Reporter/Times Herald Area Week 10 Football Previews

In what should serve as a pretty good postseason appetizer, Pope John Paul II and Spring-Ford will square off in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship Game at Spring-Ford Friday night.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Golden Panthers completed a perfect 5-0 run through the Frontier Division last week, earning a 28-21 victory over Upper Merion. The Rams, meanwhile, completed a 5-0 mark in the Liberty, with a 40-35 triumph over Perk Valley.

PJP comes into the game 8-1 overall while Spring-Ford takes a 7-2 record into the PAC Title tilt.

Both squads leaned on their defenses last week to squeeze out a victory.

PJP’s Rocco DiRico came up with a game-saving interception, while Johnny Pergine was the key guy for the Rams, making a clinching tackle from his linebacker position in the final, frantic moments.

The game is a nice postseason tune-up for both squads.

The Rams come into the contest ranked seventh in the District 1-6A Standings while the Golden Panthers currently own the No. 1 seed in Class 3A.

The following is a game-by-game preview of the area for Week 10.

Pope John Paul II at Spring-Ford (PAC Championship)
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Spring-Ford.
Records: PJP is 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the PAC Frontier. The Rams are 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the PAC Liberty.
Last Week: PJP won 28-21 over Upper Merion. Spring-Ford won 40-35 over Perk Valley.
Players to Watch: Junior Rocco DiRico was the hero last week for the Golden Panthers, intercepting a pass to lock up the victory. Johnny Pergine came through for the Spring-Ford defense with a game-saving tackle from his linebacker spot.
Prediction: Spring-Ford 28, Pope John Paul II 21.

Upper Merion at Methacton
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Methacton.
Records: The Vikings are 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the PAC Frontier. The Warriors are 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the PAC Liberty.
Last Week: Methacton lost 15-0 to Owen J. Roberts. Upper Merion lost 28-21 to Pope John Paul II.
Players to Watch: Taiyan Lobban had a big rushing performance last week for the Vikings. Michael Torcini can rip off big runs for the Warriors.
Prediction: Upper Merion 16, Methacton 10.

Upper Perkiomen at Norristown
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Norristown.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Records: The Eagles are 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the PAC Liberty. The Tribe is 1-8 overall and 0-5 in the PAC Frontier.
Last Week: Norristown won 32-27 over Boyertown. Upper Perk lost 8-7 to Pottstown.
Players to Watch: Corey Jackson can throw it around for Upper Perk. Zion Malone has a nose for the end zone for the Norristown ground attack.
Prediction: Norristown 22, Upper Perkiomen 20.

Germantown Academy at SCH Academy
Time/Place: Saturday, 1:30 p.m., at Springside.
Records: GA is 4-2 overall and 0-2 in the InterAC. Springside is 6-1 overall and 1-1 in the InterAC.
Last Week: The Patriots lost 38-7 to Haverford School. Springside lost 35-34 to Episcopal Academy.
Players to Watch: Trae Vance is a breakaway back for the Pats. Ke’shawn Williams is a threat at wideout for Springside.
Prediction: Germantown Academy 20, SCH Academy 14.

La Salle at Roman Catholic
Time/Place: Saturday, 6 p.m., at Conshohocken A Field.
Records: La Salle is 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the PCL Red. Roman Catholic is 5-4 overall and 3-1 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: The Explorers lost 21-20 to Archbishop Wood. Roman rolled 43-0 over Archbishop Ryan.
Players to Watch: Sam Brown is a tremendous runner and receiver for the Explorers. C.J. Mole can break a long run for Roman.
Prediction: La Salle 25, Roman Catholic 10.

Father Judge at Archbishop Wood
Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., at William Tennent.
Records: Wood is 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the PCL Red. Judge is 2-7 overall and 1-3 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: The Vikings won 21-20 over La Salle. Judge lost 47-7 to St. Joe’s Prep.
Players to Watch: Shane McGovern contributes at both wideout and in the secondary for Judge. Wood has Cardel Pigford as a speedy weapon in its ground attack.
Prediction: Archbishop Wood 33, Father Judge 14.

Lansdale Catholic at Neumann-Goretti
Time/Place: Saturday, 6 p.m., at South Philly Super Site.
Records: LC is 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the PCL Blue. Goretti is 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the PCL Blue.
Last Week: The Crusaders won 41-12 over Archbishop Carroll. Goretti romped 42-6 over West Catholic.
Players to Watch: Danny Dutkiewicz runs hard for LC. Goretti has a tough free safety in Ubayd Steed.
Prediction: Neumann-Goretti 29, Lansdale Catholic 17.

Central Bucks East at Pennridge
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Pennridge.
Records: Pennridge is 2-7 overall and 0-5 in the SOL Continental. East is 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the SOL Continental. East is 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: The Rams won 21-14 over Truman. The Pats beat William Tennent 31-14.
Players to Watch: Taj Utsey is a tough runner for the Rams. East has the versatile Anthony Giordano to turn to on offense.
Prediction: Central Bucks East 28, Pennridge 21.

Abington at Central Bucks West
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Central Bucks West.
Records: The Bucks are 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the SOL Continental. The Ghosts are 8-1 overall and 6-0 in the SOL National.
Last Week: West lost 28-27 to Souderton Area in double overtime. Abington won 49-28 over Pennsbury.
Players to Watch: Jack Fallon gets it done in the ground game for the Bucks. Andrick Wesh is coming off a big game for the Ghost ground attack.
Prediction: Central Bucks West 33, Abington 17.

Central Bucks South at Souderton
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Souderton.
On the Air: The game will be broadcast live on WNPV, 98.5 FM.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: Souderton is 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the SOL Continental. CB South is 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: Souderton beat CB West 28-27 in double overtime. South edged North Penn 36-35.
Players to Watch: Running back Sean Smith is coming off a game to remember for the Titans. DeAndre Wakefield can score in bunches for the Indians as a crucial part of the Wing-T.
Prediction: Souderton 28, Central Bucks South 20.

William Tennent at North Penn
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at North Penn.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: North Penn is 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the SOL Continental. Tennent is 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the SOL Continental.
Last Week: The Knights lost 36-35 to CB South. Tennent lost 31-14 to CB East.
Players to Watch: Khalani Eaton has been piling up the rushing yards for the Knights. Tom Santiago is a great runner around the goal line for the Panthers.
Prediction: North Penn 35, William Tennent 20.

Hatboro-Horsham at Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Records: PW is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the SOL American. Hatboro is 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the SOL American.
Last Week: The Colonials rolled 38-7 over Upper Dublin. Hatboro won 49-24 over Quakertown.
Players to Watch: Colin O’Sullivan had a big day at quarterback for the Hatters last week. PW has a tremendous wide receiver and corner in Josh Lynch.
Prediction: Plymouth Whitemarsh 23, Hatboro-Horsham 10.

Upper Dublin at Upper Moreland
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Upper Moreland.
Records: Upper Dublin is 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the SOL American. Upper Moreland is 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the SOL American.
Last Week: The Cardinals lost 38-7 to PW. The Bears lost 34-6 to Cheltenham.
Players to Watch: Ron Johnson is tough in the secondary for the Cards. Cole Tucker does a little bit of everything for the Bears.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 20, Upper Moreland 14.

Cheltenham at Wissahickon
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon.
On Twitter: @ADRobinson3.
Records: The Trojans are 2-7 overall and 1-4 in the SOL American. Cheltenham is 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Wiss won 34-28 over Eastern York. The Panthers won 34-6 over Upper Moreland.
Players to Watch: Jamir Barnes can cover a lot of ground for the Panthers. John Dougherty is a tough middle linebacker for the Trojans.
Prediction: Cheltenham 33, Wissahickon 17.