Entering his fourth year at the helm of the program, coach Brian Kennedy has certainly flipped the expectations surrounding Methacton football.
Last year saw the Warriors pick up five wins, good for a .500 regular season and their first District 1 playoff berth since 2014.
Where some teams would see a cause for celebration, Kennedy has a different word for it.
“We’re tired of being average,” the head coach said. “A 5-5 record was phenomenal for Methacton at one point, but we’re past that. We need to be better than average to bring this program where it needs to be.”
Kennedy will rely heavily upon a senior class that includes several multi-year starters, including fullback/linebacker Anthony Perillo, who best exemplifies this year’s Warriors team.
Perillo’s spending the preseason with his right forearm in a cast, but says he expects to be cleared three days before the opener.
Perillo, a hard-nosed runner on offense and a force at linebacker on defense, plays a style of football his own coach compares to former Purdue and Tampa Bay Buccaneer running back Mike Alstott. If you’re unfamiliar with Alstott, let’s just say Perillo won’t shy away from any hits.
“I’ve been with these guys for so long, and I don’t want to miss a single step,” Perillo said.
“It’s been hard to keep him off the field right now,” added Kennedy.
The Warriors will be led on offense by strong-armed junior Kolby Howarth, who takes over at quarterback for the graduated Mike Wolbers.
Perillo will be part of a versatile, deep group of ball carriers that also includes fellow seniors DJ Ballinger and Wes Conover, the latter serving as Methacton’s home-run threat on offense.
Conover scored touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams a season ago.
“Wes has the ability to make a big play each time he touches the ball,” said Kennedy.
The strength of the defense should be the back seven, led by Ballinger and Conover in the secondary with Collin O’Neill, Perillo, and Levi Borkowski – who the captains identified as a potential X-factor for the squad – at linebacker.
As camp goes along, newcomers are emerging on both sides for the Warriors, who play some iron-man football with their best athletes.
“We condition hard, we practice hard. Everything we do is high intensity. We don’t want anyone to outwork us,” said Ballinger.
One such newcomer is OT/DE Dylan Pachik, a junior who will help fortify the lines on both sides hit by graduations of a number of players, including All-Area selection Josh Cancro. Leading the offensive line will be O’Neill and Vinnie Iacavino.
“There were some things holding us back last year – they are gone now,” said O’Neill. “We’re doing things our way now, which means hard work.”
In their first year at the 5A classification in District 1, Methacton earned its first playoff berth since 2014, losing a slugfest to Kennett of the Ches-Mont League, 7-3 in the first round.
The loss has motivated the returning players and their coach. Making the playoffs no longer holds the same significance – now, it’s about improving throughout the season to improve their standing, potentially host a playoff game and progressing throughout the tournament.
But that means being able to capture the victories that remain elusive, league tilts with Owen J. Roberts, Spring-Ford, and of course the Battle Ax game with the defending champions from Perkiomen Valley.
“We’ve all been playing together since we were young,” said Perillo, “and we’ve got another year to show what we’re made of. Hard work is our motto, the intensity is up – all of us are on the same page, and we’re ready to challenge each of those schools.”
“This is the group I came in with, and these seniors hold a special spot for me,” added Kennedy. “In addition, we’ve got a lot of younger guys that I’m excited about. The sky is the limit for these guys.
“We’re not going to be fancy, we’re going to control the clock and grind away. It’s what you need to do to win these football games, to host a playoff game, get a win and do some phenomenal stuff with a special group.”
SCHEDULE
Friday, August 25
Pottsgrove vs Methacton, 7 p.m.
Thursday, August 31
Plymouth Whitemarsh vs Methacton, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 8
Methacton vs Radnor, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 15
Upper Perkiomen vs Methacton, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 22
Methacton vs Norristown, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 29
Methacton vs Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 6
Methacton vs Boyertown, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 13
Spring-Ford vs Methacton, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 20
Owen J. Roberts vs Methacton, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 27
PAC Crossover vs Methacton, 7 p.m.
![FAIRVIEW VILLAGE — It’s one thing to be selective. But there’s also such a thing as being too patient. Ben Clark, Methacton’s designated hitter in the No. 4 hole, had this fact in mind when he strode to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the bases loaded and the game tied against the rival Spring-Ford Rams. “I’m just looking for a fastball, first pitch,” Clark said. “I feel like, during the season I’ve been too tentative, so I was just going to go out and be aggressive. I put a nice swing on it, and it […]](https://www.pottsmerc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/LAN-L-BASEMETHSFORD050324-17.jpg?w=526 "FAIRVIEW VILLAGE — It’s one thing to be selective. But there’s also such a thing as being too patient. Ben Clark, Methacton’s designated hitter in the No. 4 hole, had this fact in mind when he strode to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the bases loaded and the game tied against the rival Spring-Ford Rams. “I’m just looking for a fastball, first pitch,” Clark said. “I feel like, during the season I’ve been too tentative, so I was just going to go out and be aggressive. I put a nice swing on it, and it […]")