[tps_title]Pottsgrove Falcons [/tps_title]
Pottsgrove’s Rahsul Faison returns as the area’s leading rusher. (Sam Stewart – DFM)
Pottsgrove staying grounded after district title
POTTSGROVE >> Pottsgrove’s Rahsul Faison burst onto the Pioneer Athletic Conference radar last season, becoming a key piece to the Falcons’ run to a District 1 Class 4A championship.
With the senior Stony Brook commit back along with a bevy of starters that gained a valuable year of experience, Pottsgrove has the sky as its limit. 
Falcons’ players, as always, tend to stay grounded.
“We’re looking to build team chemistry and replace the pieces that we had lost with people graduating like Tyler Smith or Ryan Finn,” senior nose guard Parris Janusek said. “We’re trying to get everyone to come together, work hard and get better every single day.”
“We just need to keep our heads straight and take it game-by-game,” safety and wide receiver Bailey Delp added.
The Falcons, ranked No. 17 in Pa Prep Live’s Preseason Top 20, entered 2016 with question marks across the board as they needed to replace four of their five offensive lineman and the team’s leading rusher. They did so in true Pottsgrove fashion. The puzzle pieces came together during camp, bonded together during the season and shined as the Falcons eventually ousted Interboro in a dramatic overtime victory in the district title game.
Guards Ephraim Hurt-Ramsey and Parris Janusek return from the district title team and will be paving the way for Faison, who rushed for nearly 2,200 yards (a PAC best) in a scintillating junior campaign. He looked in fine form in the Falcons’ first scrimmage against Perkiomen Valley, displaying an explosive speed in space as well as quick cuts and decisions at the point of attack. He’s not thinking about his success last season, only from what may come next in 2017.
“I don’t think of last year, I’m just thinking about moving forward,” Faison said. “I want to make my team better as much as I can and I know that they’ll be in front doing their best.”
Faison is joined by returning starters Desmond Austin (receiver), fullback Javon Colbert and ‘Sunshine Ronnie Bass’ … Delp at receiver. Jay Sisco will take over at quarterback in replacement of the graduated Ryan Finn with Malik Garner earning time at wide receiver.
Defensively, the Falcons return eight starters including defensive end Ryan Bodulus, defensive tackle Michael Dickey, linebackers Nehamiah Collins and Isaiah Glover along with Kobey Baldwin, Delp and Avery Grant in the secondary. They’ll try and continue their efforts after finishing third in the PAC in total defense last season.
“We’re looking to go further, there’s no other way to go from last season but up,” Austin said. “We’re working hard and staying committed to what we need to do.”
“Coach Pennypacker is a quality over quantity type of guy,” Janusek added. “He always preaches you play as you practice. We have to give it all during practice so we can show out during games and the win big ones. Our success hinges on it.”
Annual Military Night
Pottsgrove’s September 15th contest against Glen Mills will be host to the Falcons’ annual Military, First Responder and Youth Night. All military and first responders are given free admission to the game, and along with youth players and coaches, will form a team tunnel for the Falcon team as they rush the field with American flags. The Falcons lost to West Catholic in last year’s Military Appreciation night in Week 1.
By Sam Stewart; sstewart@pottsmerc.com
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