[tps_title]Methacton Warriors [/tps_title]
Methacton’s Ryan O’Toole is brought down by PJP’s Ryan Kormos after breaking a long run in the second half. The Warriors will need to replace his production in ’17. (Sam Stewart – Digital First Media)
Warriors making do with what they have in ‘17
FAIRVIEW VILLAGE >> A numbers game isn’t what one would expect from a Class 6A school, but the low turnout for the Methacton football program the past two seasons has put the Warriors in a bind.
They’re hoping 2017 can pull them out.
Following two trying seasons with a roster in the low-to-mid 30s, the Warriors enter this season with hopes of reversing a trend that has seen the team fall to 4-18 after compiling an 8-2 record in 2014. 
Junior fullback and linebacker Gary Knox and senior lineman Patrick Kiely both have hopes that Methacton is on the right path, their “Strength of the Tribe is in the Warrior and the Strength of the Warrior is in the Tribe” moniker on the back of their T-shirts really saying it all.
“We’ll make do with what we have,” Knox said. “We have to do it every year and this year won’t be any different. We have players out that are ready to show what they can do and we’re ready for the season.”
“We just need everyone to keep their heads high and stay strong,” Kiely added. “We’ve had low numbers before.”
Kiely returns to the line after missing the majority of 2016 with an injury to his MCL along with a heart issue that he attributed to anxiety. He’s looking to shore up a line that graduated Stephen Rhoads but returns Lucas McNally, Patrick Maloney and Leland Mersky into the mix. All have learned each position on the line so that they could be interchangeable in case of injury or fatigue.
Will Roese looks to start at quarterback after the departure of Jason Eckman and will look for a new target after the graduation of leading rusher and second-leading receiver Ryan O’Toole (654 rushing yards on 158 carries; 395 receiving yards on 30 receptions).
Knox returns at linebacker for a defense that lost leading sack-getter Dylan Henry. He’ll look to figure in on the resurgence of a defensive unit that finished last in yards allowed per game (392.3) and points allowed per game (34.6) last season.
“Our goal each day is to improve,” Knox said. “We have the pieces to do that and we’ve made steps in the offseason to try and better ourselves entering this year.”
For Real this Time
Harry S. Truman, one of the Warriors’ scrimmaging partners the last few years, comes into Fairview Village for both team’s opener on August 25.
Need for Improvement
Moving the chains. Methacton ranked last in the PAC last season with 108 first downs.
By Sam Stewart; sstewart@pottsmerc.com
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