Mercury Area Week 5 Preview
Friday’s games
Muhlenberg at Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.
Record: Muhlenberg 1-0 Berks 1, 1-3 overall; Daniel Boone 0-1 Berks I, 3-1 overall.
Last week: Muhlenberg defeated Pottsville 18-13; Daniel Boone lost to Conrad Weiser 31-10.
Muhls Facts/Figures: Najee Smith comes into the game with 236 rushing yards with Kevens Duffault behind him at 191 yards. … Muhls have been outscored 78-14 in the first quarter. … Turnovers are an issue as Muhls have eight lost fumbles and five interceptions.
Blazers Facts/Figures: Blazers missed Cinque Ramsey on offense and defense last week. … Nick Hughes struggled through the air, completing 5-of-23 passes for 97 yards. … Hughes has only completed 35 percent of his passes this season. … Defense is eighth in Berks Conference in yards allowed (287.5 per game).
Notable: Daniel Boone kicker Drew Kresge hit a school-record 46-yard field goal in the team’s loss last week. … The game will be Daniel Boone’s Homecoming Game. … Blazers haven’t lost to Muhlenberg since 2012.
Methacton at Spring-Ford, 7 p.m.
Record: Methacton 0-3 PAC-10, 0-4 overall; Spring-Ford 3-0 PAC-10, 4-0 overall.
Last week: Methacton lost to Upper Perkiomen 31-21; Spring-Ford defeated Boyertown 39-6.
Warriors Facts/Figures: Quarterback Jason Eckman threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns in loss to Upper Perk and now sits fourth in the PAC-10 in passing yards (489). Dylan Feaster hauled in seven passes for 98 yards in the loss. … Warriors are last in points for (54) and points against (182).
Rams Facts/Figures: Senior quarterback Ricky Venuto continues his torrid start on the season as he’s second to only Perkiomen Valley’s Stephen Sturm in passing yards (640) and passing touchdowns (9). … Dan Kelchner matched his own school record with four tackles for a loss in win over Boyertown. … Rams defense is second to only Pottstown in yards allowed (222.5 per game) and second in total offense (362.0 per game).
Notable: Game was moved from Methacton to Spring-Ford because of Methacton’s turf field not being ready. … Spring-Ford will wear white-on-white for first time at Coach McNelly Stadium.
Phoenixville at Owen J. Roberts, 7 p.m.
Record: Owen J. Roberts 1-1 PAC-10, 1-3 overall; Phoenixville 1-2 PAC-10, 1-3 overall
Last week: Owen J. Roberts lost to Perkiomen Valley 49-14; Phoenixville lost to Pottsgrove 42-7.
Notable: See story on The Mercury.
Upper Perkiomen at Pottsgrove, 7 p.m.
Record: Upper Perkiomen 1-2 PAC-10, 1-3 overall; Pottsgrove 2-1 PAC-10, 2-2 overall.
Last week: Upper Perkiomen defeated Methacton 31-21; Pottsgrove defeated Phoenixville 42-7.
Indians Facts/Figures: Michael Felix turned in a season-best 218 yards on the ground in the Indians’ first win of the season last Friday. Zeke Hallman finished with 127 yards passing and one touchdown.
Falcons Facts/Figures: Falcons limited Phoenixville to 10 yards of total offense and -26 yards on the ground. … Running back Tyrell Barr had another 100-yard game finishing with 118 yards. … Ryan Finn threw for 117 yards and three touchdowns in the win.
Notable: Falcons are hosting their annual Pink Out game in an effort to increase awareness of Breast Cancer. … Falcons haven’t lost to Upper Perkiomen since 2006 season.
Perkiomen School at Nativity BVM, 7 p.m.
Record: Perkiomen School 2-1 overall; Nativity BVM 0-4 overall.
Last week: Perkiomen School lost to George School 25-24; Nativity BVM lost to Chichester 55-15.
Panthers Facts/Figures: Ja’Ren Hampton finished with 150 yards receiving in the team’s loss to George School. … Panthers finished with 11 penalties for 111 yards in the loss.
Green Wave Facts/Figures: Nativity is being outscored 177-88 on the season. … Team gave up 41 unanswered against Chichester after opening up 7-0 lead. … Team allowed 246 yards rushing to Kevin Miller in the loss.
Notable: Perkiomen School is looking to extend win streak over Nativity to three games. … Perkiomen School has started off 2-1 the last four seasons.
Saturday’s Games
Boyertown at Pope John Paul II, 1 p.m.
Record: Boyertown 1-2 PAC-10, 1-3 overall; Pope John Paul II 0-3 PAC-10, 0-4 overall.
Last week: Boyertown lost to Spring-Ford 39-6; Pope John Paul II lost to Pottstown 52-34.
Bears Facts/Figures: Bears allowed 36 second-half points to Rams in loss. … Garnett finished with 88 yards passing and sits seventh in the PAC-10 in passing yards (371). … Bears are ninth in the PAC-10 in points per game (67), seventh in yards allowed (337 per game) and ninth in total offense (196.2 per game).
Golden Panthers Facts/Figures: Golden Panthers continue to see impressive play from senior quarterback Matt Duff (47-for-84, 620 yards and eight touchdowns). … Senior Jared Johns-Lupold hauled in a season-best nine receptions for 144 yards in loss last week. … Golden Panthers are allowing a PAC-worst 407.2 yards per game.
Notable: Bears have started at 1-2 or worse in the PAC-10 every year since 2011, that was also last year PJP has defeated them.
Perkiomen Valley at Pottstown, 3 p.m.
Record: Perkiomen Valley 3-0 PAC-10, 4-0 overall: Pottstown 3-0 PAC-10, 4-0 overall.
Last week: Perkiomen Valley defeated Owen J. Roberts 49-14
Vikings Facts/Figures: Vikings are averaging a PAC-best 49 points per game. … Junior quarterback Stephen Sturm leads the area in passing yards (912) and touchdowns (13). … Justin Jaworski leads PAC-10 in receptions (17 for 291 and three touchdowns). … TJ Foley has 2.5 sacks this season and 13 since 2014. … Vikings are averaging 448.2 yards per game, a PAC-10 high.
Trojans Facts/Figures: Trojans received another 100-yard performance from Brandon Tinson in last week’s win over Golden Panthers. … Trojans lead the PAC-10 in total defense (202.8 yards per game) and are outscoring opponents 60-12 in the first half. … Bryant Wise sits at No. 3 in the PAC-10 in rushing yards (446 on 59 carries).
Notable: Pottstown hasn’t topped Perk Valley since 2002. … Trojans are 4-0 overall for first time since 2003.
Springside-Chestnut Hill at The Hill School, 4 p.m.
Record: Springside-Chestnut Hill 3-1 overall; Hill School 0-2 overall.
Last week: Springside-Chestnut Hill lost to Father Judge 38-0; Hill School lost to Episcopal Academy 23-18.
Blue Devils Facts/Figures: Team is led by running back Jordan Young, who had 281 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 13 carries in a win over Mastery Charter North before last week’s loss. … Darian Bryant (6-6, 330 lbs.) is team’s imposing force on the line.
Rams Facts/Figures: Hill coming off back-to-back losses. … Hakim Coles leads team with 128 yards rushing on 29 carries. … Freshman quarterback Syre Gruber has thrown three interceptions in place of post-grad quarterback Clayton Oliver who broke his right throwing hand in practice before the team’s opener against Germantown Academy.
Notable: Young transferred from St. Joseph’s Prep and has given a verbal commit to play lacrosse at the University of Maryland. … His brother Chase currently plays for the Michigan lacrosse team.
