Perkiomen School aided by added depth
By Dan Dunkin
For the Mercury
@DanDunkin1 on Twitter
A team that runs out of the full-house backfield plans to bring the house this season.
The Perkiomen School’s lead running back, senior David Juechter, likes the Panthers’ added depth in the backfield.
“Last year we had only three starters. This year we also have three to four subs,” Juechter said. “That allows us to stay fresh, which is going to be big this season.”
It helps to have a big guy leading the way up front. Offensive tackle Isaiah Armstrong, who goes 6-5, 350-plus, anchors a group that will have a big say in how far the Panthers go this season.
“It starts off with the line – everybody clicking together,” Armstrong said. “It’s going to be all hands on deck, and we’re going to be a threat.”
Sixth-year head coach Tom Calvario, whose club went 5-3 last year, faces the usual challenges of a boarding school in mixing returning players with additions, some of whom are from overseas and are playing football for the first time.
“We’re coming along,” Calvario says. “It’s trying to find and put people on the bus in the right seat. Some of the positions we have down.
“It’s a learning and growing experience for us. They work hard. It’s building. As long as we can continue to see improvement at every practice, we’re on the right track.”
The returning experience will be a big key, Juechter says.
“Last year we had a lot of juniors,” Juechter said. “Our main focus was to be as productive as we could to build onto this year, because we knew this would be our year.
“I think from last year to this year, we’re already ahead of where we were.”
Armstrong along with fellow seniors Jack Flynn and Quinn Kasner are returning O-line starters. In the backfield joining Juechter as starters will be senior Noah Ruff-Pringle and junior Josh Cruz. Probably eight players will be two-way starters in the beginning.
Depth might be an issue in spots for a team listing 34 players on its roster, but not at running back, Juechter insists.
“When the starters aren’t on the field, it’s like the starters are on,” he said. “We want to make sure the defense can’t tell who’s who, that we’re all gaining positive yards and doing what we need to do. Everyone’s a starter; that’s the mentality.”
Like Juechter, Armstrong is excited about the prospects of his senior season. Leading will be a big part of their job descriptions.
“I want to be a leader, show them what to do, and leave a legacy so when somebody moves up in grade next year, they can lead the team,” Armstrong said. “I want to go out with a bang.”
“The last time we went undefeated was 2000,” Juechter said.
Calvario and his staff are working hard to get their team ready quickly, and at the same time he’s conscious of the big picture.
“It’s the life lessons they learn on the practice field that will help them when they go on to college and after, in the workforce,” Calvario said. “It’s all the little things. If we can coach ‘em up to the best of their ability, expect them to understand the basic concepts, we’ll win a few games.
“These kids who are playing are playing for the love of the game, they really are. The potential is there for us.”
