PHOENIXVILLE >> Throughout its 8-0 start to the season, Pope John Paul II’s offense has been the story, scoring close to 40 points per game and placing several players among the statistical league leaders.
But it was the defense’s chance to shine at Phoenixville Saturday morning, as the Golden Panthers held Phoenixville to 46 yards of offense and scored a defensive touchdown in a 42-0 win.
The Golden Panthers (9-0, 5-0 PAC Frontier) successfully defended their Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier title, controlling play at Phoenixville’s Washington Field and sealing a third consecutive trip to the PAC title game.
The game, originally scheduled for Friday night, was postponed and subsequently played on Saturday morning with only players’ parents in attendance due to threats of violence online.
Pope John Paul II football coach Scott Reed addresses his team following a 42-0 win over Phoenixville in the PAC Frontier championship on Saturday. The game was postponed Friday due to threats of violence made online. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
As the final score suggests, Pope John Paul II wasn’t lacking offensively. It scored on five consecutive possessions spanning the second and third quarters, invoking the running clock just minutes after halftime.
But its defense was particularly dominant in the early going, allowing Phoenixville only one first down before halftime and forcing two turnovers, including a pick-six.
Senior Nyzir Lake was at the forefront of a dominant defensive line.
“We’ve been working since camp, staying motivated,” Lake said. “This was a chance to show what we could do when it matters.”
Phoenixville cornerback Kevin Kingsbury brings down Pope John Paul II wide receiver Braden Reed during the PAC Frontier title game at Washington Field Saturday. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
The undefeated Golden Panthers turned a tight but sloppy start into a runaway in a seven-minute stretch of the second quarter.
Luke Terlesky (10-14, 171 yards, five total TDs) found Braden Reed over the middle for a 26-yard gain, creating the first red zone opportunity for either side. Terlesky wasted no time in finding Brendan Kenning at the goal line, where the senior powered through a tackle to open the scoring.
The sophomore bounced back after throwing a couple of early interceptions.
“One of our coaches always says to have the memory of a goldfish,” Terlesky said. “I had to put (the interceptions) out of my mind and my teammates helped pick me up.”
Q2, 7:57 — PJP strikes first.
Following a big screen pass to Reed, tight end Brendan Kenning takes one over the middle and lumbers on in.
The Golden Panthers recovered the ensuing kickoff when the Phantoms couldn’t corral the ball at their own 37-yard line. Ten seconds later, the Pope John Paul II was in the end zone once more after a pass from Terlesky to Reed got them to the Phoenixville’s 1-yard line, where Terlesky powered over for the first of his two rushing scores. In a 14-second stretch, the Golden Panthers had turned a scoreless game into a 14-0 advantage.
But the back breaker came with 3:43 until halftime, after Phoenixville gained traction behind tough running from Sam Moore, Ahmed Spivey, and Darius Watson. On a third down from the PJP 31, however, Talon Romance’s quick screen pass was picked off by Pope John Paul II’s Jack Lockrey, who raced untouched to the end zone 67 yards, and the Golden Panthers had broken the game open.
“I read my keys and showed a different coverage,” Lockrey said. “When he didn’t look back, I made my move.”
Q2, 3:43 — PJP gets a pick now, but this one is a tad bigger.
Jack Lockrey intercepts Talon Romance on a screen and takes it all the way back for a 67-yard Pick-6.
A quick three-and-out gave the Golden Panthers a chance to practice their two-minute drill, which traveled 75 yards in seven plays culminating in a second QB sneak touchdown run from Terlesky. All of a sudden, the Golden Panthers were headed to the locker room up 28-0 and could be forgiven if their thoughts drifted slightly to next week’s PAC championship game.
On Saturday, Pope John Paul II will host Liberty Division champion Perkiomen Valley for the league title. The Vikings bested the Golden Panthers 30-0 in last year’s title tilt, and the bitter memory remains at the forefront of some upperclassmen’s minds.
“We definitely want to go out and show that we can hang with a 6A school,” Lake said.
Pope John Paul II linebacker Derek Skarbek (8) meets Phoenixville ball carrier Sam Moore (26) during the PAC Frontier title game at Washington Field Saturday. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
It will also pit Golden Panthers coach Scott Reed against the program he helped build at Perkiomen Valley from 2004-2015. Reed’s 12 years at the helm were a turning point in making the Vikings a perennial power, a tradition since continued by Rob Heist.
After halftime, Terlesky found Brent Mitala and Derek Skarbek for scores, giving him five total touchdowns on the day and earning an early exit.
It wasn’t Phoenixville’s (6-3, 4-1 PAC Frontier) day, but perhaps the biggest takeaway was the lack of moral victory-type talk or reactions emanating from the hosts after the contest. Phoenixville will finish the 2022 season with its first winning record in a decade and has achieved a landmark victory over Pottsgrove (first since 2005) this year.
“We had a goal of getting above .500 this year, which we accomplished,” Phoenixville coach Anthony Ciarlello said. “But there’s no moral victory today. We put ourselves in the position to be in this game, and there’s disappointment.
“This will burn. When we’re in the weight room this offseason, this summer, this will hurt. This will push us until we get back to this spot again.”
Phoenixville will host Spring-Ford on Friday in a crossover matchup.
“PJP is a great team,” Ciarlello said. “Coach Reed does an amazing job, and they outdid us in every area today.”
And in doing so, the Golden Panthers showed they’re more than just a prolific offense.
Pope John Paul II 42, Phoenixville 0
Pope John Paul II — 0 28 14 0 — 42
Phoenixville — 0 0 0 0 — 0
SCORING
PJP — Kenning 11 pass from Terlesky (Bosio kick)
PJP — Terlesky 1 run (Bosio kick)
PJP — Lockrey 67 interception return (Bosio kick)
PJP — Terlesky 1 run (Bosio kick)
PJP — Mitala 24 pass from Terlesky (Bosio kick)
PJP — D. Skarbek 12 pass from Terlesky (Bosio kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
PJP PX
First Downs 17 3
Rushing Yards 90 50
Passing Yards 175 -4
Total Yards 265 46
Passes C-A-I 11-15-2 1-9-1
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 6-45 9-110
Punts-Avg. 2-29 6-28.5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Pope John Paul II –B. Skarbek 16-73, Terlesky 3-5; 2 TD, Myers 3-1, Reed 2-10, Mitala 2-0, Wessalt 2-0, D. Skarbek 1-1, Beach 1-0.
Phoenixvillle – Moore 15-30, Koch 5-11, Watson 3-15, Spivey 3-7, Romance 2-(minus-3), Venezia 1-(minus-10).
Passing
Pope John Paul II – Terlesky 10-14, 171 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT.
Phoenixvillle – Romance 1-9, -4 yards, INT.
Receiving
Pope John Paul II – Reed 5-94, Kenning 2-36; TD, D. Skarbek 2-17; TD, Mitala 1-24; TD, Beach 1-4.
