Week 9 Football Preview: Pope John Paul II, Phoenixville meet to decide Frontier title

Judging by the scoreboard, it’s been a while since Pope John Paul II’s been challenged.

The Golden Panthers’ unblemished record (8-0, 4-0 PAC Frontier) was achieved by surviving a Week 2 overtime tussle with Father Judge of District 12, followed by a half-dozen consecutive contests decided by 18 points or more.

It’s why first-year coach Scott Reed turns up the intensity in practices, ensuring complacency has no room to grow as the team prepares for the stretch drive of the 2022 season.

That begins Friday when the Golden Panthers travel to Phoenixville for a Frontier Division championship showdown with the 6-2 Phantoms (4-0 PAC Frontier).

Aside from playing for a spot in next week’s PAC Championship game, the Golden Panthers find themselves locked in a battle with Interboro for the top spot in the District 1 Class 4A playoff power rankings, an honor that carries the right to host both games necessary to claim a District 1 title when the playoffs begin in two weeks. With Interboro scheduled to play two 6A opponents, every point will be critical.

Sophomore quarterback Luke Terlesky pilots an offense averaging 36 points per contest (which may be selling PJP short – their starters have departed at halftime in multiple games this season). Terlesky’s breakout season has seen the signal caller completing more than 70 percent of his passes for 1,379 yards and 11 TD, while tossing only two interceptions.

His vast supporting cast starts with running back Boyd Skarbek, an efficient ground gainer averaging 6.5 yards per carry with 753 yards and 18 scores. Skarbek’s a big part of the aerial attack as well, one of four Golden Panthers with 20 or more receptions on the campaign with 268 yards and two more touchdowns through the air.

Terlesky’s classmate Braden Reed is the statistical leader of the receiving group (28 catches, 466 yards, 5 TDs), but junior Brent Mitala (27-353-5) and senior Brendan Kenning (20-304-2) are in the top 10 of the PAC as well along with Skarbek. Defending the PJP offense is truly a ‘pick your poison’ experience, and it’s why Phoenixville may be best served to minimize the need by controlling the ball and clock on Friday night.

The Phantoms’ path starts with the area’s leading rusher, Sam Moore. The junior’s exhibited an ability to be a workhorse, averaging over 18 carries per game to the tune of a 6.5 yards per carry average that equals Skarbek’s on the other side. Moore needs only 30 yards to eclipse 1,000 on the season to go along with his eight touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Talon Romance stepped in for older brother Ty after a season-ending injury in Phoenixville’s opener and has ably piloted the offense. The Phantoms don’t throw it a ton (77 attempts this season), but when they connect plays tend to go for big chunks of yardage. Romance is averaging 19 yards per completion (41-for-77, 788 yards, 9 TD, 7 INT).

More than half that yardage has gone to senior Ahmid Spivey, making the most of 13 catches with 411 yards and five TDs. Suppressing Spivey’s unfathomable 31.6 yards per reception will be a key to PJP’s defensive gameplan.

Trey Lear, Deacon Williams, and Darius Watson also feature in an offense that goes as its play in the trenches goes, and one that will need its best output of the season on Friday night.

“[PJP’s] got weapons on that offense that will give us fits,” said Phoenixville coach Anthony Ciarlello. “We will need to play the best game of football we’ve played all year.”

2022 Pioneer Athletic Conference Leaders

Perkiomen Valley (7-1, 4-0 PAC Liberty) at Boyertown (4-4, 2-2 PAC Liberty), 7 p.m. Friday >> The Vikings aim to complete a second straight undefeated jaunt through the division when they travel to take on a Bears team likely playing for their postseason lives after upending Owen J. Roberts a week ago.

Keeping a dominant rushing offense (301 yards last week) is the key for Boyertown, and Cole Yesavage and Jason Oakes figure to face a stern challenge in a PV defense that welcomed Stephen Ciaudelli back to the lineup last week and continues to receive stellar line play from Shane Nelson and Vance Junker. Offensively, Patrick MacDonald continues to develop as a leader behind an offensive line that coach Rob Heist complimented on their continued improvement.

Methacton (4-4, 2-2 PAC Liberty) at Owen J. Roberts (4-4, 1-3 PAC Liberty), 7 p.m. Friday >> League standings, crossover matchups, playoff futures – they’re all in play as the Warriors and Wildcats looks to rebound from disappointments a week ago.

Methacton continues to search for answers offensively, and coach Brian Kennedy looks for TE Josh Cancro, QB Mike Wolbers and all-around threat Wesley Conover to step up in those playmaking roles. A win would cement a District playoff berth for the Warriors in their first year at 5A, but it won’t come easily against an OJR squad squarely on the 6A bubble and motivated after last week’s loss to Boyertown.

Danny Cashman leads the PAC in all major receiving categories (40 catches, 570 yards, 7 TD) while Hunter Rhoads is a dependable chain mover and one of the area’s most consistent running backs.

Pottstown (1-7, 0-4 PAC Frontier) at Upper Merion (3-5, 1-3 PAC Frontier), 7 p.m. Friday >> There’s no postseason in the cards for Pottstown in 2022, so Levert Hughes’ focus remains on developing consistency, building for the future, and sending the senior class out with some good memories. Players like Dimark Lyons, Dillon Mayes, Devon Green, Kyhdir Cotton, Tyrese Washington, and Joneil Oister hope to leave their stamp on Pottstown football at least once more.

Upper Merion continues to focus on putting together a full, 48-minutes effort in hopes of improving their standing for the District 1 5A playoffs. Preston Thomas’ emergence over the past couple weeks adds another weapon alongside TE/DE Nolan Clayton in what’s becoming a prolific passing attack.

Pottsgrove (4-4, 2-2 PAC Frontier at Upper Perkiomen (2-6, 1-3 PAC Frontier), 7 p.m. Friday >> The question in this game is the availability of Pottsgrove QB Gabe Rinda, who performed admirably in last week’s win over Upper Merion before leaving in the third quarter due to injury. If Rinda’s unable to go, coach Bill Hawthorne can turn to his son, freshman Chase, who tossed a TD pass in relief of Rinda last week.

Upper Perkiomen continues to establish an identity behind sophomore RB Zach Schwartz. The Tribe can keep their feint playoff hopes alive – and throw the Frontier standings into chaos for Crossover Week – with a win here.

Norristown (2-6, 0-4 PAC Liberty) at Spring-Ford (5-3, 3-1 PAC Liberty), 2 p.m. Saturday >> The Rams’ Homecoming games means a Saturday kickoff, and coach Chad Brubaker will use the extra day to figure out how to make up for the absence of Jake Reigh, lost for the season to injury last week. Reigh was averaging 35 yards per punt and had assumed a leadership role in the Rams’ secondary.

The punting job could fall to QB Matt Zollers, but the young secondary is tasked with continuing to limit big plays and cause turnovers as the Rams did in last week’s win against Methacton. Norristown presents a run-heavy challenge that will keep the Rams honest by trying to connect for the occasional big play through the air.

Daniel Boone (1-7, 0-4 Lancaster-Lebanon 3) at Twin Valley (4-4, 2-3 Lancaster-Lebanon 3), 7 p.m. Friday >> QB Dean Rotter had a big game for the Blazers last week, rushing for two long touchdowns and passing for another, but the Blazers were unable to stop unbeaten Solanco’s rushing attack in a 49-21 loss.

It’ll be another run-heavy defensive gameplan this week when Boone travels to play Twin Valley, hoping to play spoiler in the Raiders’ playoff aspirations.

Blair Academy (N.J.) (2-4) at Hill School (2-4, 1-0 Mid-Atlantic Prep League), 3:30 p.m. Saturday >> The Rams hope to put last week’s tough outing against powerful Hun School out of their minds as they prepare to host league rivals Blair, who arrive after their strongest performance this season against Capital Prep Harbor (Conn.) For the Rams, Charlie Hewitt and Kayden White looks to provide offensive fireworks down the stretch in hopes of contending for a Mid-Atlantic Prep League title.