Mercury Football Preview: Back-to-back champ Spring-Ford still has plenty to prove
Following three straight seasons of watching league rival Perkiomen Valley conquer the Pioneer Athletic Conference from 2016-18, the Spring-Ford football program reclaimed its spot atop the PAC in 2019.
The Rams kept their crown last season with an unbeaten run through a COVID-altered PAC to win the program’s first consecutive league titles since 1994-95. They followed that up by earning one of only four District 1 Class 6A playoff berths and falling in heartbreaking fashion to Souderton in the semifinals.
The goals and standards haven’t changed for the Spring-Ford program — winning a league title and competing for a District 1 crown were always at the top of the list. But this year’s senior class would like to continue — if not surpass — the excellence of their predecessors.
“We’ve all been playing together since seventh grade,” senior running back Harry Adieyefeh Jr. said. “ It was always, ‘Once we get to high school we’re going to do this and go do that.’ For the most part, up until now we’ve lived up to the hype. But it’s senior year now and there’s no taking a break. We’ve gotta finish it as a team, as a family, as a group. I think it’s going to be a really special year.”
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Like most seasons, the Rams (6-1 in 2020) graduated a large senior class, though they do have several starters back from a season ago.
Senior quarterback Ryan Freed, running back Adieyefeh and junior slot back Zach Zollers return to the back field. Senior offensive tackles Ian Harvie and John Kaputa provide a strong foundation up front.
Freed completed 74 of 123 attempts for 863 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions as a freshman in his first varsity season under center. Adieyefeh led the Rams on the ground with 110 attempts for 568 yards and five touchdowns, going over the 100-yard mark three times.
“It’s definitely going to help having myself, Ian, a couple other guys returning,” Adieyefeh said. “It’s definitely good to have a year of experience behind you. You know the plays, just mentally getting ready for the games. I think that will help us get over the hump in some of these big games.”
Pick up The Mercury’s Thursday (Aug. 26) edition for the 2021 High School Football Preview
On defense, the Rams similarly have senior experience at some spots — defensive back Cole Turner, linebacker Ryan Horvath and linemen Donnie Nicoline and Gavin Shafer return as starters — while they’ll look for some less experienced players to fill other roles.
“I think it’s definitely going to be the D-line,” Turner said of the key to the defense. “We like to call them the hogs. They’re aggressive, but we’re also well-rounded at linebacker. We have some young guys we think can fill the linebacker roles. We have two receivers that might be able to play both ways that can definitely give us impact in the secondary too. As an all-around defense, we’re going to be really good.”
The Rams posted an 11-0 record against PAC competition in the past two seasons on the way to two league crowns.
Last year’s closest league decision was a 27-13 victory over rival PV in their season opener. The Rams’ defense didn’t allow a point in its final three PAC wins of 2020 on the way to finishing off their conference title.
This 2021 group knows as the wins continue to grow, so does the target on their backs.
“It does get bigger, but we just gotta keep doing the same thing we’ve been doing,” senior defensive lineman Donnie Nicoline said. “Just keep winning, and I think we’ll be fine.”
Harvie, Adieyefeh, Nicoline and Turner were vocal about their desire to elevate Spring-Ford’s reputation outside the PAC this season.
Despite hosting district playoff games in each of the past three seasons, the Rams haven’t won a district game since 2016.
The playoff bracket was reduced to four teams last season due to COVID restrictions. In the semifinal matchup, Spring-Ford fell to Souderton, 27-24.
“I think a lot of these teams outside the PAC really underestimate Spring-Ford because it’s been first round exit, first round exit, second round exit,” Harvie said. “I think we can definitely capitalize on this year having a really special team and make all those people think twice about Spring-Ford come the end of the year.”
Following consecutive league titles, the Rams have certainly established themselves as the area’s best over the past two seasons, but they still think they have a lot to prove.
“We’ve got a real chip on our shoulder this year,” Turner said. “People don’t think we’re going to be as good as previous years, but I think with the young guys we have coming up now and with the team bonding that we have we know that we’re going to be really good and people are really underestimating us.”
SPRING-FORD
Head Coach – Chad Brubaker
Assistant Coaches
Jim Mich, Jr. – Defensive Backs – Defensive Coordinator; Chad Strickler – Offensive Line – Run Game Coordinator; Steve Schein – LBs; Steve Moyer – CBs; Chuck Nesley – DTs; Steve Entenman – DEs; Jim Algeo – WRs; Gary Rhodenbaugh – RBs; Mike Palmer – TEs
Top Returners
Offense
SB – Zach Zollers, Jr., 6-2, 200 (6 catches, 56 yards, TD)
QB – Ryan Freed, Sr., 5-10, 175 (74-of-123, 863 yards, 9 TDs, 5 INT)
RB – Harry Adieyefeh, Jr., 5-10, 190 (110 carries, 568 yards, 6 total TDs)
OL – Ian Harvie, Sr., 6-3, 270
OL – John Kaputa, Sr., 6-0, 275
Defense
DB – Cole Turner, Sr., 6-2, 175 (19 tackles, 3 tackles for loss)
LB – Ryan Horvath, Sr., 5-9, 170 (38 tackles, 10 tackles for loss)
DT/DE – Donnie Nicoline, Sr., 6-1, 240 (9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss)
DT – Gavin Shafer, Sr., 6-0, 180 (12 tackles, 4 tackles for loss)
Special Teams
KR – Gage Swanger, Jr., 5-9, 175 (166 kick return yards)
KR – Kolten Kqira, Sr., 6-0, 180 (10 catches, 85 yards, 141 kick return yards)
Key Newcomers
QB – Kyle Keckler, Sr., 6-2, 190
DB – Carson Bogdan, Sr., 5-11, 170
WR – Payton West, Sr., 5-10, 170
WR/DB – Matt Yurko, Jr., 5-10, 170
ATH – Jake Reigh, Jr., 5-9, 165
WR/DB – Kevin Canuso, Jr., 5-11, 170
FB/LB – Will Fish, Jr., 5-10, 190
WR – Davis Bunning, Sr., 6-0, 170
FB/LB – Mike Bendowski, So., 6-0, 190
OL – Ryan Shaner, Jr., 5-11, 235
OL – Mike Scalia, Jr., 6-0, 240
OL – AJ Detwiler, Sr., 5-11, 240
QB – Gavin Vigilante, Jr., 6-0, 180
K – Sam Herman, Jr., 6-0, 160
OL/DL – Luke Ellor, So., 6-1, 240
OL/DL – Evan Strzeminski, So., 6-2, 220
OL/DL – Owen Norman, So., 6-2, 215
WR – Belal Abdelrahman, So., 6-2, 180
WR – Tanay Shankar, So., 5-11, 170
DB – Mason Scott, So., 6-1, 170
QB – Matt Zollers, Fr., 6-2, 175
