PAC’s Eight from Week 8: PV’s Sturm eclipses new career mark; Spring-Ford stars climbing up record book; Garcia remains bright spot for Phoenixville
Well, Week 8 provided the answers the area was seeking.
Pottsgrove and Perkiomen Valley will vie for a Pioneer Athletic Conference title in two weeks.
Upper Perkiomen has solidified its spot in the District 1 Class 4A playoffs.
And yes, Phoenixville’s Matt Garcia and Pottsgrove’s Rahsul Faison are that good.
Here are eight things from Week 8:
1. Perkiomen Valley, Pottsgrove clinch division titles
The Vikings’ 43-0 victory over Norristown ensured them a spot in the inaugural PAC Championship game on Friday, October 28. Senior tailback David Williams registered a season-best performance in Friday night’s win, rushing for 144 yards and two touchdowns while also hauling in four passes for 51 yards as the Vikings’ built a 21-0 lead after the first quarter.
Meanwhile, Pottsgrove’s Rahsul Faison rushed for a season-best 242 yards and four touchdowns as the Falcons outscored Phoenixville 42-13 in the second half to come away with a 56-37 victory.
2. Perkiomen Valley’s Sturm passes Chad Henne on All-Time Career Yards list
Perkiomen Valley senior quarterback Stephen Sturm moved his way up the Pennsylvania career passing yards list after his 210-yard performance in Friday’s victory. Sturm, who now has 7,237 passing yards, eclipsed Chad Henne’s mark of 7,071 set at Wilson West-Lawn from 2000-2003. Henne went on to start at the University of Michigan before playing in the NFL for Miami and Jacksonville, where he’s currently a backup to Blake Bortles.
Sturm has a little ways to go to top District 1’s most prolific passer Pat Devlin, who passed for 8,162 yards during his time at Downingtown East from 2002-2005.
3. Matt Garcia remains a bright spot for Phoenixville
Friday’s battle between the two leading tailbacks in the PAC in Faison and Garcia didn’t disappoint. Garcia once again showed his speed and power, rushing for 201 yards on 26 carries with two scores. It was Garcia’s fourth 200-yard game this season, and third in the last four games.
Garcia leads the PAC with 1,416 yards on 189 attempts and has been held under 100 yards once — a 90-yard performance in the team’s 32-6 loss to Oxford in Week 3.
4. Spring-Ford stars making program history
Spring-Ford senior defensive end Tanner Romano registered six tackles for a loss in Friday night’s 52-0 victory over Boyertown, a new single-game record. Romano now has 17 tackles for loss this season and is two shy of tying his brother’s mark (Mason) of 19 set in 2012. Other notes from Spring-Ford: senior running back Matt Gibson has climbed to seventh on the all-time school career rushing yards list with 2,168. Selwyn Simpson is now eighth on the all-time school career scoring list with 190. Also, Justin DeFrancesco (100 yards on eight carries and a touchdown) had his first career game with 100-yards rushing.
5. Bears can’t find ‘O’
The season has gone south fast for Boyertown, which has lost five of its last six and has been shut out in three straight games (outscored 111-0) in the process. This is the first time that a team has been shut out in three straight league losses since St. Pius X in 2006, which couldn’t put up any points in losses to Spring-Ford, Boyertown and Pottsgrove to end its season.
6. PJP’s PAC hopes eliminated, district hopes now in jeopardy
The Golden Panthers have crashed down after their first three-game winning streak since 2011 had hopes high in Royersford. Now, after Friday’s 32-13 loss to Upper Perkiomen, PJP’s firm grasp on the No. 4 spot in the District 1 Class 4A race is slipping. The reason? Pottstown’s win over Class 5A Upper Merion has them 30 power points behind PJP, which came in with a commanding 150 point lead. Watch for this race for the last playoff spot the next two weeks.
7. Tough-Actin’ Methacton
The Warriors’ 14-12 victory over OJR in a defensive slugfest has given the team their second consecutive victory after an 0-6 start. It’s the team’s first two-game winning streak since the Warriors won four straight to end the 2014 season.
Ryan O’Toole has had a heavy hand in both wins, rushing for a combined 179 yards and two touchdowns.
8. Whary closing in on 1,000
Upper Perkiomen’s Tyler Whary is closing in on 1,000 yards for the season after rushing for 127 yards and a score in the team’s victory over PJP. Whary, a junior, finished with 246 yards last season.
Offensive Player of the Week
Rahsul Faison, Pottsgrove >> Junior running back rushed for 242 yards and four touchdowns as Falcons overcame 10-point halftime deficit to top Phoenixville 56-37.
Defensive Players of the Week
Tanner Romano, Spring-Ford >> Romano finished with six tackles for a loss and two sacks in team’s win over Boyertown.
Ryan Kendra, Upper Perkiomen >> Kendra picked off two passes in Upper Perk’s win over PJP.
Coach of the Week
Tom Calvario, Perkiomen School >> Perk School won its fourth straight game with a 28-13 victory over Academy of the New Church Saturday afternoon.
