising at Liberty University. Lana Fath gets teaching help from her husband, Larry, a chemist at Rohm & Haas.

Of home-schooling critics, Lana Faith said: "Every person has his or her own slant on the world. We want our children to be taught the slant we have. We are their parents. We have a responsibility to see that they get a proper education.

"I've enjoyed watching my kids go through the process of learning. I like tailoring their schoolwork to their particular likes and dislikes."

In addition to his home studies, Eric Fath takes courses in art, drama, history and music at the Master's Academy of Fine Arts in East Greenville. The Christian-based program is designed for homeschoolers.

At the end of each school year, Fath said, his academic portfolio is reviewed by a certified representative of the Mason Dixon Homeschoolers Association. In Fath's case, a Pennsylvania-based evaluator determines if he is meeting the requirements for the association's diploma.

"The evaluator interviews me, looks at all my work," Fath said. "He or she checks to see if what I'm saying I'm doing is actually what I'm doing."

Fath, a second-year starter for the Panthers, is just a five-minute drive from the high school.

"Every once in a while, if a practice time or something else changes, it's a problem," Fath said. But head coach John Donnelly "will usually give me a quick phone call and let me know what's up."