RED HILL >> Boyertown ran all over Upper Perkiomen in last season’s football opener and won another one-sided affair against the Indians in the regular season finale. But that was last season, and Friday night’s season opener for the Bears at Bill Keeny Stadium was decidedly different against an Upper Perk team with a new coach and a new attitude.
This time, Boyertown found itself in a back-and-forth battle, but recovered a fumble to end a late Indian drive and then used its powerful ground game to run out the clock in a 33-26 non-league win between Pioneer Athletic Conference opponents.
Cole Yesavage rushed for 294 yards and five touchdowns for the Bears and Jason Oakes added 100 yards to Boyertown’s 412-yard total on the ground. Zach Schwartz ran for 99 yards and a score and returned a kickoff for a TD and Brody Weiss also scored twice for the Indians.
“We knew they would be better, but we didn’t think it would be this tough a game,” said Yesavage, who ran for touchdowns from five, three, eight, 35 and six yards. “I think they just had the heart and the motivation.”
“That football team gets the most respect from me,” said Boyertown coach Justin Konnick. “That team’s going to do great things.”
The Bears, who finished 5-6 last year with an appearance in the Class 5A/6A Eastern Conference championship game, drove 80 yards on six plays to open the game, with Yesavage running into the end zone just two minutes into the contest.
The Indians drove 60 yards on 16 plays in the second quarter, pulling to with 7-6 on a 4-yard run by Weiss. Then Cade Sennott returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards and Yesavage scored two plays later for a 13-6 advantage.
But the Indians drove 66 yards, scoring on an 8-yard run by Weiss with 12 seconds to go until the half, and Schwartz burst 78 yards on the second-half kickoff to give the hosts their first and only lead of the night at 20-18.
Boyertown scored twice on quick drives to take a 26-18 lead, but Schwartz finished a 66-yard march with a 5-yard run and quarterback Logan O’Donnell ran for two points to tie the score at 2-26 late in the third quarter.
The Bears came back with a 16-play, 80-yard drive to regain the lead with 8:15 remaining in the contest.
Then Preston Stabley recovered a fumble after the Indians had driven to a first down at the Boyertown 36-yard line and the Bears ran out the final five minutes.
“These kids made a choice, but they made a choice too late,” Konnick said concerning his team’s struggles during much of the contest. “Our football team needs to do the little things right, like we did in the second half. Our kids did what they had to do to win. They stuck it out at the end and I’m proud of them.”
Last year, Upper Perk lost to Boyertown 61-0 and 62-31 during a 2-8 season.
Despite that, new head coach Dan Heinrichs wasn’t satisfied with just giving the Bears a close game this time.
“We certainly have things to work on and get better,” he said. “We’ve been together from the beginning. Our goal is not to compete, our goal is to win. Better is just not good enough.”
The Indians racked up 246 total yards, including 184 on the ground and 62 passing by O’Donnell.
“I think there were positive moments,” Heinrichs added. “I think we did well on special teams tonight.”
On the other hand, the Bears are looking to make it to the District 1 playoffs this season and know they will have to do better than they did on Friday.
“We just need to do our job,” said Yesavage. “Tonight, blocks were missed, but plays were made. That will work in a game like this, but won’t later in the season.”
Boyertown 33, Upper Perkiomen 26
Boyertown 7 6 13 7 – 33
Upper Perkiomen 0 12 14 0 – 26
B-Yesavage 5 run (Morgan kick)
UP-B Weiss 4 run (kick failed)
B-Yesavage 3 run (run failed)
UP-B Weiss 8 run (pass failed)
UP-Schwartz 78 kickoff return (pass failed)
B-Yesavage 8 run (Morgan kick)
B-Yesavage 35 run (kick failed)
UP-Schwartz 5 run (O’Donnell run)
B-Yesavage 6 run (Morgan kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
B UP
First Downs 19 14
Yards Rushing 412 184
Yards Passing 2 62
Total Yards 414 246
Passes C-A-I 1-5-1 3-11-1
Fumbles 1-0 2-1
Penalties-Yds 5-30 7-42
Punts-Avg None 2-44.5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Boyertown: Yesavage 27-294, 5 TD’s; J Oakes 16-100; Gehris 4-14; Genovese 2-4; Total 49-412, 5 TD’s.
Upper Perkiomen: Schwartz 22-99, 1 TD; B Weiss 10-55, 2 TD’s; Krier 5-19; O’Donnell 5-11; Totals 42-184, 3 TD’s.
Passing
Boyertown: Gehris 1-5-2, 1 INT.
Upper Perkiomen: O’Donnell 3-11-62, 1 INT
Receiving
Boyertown: J Oakes 1-2.
Upper Perkiomen: Void 2-28; Ruch 1-34; Totals 3-62.
Interceptions: Boyertown: Genovese, Upper Perkiomen: G Weiss.
Sacks: Upper Perkiomen: Scharneck.
