Perkiomen Valley shuts out Boyertown, locks up place in PAC title game

For all its success this fall, one thing eluded Perkiomen Valley until Friday night: a shutout.

Check that accomplishment off the Vikings’ list after its wire-to-wire 38-0 victory over host Boyertown.

Perk Valley was able to check another accomplishment off the list in the process and this one isn’t just style points. By reaching 4-0 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division, the Vikings locked up a place in the PAC championship game on Oct. 29. (PV holds the head-to-head tiebreaker on one-loss Spring-Ford and Owen J. Roberts with one game to play).

The Vikings wielded their big-play ability and a physicality on defense that carried them to their first shutout of the year after allowing OJR a single score a week ago in a 49-7 win.

“That was our first one,” said senior linebacker Gage Young. “It was really exciting. I thought there was a chance we would let it go in the last quarter but the secondary pulled through. We came out really strong in the first half and were strong through the first three quarters.

“We were getting teased a little bit about it. But it was a good one tonight to make sure that goose egg stayed up there on the scoreboard.”

The big plays came from the connection between senior quarterback Ethan Kohler (11-for-17, 187 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT) and wide receiver Dawson Debebe. Debebe caught three passes for 116 yards, all of the scoring variety going for 32, 36 and 48 yards, respectively, in the first half.

Junior Ryan Klimek rushed just three times but two went for touchdowns, a 22-yarder to open the scoring before his 41-yard carry early in the third quarter enacted the running clock up 35-0. 

Klimek kicked a 31-yard field goal to round out the scoring and his unblemished kicking night after five extra points.

“The offense executed well all night,” said Debebe. “Even when we put in the second string it was next guy up and everyone was ready to go. We’re on a roll now.”

The PAC’s No. 1 receiver only added to his placement with his three scores, upping his season total to eight.

“Every play we need to get where we need to be and trust Ethan will find us,” Debebe said. “Once we get the ball in our hands it’s about making our guy miss and get to the end zone.”

Boyertown head coach TJ Miller lamented the lack of pass rush that put his young secondary in peril.

“We couldn’t get much of a pass rush at all,” Miller said. “When you let a guy like Ethan Kohler have time to throw … Our secondary tonight included three sophomores (Jason Oakes, Anthony Famularo, Cade Sennott) and hat’s off to them, they fought like hell.”

Perk Valley outgained Boyertown 410-119 on offense as the Bears were unable to gain any traction a week after putting up 42 points on Methacton.

“They were able to control both lines of scrimmage and that hurt. It doesn’t matter what offense you run, that’s going to hurt you on both sides,” said Boyertown head coach TJ Miller. “Hat’s off to Rob (Heist) and his lines. We weren’t able to get traction.”

Running back Leo Egbe had 47 yards on 13 carries while QB Anthony Panarello was 9-for-13 for 71 yards and an INT.

Boyertown (1-3 PAC, 3-5 overall) did force two first-half turnovers, a fumble recovered by Gavin Chamberlain and interception by Roman Marinello. But PV answered Marinello’s pick with one of its own on the next play by Luke Ricci.

Brad Curci and Jake Beaudoin had sacks for the PV defense. 

While the Vikings, currently No. 7 in the District 1-6A rankings, are closer to their goal of reclaiming a PAC championship they last won in 2018, they’re staying in the moment. 

“We’re taking it week by week and letting the chips fall where they fall,” Debebe said.

The Bears, sitting at No. 20 in District 1-6A, likely don’t have a district postseason in the future, but there’s a great deal to play for, according to Miller.

“I love this team. I just met with our seniors and this is one of the best classes we’ve had in terms of leadership,” Miller said. “We’re going to be OK. We still have things to play for. For us there is having a .500 or better record and we’re in the Eastern Conference and there is an opportunity where we could play a Week 11 game for a championship. We have a lot to play for. We’re not done yet.”

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James Develin earlier this week put himself in unfamiliar territory.

How else would one describe a former NFL fullback and three-time Super Bowl champion running the 26.2 miles of the Boston Marathon?

Things swung the other way Friday night when Develin returned to one of his most familiar places: Boyertown’s Memorial Stadium.

The 2005 Boyertown graduate returned to serve as an honorary captain for the Bears’ matchup with Perkiomen Valley.

“It’s really cool to be back. I haven’t been back to the field to see a game since I graduated because I was always playing,” Develin said.

“For four years of my life this was all I knew. I have such vivid memories of that locker room, this field and the games we played, these lights … it honestly brings back so many memories, playing in big games against Brent Carter and Pottsgrove. I remember them like they were yesterday.”

Develin’s is one of the great success journeys, going from Boyertown to Brown University as a defensive end. He went undrafted, then signed with the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of the AFL before having a short stint with the Florida Tuskers of the UFL. He parlayed a switch to fullback into an NFL career where he was a member of the New England Patriots winning three Super Bowls and was a 2017 Pro Bowl selection. Develin retired from the NFL in 2020 at age 31 due to complications from a neck injury.

Back where the journey began, Develin was nostalgic for the purity of the high school game.

“I said to these guys before the game, this is the purest form of football,” Develin said. “I wanted to relay how special an opportunity it is to play high school football. It’s so pure. When you go to college, play professionally, there is so much other stuff that goes on around the game. Out here, playing with your friends for the love of the sport, it’s a beautiful thing.”

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Perkiomen Valley 38, Boyertown 0

Perkiomen Valley 14 14 7 3 – 38
Boyertown 0 0 0 0 – 0

PV- Klimek 22 run (Klimek kick)
PV- Debebe 32 pass from Kohler (Klimek kick)
PV- Debebe 36 pass from Kohler (Klimek kick)
PV- Debebe 48 pass from Kohler (Klimek kick)
PV- Klimek 41 run (Klimek kick)
PV- Klimek 31 FG

TEAM STATISTICS
                      PV Bt
First downs 18 8
Rushing yards 223 48
Passing yards 187 71
Total yards 410 119
Passes C-A-I 11-17-1 9-14-1
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 2-2
Penalties-Yards 11-93 5-40
Punts-Avg. 1-42.0 4-33.5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Perkiomen Valley – Klimek, 3-67, 2 TDs; Miceli, 4-38; Beck, 5-33; Grayson, 3-29; Curci, 4-25; D. Koehler, 1-12; S. Koehler, 2-11; Schimpf, 2-9; E. Koehler, 6-1; Kenworthy, 2-(-2).
Boyertown – Egbe, 13-47; Marinello, 5-7; Yesavage, 2-7; Oakes, 1-(-1); Gehris, 1-(-1); Panarello, 9-(-11).
Passing
Perkiomen Valley – Koehler, 11-17-187, 3 TDs, 1 INT.
Boyertown – Panarello, 9-13-71, 1 INT; Gehris, 0-1-0.
Receiving
Perkiomen Valley – Poruban, 4-43; Debebe, 3-116, 3 TDs; Klimek, 3-25; Moscariello, 1-3.
Boyertown – Marinello, 4-28; Ordway, 2-10; Egbe, 1-22; Chamberlin, 1-6: Oakes, 1-5.

Interceptions – PV: Ricci 1. Bt: