Pioneer Athletic Conference 2019 Preview and Team-by-Team Breakdowns

[tps_title]Boyertown Bears [/tps_title]

Boyertown’s success in 2019 hinges on Terra’s revamped defense

Following a season where defensive struggles and repeated injuries led to a 1-9 finish, it’s back to basics for the Boyertown Bears.

“If you’re going to miss tackles, you’re going to lose football games,” simplified coach T.J. Miller, who enters his third season at the helm. “We spent a lot of time this spring relearning how to tackle.”

Miller also promoted assistant Joe Terra to the position of defensive coordinator, where Terra is expected to bring a slightly new approach, but more importantly, to create an excitement for the players about being part of the unit that turns things around for the Bears’ program.

Miller spoke in particular about the secondary and the need to limit big plays in the passing game—an obvious point of emphasis in a division whose top contending teams return experienced playmakers at the quarterback and wide receiver positions. He’ll count on senior safety Aaron Tidd and junior corner Connor Rohrbach to head up a unit that went through significant growing pains in 2018, but figures to take a step forward under Terra’s tutelage this season.

The emphasis is heavy on defense because the pieces are in place for a potentially explosive Bears offense this year. It starts with senior running back Jamison Moccia, a second team All-Area performer a season ago who led the PAC’s Liberty Division with 5.8 yards per carry. Moccia, one of the top sprinters in the state during track and field season, is a threat to break a big play every time he touches the ball—which he does in the rushing, passing and return games as often as possible.

“As we develop as a team, everybody learns their roles,” said Moccia. “Winning gives you confidence, but it’s only possible when every player does his job.” 

Noah Segal gained valuable experience under center last year when now-graduated starter Ayden Mathias went down with an injury for several weeks. Miller expects Segal to be pushed at QB by improved depth at the position—“the most depth we’ve had at quarterback since I’ve been here”—but ultimately, the smart money is on the junior to begin the year in charge of the offense.

He’ll be protected by an offensive line led by experienced seniors Jeremy Hetrick and Anthony Bauer on the interior, and with impressive size at the tackle spots in junior Joe Slowik and senior Rob Wood. Boyertown’s option attack doesn’t typically lend itself to a lot of downfield passing, but Miller expects to open things up a bit this year with a group of receivers led by Rohrbach.