Mercury Football Notebook: With offense grounded, Perk Valley’s special teams pulls out much-needed win

Over the past decade or so, Perkiomen Valley’s football program has become accustomed to success.

The Vikings have claimed consecutive Pioneer Athletic Conference championships, and haven’t missed the district playoffs since 2012. With every intention of continuing both streaks this season, an 0-2 start wasn’t what any members of the program had in mind.

That’s one reason Saturday’s 18-12 victory over Pennridge was so critical. Instead of facing must-win scenarios for the balance of the regular season, the Vikings instead notched a win over a team that perplexed them throughout 2017 (Pennridge handed PV both its losses in a 10-2 campaign) and the squad appears to be rounding into form just in time for PAC play.

“The idea of going 0-3… we’re not accustomed to it,” said coach Rob Heist after the win.

Perhaps it was the way the Vikings claimed their first win that was most important to Heist. Everyone knows and respects the Perkiomen Valley offense, with its lineage of All-Area QBs dating back to when Heist was the QB coach in the early part of decade. But after surrendering 77 combined points in their first two games, the Vikings’ defense and special teams rose to the occasion Saturday.

“The weather kind of rendered the passing game useless for both teams,” admitted Heist.

Instead, kickoff returns by Randy Washington and Malik Smith accounted for all the Vikings’ second-half scoring. Meanwhile, Austin Rowley picked off two passes with Washington adding a third as the PV defense turned in its best performance of 2018.

Washington’s 77-yard return made the score 12-0 PV right after halftime, but early in the fourth quarter Pennridge cut the lead in half on a one-yard touchdown run. The 12-play, 67-yard drive had all the makings of a momentum changer — until Smith fielded the ensuing kickoff.

“Malik’s return — that was the moment when I felt like we’d won the game,” said Heist. “It came at the perfect time.”

Best of all, for a group of players who have been accustomed to playing on a team with such a prolific offense, Saturday’s game underscored the importance of all three facets of the game and how game-changing plays can come at any moment, from any position.

“I mean, we had a couple of really crucial long snaps on punts — we were using our (second-string) long snapper,” said Heist. “They seem like small things — until they become critical. Special teams will be a point of emphasis this week, and I think it’s a little easier to make those points after a game like Saturday.”

The theme of players stepping up in the absences of their teammates isn’t a new one for the Vikings, who really haven’t been at 100 percent yet this year, particularly on defense. On Saturday, they found themselves without a pair of starting linebackers — one absence due to a conflict with ACT testing that only became an issue when the game was rescheduled due to rain Friday night.

“That’s one reason I wanted to play Friday,” admitted Heist. “But when we rescheduled, suddenly we’re down two starters in our 3-3 stack.”

Luckily, junior Hayden Bailly stepped up, registering several tackles including a quarterback sack.

“I thought Hayden played really well for us,” said Heist. “He’s still getting used to the speed of the varsity game, but his play was critical against Pennridge.”

For Coach Heist, the absences of key players are a mixed bag.

“It stinks that we haven’t been at full strength,” the coach lamented, “but I’m pretty pumped to see what we’re capable of once we get there.”

Offensive Player of the Week >> Norristown WR Christian Thomas snared six passes for 76 yards and three TDs as the Eagles earned the first victory of the Joe Milligan era, 26-14 over neighboring rival Plymouth-Whitemarsh.

Defensive /Special Teams Player of the Week >> Perkiomen Valley’s special teams receives this honor for their work in opening lanes for both Randy Washington and Malik Smith to return second-half kickoffs for TDs, scores that were ultimately the difference in the Vikings’ 18-12 victory over Pennridge.

Around the Area >> Phoenixville got the week started with a Thursday victory in Kennett (the game was moved up a night due to Kennett Square’s annual Mushroom Festival, scheduled for this past weekend) by a score of 21-14. Coach Don Grinstead’s running game amassed 242 yards on the ground, with backs Alex Washington and Travis Pannella each eclipsing the 100-yard mark. A trip to Chichester awaits the Phantoms in Week 4.

The Pottsgrove/Boyertown matchup featured the area’s two schools who are perhaps best versed in smashmouth football, programs dedicated to establishing the run at all costs. Not surprisingly, it was the squad who was best able to follow this mantra who came out on top. Pottsgrove carried the ball 45 times for 315 yards in their 34-8 victory, while Boyertown QB Ayden Mathias was forced to the air 29 times. Pottsgrove’s issues with ball security continued, however, as they lost three fumbles on the evening.

Owen J. Roberts was the only area team scheduled for Friday whose game went off without a hitch weather-wise. It was upon encountering Oxford QB Brett Kochmansky that the trouble started for the Wildcats, who fell to 2-1 with a 28-9 loss. Kochmansky put up 284 yards of total offense (167 pass, 117 rush) and three scores in the contest. OJR was able to rally with a Cooper Chamberlain to Savaughn Davidheiser TD pass before halftime, but an Alijah Thomas pick-six gave Oxford back its two-score lead as the Hornets went to 3-0.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a game that was as difficult to track as Pope John Paul II’s contest with Chichester. The two teams were originally scheduled to square off at Conshohocken’s “A” Field at 7 p.m. Friday night, but didn’t start until nearly 8 p.m. due to weather. After seven minutes of play (and an opening TD from Chichester), further weather issues forced the game’s postponement until 1 p.m. Saturday.

But they weren’t finished. Not only was the game further suspended until 7 p.m. Saturday, it was moved to Chichester’s home field. In the end, the wait paid off, as Kamal Gray tossed three TD passes and a late blocked PAT gave PJP a 21-20 victory and a 3-0 start for the second consecutive year.

Pottstown became the third PAC team to take down Kutztown in non-conference action, getting back on track with a 42-12 victory. A week after being gashed by West Chester East in a 26-0 defeat, the Trojans’ defense held Kutztown to 125 yard total offense. Dereck Darden (17 carries, 118 yards) led a rushing attack that compiled 284 yards as the Trojans moved to 2-1 ahead of next week’s cross-divisional showdown with Methacton.

Anyone who complained about the number of penalty flags in Thursday night’s Eagles’ game was well-advised to avoid Grigg Stadium Friday night for the season opener between Wyoming Seminary and Hill School. The two sides combined to commit 42 penalties on the evening as Wyoming Seminary ultimately claimed a sloppy 20-12 victory. The Blue Knights overcame an astounding 28 penalties for 209 yards to hold on late and claim the victory.

In their breakthrough victory over Bishop Shanahan Friday night, Daniel Boone didn’t complete a single pass. Of course, winning a game under such conditions is much easier when you run the ball for over a quarter-mile, as Boone did in accruing 463 rushing yards in the victory that improved their record to 2-1. Tanner Vanderslice’s 8-yard run with 1:12 remaining was the difference as the Blazers matched 2017’s win total.

Upper Merion and Methacton had to wait until late Saturday afternoon to christen the new turf at Viking Stadium, but the hosts made sure it was a memorable debut as they shut out a second straight opponent, topping the Warriors 14-0. The Vikings, who also shut out Norristown, 10-0 in Week 2, received another workhorse-like performance from RB Zaire Savage while the defensive effort was led by senior DE Kevin Jainlett.

Upper Merion looks to make it three straight next week in a cross-divisional matchup at Owen J. Roberts.

Spring-Ford was unable to recover from a sloppy first half in losing to Wilson West Lawn for the third straight year, 33-22. The Rams mounted a rally after going into the locker room down 21-0 behind the arm of Ryan Engro (19-32, 224 yards, 2 TDs), who found Noah Baker and Dante Bonanni for second-half scores. Troy Corson’s 74-yard score on a fourth-quarter punt return iced the game for the Bulldogs, who moved to 2-1 on the year.

Upper Perkiomen started strong on both sides of the ball against Upper Moreland Friday night, when lightning postponed the game with 11:27 left in the second quarter and the Indians ahead, 7-0. When the teams resumed Saturday, the Golden Bears found their offensive rhythm, scoring three touchdowns of 70+ yards in pulling away for a 47-33 victory. The Indians look to recover next week when they host Fleetwood.

Up Next >> In the Liberty Division, Spring-Ford and Owen J. Roberts return home to host Exeter and Upper Merion, respectively. Perkiomen Valley winds down its non-league schedule with Interboro, while Boyertown hosts Berks Catholic. Norristown looks for a second straight victory against Cheltenham.

The Frontier Division slate is highlighted by Pottsgrove’s trip to Glen Mills, while Pope John Paul II welcomes Schuylkill Valley. Phoenixville visits Chichester, while Pottstown hosts Methacton in a cross-divisional matchup. Fleetwood comes to Pennsburg to challenge Upper Perkiomen.