Reporter/Times Herald Area Week Six Football Previews
The top spot in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division is at stake when Pope John Paul II travels to Pottsgrove Friday night in a battle of undefeated squads.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The Golden Panthers, fresh off a 40-0 shutout of Upper Perkiomen, come into this one a perfect 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the division. The Falcons, with their 45-6 rout of Pottstown, are an identical 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the division.
It is also a matchup of District One powers: Pottsgrove is currently the No. 1 seed in Class 4A, Pope John Paul II the top seed in Class 3A.
This Pope John Paul II squad is breaking new ground.
None of the current players had been on a team that had defeated Upper Perkiomen, until last week. The Golden Panthers scored on their first five possessions and broke it open early.
Key to the victory was running back A.J. Natale, who rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns, while Matt Moroz kicked a pair of field goals to widen the gap.
Two-time defending division champion Pottsgrove will present quite a challenge.
The Falcons’ Isaiah Taylor rushed for over 200 yards last week as the Pottsgrove ground attack was in high gear. Taylor called this Falcons’ offensive line the best he has played behind.
Pottsgrove’s defense is also playing at a high level, holding Pottstown to under 100 yards on the ground and through the air.
Both teams have been waiting for this one.
Said Natale after last week’s victory: “We want to enjoy this game as much as possible, but we’re starting to get ready for Pottsgrove.”
Methacton at Spring-Ford
Time/Place: Saturday, 2 p.m., at Spring-Ford.
Records: Methacton is 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the PAC Liberty Division. Spring-Ford is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Liberty Division.
Last Week: The Warriors got their first win since 2016, routing Boyertown 36-7. The Rams cruised by Norristown, 36-6.
Last Meeting: Spring-Ford romped, 43-7.
Players to Watch: Dylan Schultz had a nice game throwing the ball last week for Methacton. Dante Bonanni is a big-play receiver for the Rams.
Prediction: Spring-Ford 28, Methacton 14.
Norristown at Perkiomen Valley
Time/Place: Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Methacton
Records: The Eagles are 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the PAC Liberty Division. The Vikings are 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Liberty Division.
Last Week: Norristown lost 36-6 to Spring-Ford. Perk Valley won 33-6 over Owen J. Roberts.
Last Meeting: PV blanked Norristown, 44-0.
Players to Watch: Cole Peterlin is a prolific passer for the Vikings. Norristown has a speedy runner to hand the ball to in Kirk Wilson.
Prediction: Perkiomen Valley 24, Norristown 7.
Pope John Paul II at Pottsgrove
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Pottsgrove.
Records: The Golden Panthers are 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Frontier Division. Pottsgrove is 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Frontier Division.
Last Week: PJP rolled, 40-0, over Upper Perk. The Falcons routed Pottstown 45-6.
Last Meeting: Pottsgrove piled up a 63-27 win over PJP.
Players to Watch: Bryan Bendig locks it down up front for the Golden Panther lines. The Falcons’ Isaiah Glover is a tough running back to stop.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 22, Pottsgrove 21.
Upper Merion at Upper Perkiomen
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Upper Perk.
Records: The Vikings are 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the PAC Frontier Division. Upper Perk is 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the PAC Frontier Division.
Last Week: Upper Merion held off Phoenixville, 24-14. Upper Perk had a tough time with PJP, falling 40-0.
Last Meeting: Upper Perk was on the winning end of a 35-14 decision.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Dale Clayton got hot last week for the Vikings. Tyler Weber is under center for the Indians and aims to give the offense a boost this week.
Prediction: Upper Merion 27, Upper Perk 16.
La Salle at St. Joseph’s Prep
Time/Place: Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Widener University.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Records: La Salle is 1-3 overall and 0-0 in the PCL Red. St. Joe’s is 2-0 overall and 0-0 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: The Explorers’ offense got going in a 58-28 win over Haverford School. The Hawks were idle.
Last Meeting: St. Joe’s Prep won 28-14 over La Salle.
Players to Watch: Linebacker Dillon Trainer brings the intensity level up for the La Salle defense. Running back Marques Mason has tremendous breakaway speed in the Hawks’ running attack.
Prediction: St. Joseph’s Prep 31, La Salle 17.
Quakertown at Wissahickon
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon.
On Twitter: @amarcus515.
Records: Quakertown is 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the SOL American. Wissahickon is 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the SOL American.
Last Week: The Panthers lost 17-14 to Cheltenham. The Trojans fell 28-14 to Hatboro-Horsham.
Last Meeting: Quakertown blew away the Trojans, 32-13.
Players to Watch: Linebacker Nick Levinski leads a swarming defense for the Panthers. Maurice Willis can get open downfield for the Trojans.
Prediction: Quakertown 35, Wissahickon 14.
Upper Dublin at Cheltenham
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Cheltenham.
On Twitter: @ADRobinson3.
Records: Upper Dublin is 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the SOL American. Cheltenham is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the SOL American.
Last Week: The Cardinals suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 42-17 to Penn Charter. The Panthers squeezed by Quakertown, 17-14.
Last Meeting: Upper Dublin won 49-7 over Cheltenham.
Players to Watch: Selvin Haynes is a solid corner for the Cardinal defense. Jamir Barnes is an elusive back for Cheltenham.
Prediction: Cheltenham 20, Upper Dublin 17.
Pennridge at Central Bucks West
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at CB West.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: Pennridge is 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the SOL Continental. CB West is 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: The Rams fell 38-33 to Souderton Area. The Bucks won 35-14 over William Tennent.
Last Meeting: Pennridge prevailed, 26-6, over West.
Players to Watch: Ryan Garner is coming off a three-touchdown game for the Rams’ running attack. Harry Jones gives the West secondary a lift.
Prediction: Pennridge 24, Central Bucks West 21.
North Penn at Council Rock South
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Council Rock North.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: North Penn is 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the SOL Continental. Council Rock South is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the SOL National.
Last Week: The Knights won 31-21 over Central Bucks East. The Golden Hawks were 14-10 winners over Abington.
Last Meeting: The two teams did not play in 2017.
Players to Watch: Shamar Edwards is a breakaway back for the Knights. Nick Gallo is a force at defensive end for Rock South.
Prediction: North Penn 31, Council Rock South 17.
Souderton at Central Bucks East
Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., at CB East.
On Twitter: @ADRobinson3.
Records: Souderton is 2-3 overall and 2-0 in the SOL Continental. CB East is 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: Big Red won a thriller over Pennridge, 38-33. The Patriots lost 31-21 to North Penn.
Last Meeting: CB East won a defensive battle over Souderton, 10-7.
Players to Watch: Explosive Deandre Wakefield has three rushing touchdowns in each of Souderton’s last two contests — both of them victories. Jake Ventresca is a patient, persistent runner for the Pats with the ability to break one loose.
Prediction: Souderton 20, Central Bucks East 17.
Germantown Academy at Lawrenceville School (N.J.)
Time/Place: Saturday, 2 p.m., at Lawrenceville School.
Records: The Patriots are 4-0 overall and 0-0 in the Inter-Ac. Lawrenceville is 0-3 overall.
Last Week: The Patriots rolled, 49-0 over Kipp-DuBois. Lawrenceville was shut out, 34-0, by Choate Rosemary Hall School.
Players to Watch: Trae Vance had a big day running the football last week for GA and looks for more of the same. Diassa Diakite is a speedy running back and cornerback for Lawrenceville.
Prediction: Germantown Academy 31, Lawrenceville School 14.
Bonner & Prendergast at Lansdale Catholic
Time/Place: Saturday, 5 p.m., at Wissahickon.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: Bonner-Prendie is 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the PCL Blue. Lansdale Catholic is 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the PCL Blue.
Last Week: B-P was shut out, 17-0, by Bishop McDevitt. The Crusaders lost 28-7 to West Catholic.
Last Meeting: The Crusaders won 25-12 over the Friars.
Players to Watch: Nasim Cooper is a slippery, quick running back for Bonner-Prendie. Quarterback Peter McHugh will look to get the LC attack untracked.
Prediction: Lansdale Catholic 21, Bonner & Prendergast 14.
Roman Catholic at Archbishop Wood
Time/Place: Saturday, 7 p.m., at Upper Moreland.
On Twitter: @amarcus515.
Records: Roman Catholic is 0-4 overall and 0-0 in the PCL Red. Wood is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: Roman was idle. The Vikings won 20-7 over Archbishop Spalding (Md.).
Last Meeting: The Vikings pulled away from the Cahillites, 38-6.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Jeff Grosso will look to air it out a bit in this one. Jack Colyar is under center for the high-powered Vikes.
Prediction: Archbishop Wood 32, Roman Catholic 13.
