The notion of a letdown in a state playoff game is silly, but what do you call the feeling of playing your fifth consecutive ‘must-win’ game, with at least a few more still to come if you’re successful? Is it possible to be on top of your game week after week?
Maybe, if you treat each game like the only game. But even Pope John Paul II head coach Scott Reed admits the repetition takes a toll this time of year.
That’s why he’s streamlining practices in preparation for Saturday’s PIAA 4A first-round game with District 12’s Bonner & Prendergast, to be played at noon Saturday at Norristown High School.
“The most important thing this time of year is preparing for the team we are playing,” said Reed. “While the routine is repetitive, every new opponent brings its own challenge. It helps keep things fresh.”
Reed doesn’t have to look far for challenges against Bonner & Prendergast. The three-time champions of District 12-4A have been to this stage before, but Reed says their experience isn’t so much his concern.
“I don’t think experience matters as much as their talent,” he said. “They are extremely fast and athletic. From what we’re seeing on film, this is most likely the best defense we will face all season up to this point.”
That defense is headlined by Mylachi Williams, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound edge rusher committed to Penn State. Jalil Hall starts opposite Williams on the line, and doubles as the team’s leading receiver.
In all, the Bonner & Prendergast defense is one of the few that compared to PJP statistically. They allow just over 10 points per game over their 8-2 start, and only three teams have reached double figures this season.
But Pope John Paul II provides a challenge in the diversity of what they can show offensively. Junior quarterback Luke Terlesky runs an offense averaging 40 points per contest.
Terlesky completes 70 percent of his passes and is nearing the 2,000-yard mark for the season with 23 touchdown passes – impressive figures for a quarterback who only occasionally needs to play, let alone throw, after the third quarter.
“Luke takes care of so many little things that no one ever sees,” said Reed. “He makes sure everyone is lined up, reminds everyone of the snap count, checks for blitzes, checks coverage, makes run checks at the line when needed, etc.”
“There is so much going on at that position, and he does it so well.”
Reed attributes Terlesky’s ‘next play’ mentality to his baseball background, and it suits PJP perfectly.
“He is a pitcher, and he has been taught all his life, ‘next pitch’,” said Reed. “I really think he takes that mentality with him on the football field.”
Classmate Braden Reed is Terlesky’s favorite target with a PAC-best 54 receptions for 1,091 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Brent Mitala and Denny Owens are frequent targets, while running back Boyd Skarbek continues to add to his record-setting campaign. To date, Skarbek is credited with 1,740 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground.
The offensive line powering the entire operation features Chase Frantz, Aidan Sgarra, Ignacio Escobar, Makel Parker, and the newest addition, Mike McNally, who’s filled in at guard as PJP replaces Kevin Heywood, ineligible for the postseason after transferring from Archbishop Wood.
“Our coaching staff could not be prouder of Mike’s effort and performance,” said Reed. “He is the leader of our defense and has been in the middle of everything our defense has accomplished this season.
“Now he’s pulling double duty at guard. His improvement from last year is unbelievable.”
Many of PJP’s defenders also feature on offense, but one player who features primarily on defense is TJ Boccella, the PAC’s quarterback sacks leader with 13. Ryan Lamson and Derek Skarbek are leading tacklers at the linebacker and secondary levels.
They’ll be tasked with stopping a Bonner & Prendergast offense best described as diverse. The Friars continue rotating a pair of freshmen at quarterback, Kenjai Gatling and Noel Campbell. Two weeks ago, Campbell threw for 220 yards in a win against Cardinal O’Hara, but last week it was gatling taking the reigns with a rushing and passing score.
The depth becomes apparent at running back, where Avery Hankey and Mick Johnson sat out last week against John Bartram High. So All-Delco linebacker Isaiah Session filled in, taking the majority of the carries and scoring a rushing touchdown of his own before leaving the 34-14 victory with a foot injury of his own.
Senior tight end Austin Cannon has touchdown receptions in the last two games.
But the Friars’ defense, the one Reed acknowledged, showed the playmaking ability that concerns the PJP coach with five takeaways – two of them returned for defensive touchdowns.
PJP is tough to beat on special teams, with kicker/punter Ben Bosio continuing to flip the field on his occasional punts and forcing teams to drive 80 yards. Bosio has touchbacks on more than half his kickoffs this season.
Braden Reed’s explosiveness finds its way into the third phase of the game, as he averages 15 yards per punt return
But the depth and versatility of Bonner & Prendergast’s best players ensure that Reed won’t have to work too hard to keep his Golden Panthers focused before this contest.
“We have to make sure we are prepared to handle their defensive front, blitzes, and coverages,” he said. “We have to adjust to every team’s special teams, and of course, make sure the defense is prepared for formations, motions, and favorite plays.”
