Boys of Bucktown ready to push OJR to first 2-0 mark since 2009
BUCKTOWN >> Seven years ago most current Wildcats were still wandering the halls of elementary school.
Now, the Boys of Bucktown have a chance at restoring the Red and Silver to their former glory as Great Valley’s visit Friday night stands between Owen J. Roberts’ first 2-0 start since the days of Ryan Brumfield in 2009.
“We haven’t been 2-0 in the longest time so if we can get to 2-0 that’d be good for us,” starting quarterback Dawson Stuart said. “We can get the fanbase back, have more people come out to the games.
“As our coach said 80 percent of the teams that get to 2-0 make it to the playoffs and that’s our goal.”
“It’ll be a real big win around here,” added wideout Sean Praweckyj. “We haven’t won a lot here lately so it’ll be a big one for our team, coaches and everyone around here.”
The Wildcats already broke free of their Week 1 struggles with a 39-0 dismantling of rebuilding Conestoga, their first victory over the Pioneers since 2009. The Wildcats defense was the catalyst to a full-on romp, limiting Conestoga to 54 yards on the ground. Stuart passed for 172 yards and three scores while Hunter Hinrichs hauled in four receptions for a team-best 90 yards.
Ryan Hubley and Great Valley present a taller task.
The Patriots began their season with a convincing 38-0 victory over a depleted Phoenixville squad in Week 1. Hubley was held to a pedestrian (by his standards) two receptions for 48 yards with QB Robert Geiss throwing for 90 yards and rushing for 90 more on eight attempts.
Those two are the main targets for the OJR defense after the duo torched the Wildcats in last season’s 34-21 win. Hubley hauled in seven receptions for 117 yards and was responsible for the game’s final two scores, GV coming back from a 21-20 deficit in the fourth quarter. Geiss added 176 through the air with three scores.
“(Ryan) Hubley a great athlete,” Stuart said. “He killed us last year. If we can lock him down and keep the quarterback in the pocket, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be in the game.
“Last year we felt as if we gave it away in the first half, they jumped out to a 21-0 lead on us. We just wanted to flip the script on them, get up big early and not let the foot off the gas.”
News and Notes
The Mercury reported the passing of Charles “Chuck” Pool, of the Trappe area. He was the father of Nate and Dylan Pool, both current and former Perkiomen Valley students. A Go Fund Me page has been set up here.
Hardwood to the gridiron
Spring-Ford hosts Chester for the first time in program history Friday night at 7 p.m. The Rams lost to the Clippers during hoops season 74-49 in the PIAA-AAAA second round.
