Pope John Paul II football improves to 8-0 after rout of Pottstown

UPPER PROVIDENCE >> Enjoy tonight and get back to work tomorrow. That’s the attitude that the Pope John Paul II football team has taken after Saturday afternoon wins this year, and will again this week after a 40-0 Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division decision over visiting Pottstown.

That kept the Golden Panthers undefeated on the season heading into a showdown at Phoenixville on Friday that will decide the Frontier championship and berth in the PAC championship game.

Luke Terlesky connected on 10 of 13 pass attempts – all in the first half – for Pope John Paul II (4-0 PAC, 8-0 overall) while throwing for 123 yards and two touchdowns and Kiernan Myers rushed for 101 yards. Rasheen Bostic ran for 33 yards for the Trojans (0-4, 1-7).

“All year long we just try to have that 1-0 mentality,” said Pope John Paul coach Scott Reed. “Just focus on who we’re playing next. Enjoy this one tonight and get back to work tomorrow.”

“Games like this help our confidence,” said senior safety Derek Skarbek, who played a key role in his team’s dominant defense in the first half and then was crowned Homecoming King during halftime ceremonies. “We’re confident, but not cocky. We have to keep staying humble.”

The Golden Panthers scored on their first four possessions as they mixed short to mid-range passes to several receivers with effective runs by a variety of backs.

They drove 69 yards on eight plays in just 2:39 to start the game with Brent Mitala (32 rushing yards, five receptions for 55 yards) running into the end zone from seven yards out. On the next possession, they marched 34 yards on six plays, topped off by a 2-yard touchdown burst by Skarbek.

Then the passing game produced two scores in the first three minutes of the second quarter as Brendan Kenning made a 4-yard touchdown reception and Mitala grabbed a pass over the middle for 15 yards.

“It helps a lot that we can spread it out,” Skarbek said. “Our line did a great job blocking today and giving our quarterback some time to make his reads.”

Meanwhile, Pope John Paul II’s swarming defense handled just about everything that the Trojans’ offense could throw at it. Ryan Lamson intercepted a pass, the Golden Panthers recovered a Pottstown fumble and Chris Lucci and T.J. Boccella recorded sacks.

“We all swarm to the ball,” Skarbek said. “Even if you’re not in the play backside. We make all our reads. That’s pretty much what makes for the good defense.”

After building its 27-0 advantage, the Golden Panthers went to the bench late in the first half and in the second.

“We played a lot of kids today and they did a nice job executing,” Reed said. “I was really happy with the way they executed. They were able to put a drive together in the second half, which was pretty cool.”

That was a nine-play, 65-yard drive during which Myers ripped off 18, 19 and 20-yard runs and scored on a 13-yard burst up the middle while pulling free from Trojans defenders.

Then Pottstown got its offense moving as quarterback Joniel Oister ran for eight and 17 yards and the Trojans marched from their own 24 yard line to the Pope John Paul II eight late in the contest.

“Their staff is doing a really nice job this year,” Reed said. “They’re putting together a good game plan. They have some good players.”

NOTES

Nine Golden Panthers ran with the football, producing an average of six yards on 29 attempts.

Braden Reed sparked Pope John Paul II’s offense early with three receptions for 54 yards, including a 34-yarder that set up the first touchdown.

Mylil Wilson pulled in two passes for the Trojans for 24 yards and Kingston Allen came up with a sack.
Cate Mink was crowned Homecoming Queen.

Pope John Paul II 40, Pottstown 0
Pottstown 0 0 0 0 – 0
Pope John Paul II 13 21 0 6 – 40
SCORING
First quarter
PJP-Mitala 7 run (kick failed)
PJP-Skarbek 2 run (Bosio kick)
Second quarter
PJP-Kenning 4 pass from Terlesky (Bosio kick)
PJP-Mitala 15 pass from Terlesky (Bosio kick)
PJP-Wessalt 1 run (Bosio kick)
Fourth quarter
PJP-Myers 13 run (run failed)
TEAM STATISTICS
PT PJP
First downs 8 19
Rushes yards 43 174
Passing yards 22 123
Total yards 65 297
Passes C-A-I 6-11-1 10-15-0
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 1-0
Penalties-Yards 4-20 5-40
Punts-Avg. 4-22.7 1-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Pottstown: Bostic 10-33; Oister 9-24; Lyons 5-16; Thomas 1-0; Mundo 1-(-1); Smith 1-(-1); Suber 1-(-3); Callahan 1(-3); Team 2-(-22)
Pope John Paul II: Myers 9-101,1 TD; Skarbek 3-32,1 TD; Mitala 3-22,1 TD; Beach 2-18; Reed 1-5; DiBricida 5-1; Terlesky 2-0; Sandor 1-(-1); Wessalt 3-(-4), 1 TD
Passing
Pottstown: Oister 6-9-22, 1 INT; Suber 0-2.
Pope John Paul II: Terlesky 10-13-123, 2 TD’s; Wessalt 0-2
Receiving
Pottstown: Thomas 3-(-7); Smith 2-24; Washington 1-5
Pope John Paul II: Mitala 5-55, 1 TD; Reed 3-54: Skarbeck 1-10; Kenning 1-4, 1 TD;
Interceptions: Pope John Paul II-Lamson
Sacks: Pottstown-Allen. Pope John Paul II-Lucci, Boccella