Big plays carry Pottsgrove over Phoenixville
PHOENIXVILLE >> Big plays accounted for much of the action as Pottsgrove defeated Phoenixville, 42-7, in Pioneer Athletic Conference football action Friday night at Washington Field.
In rebounding from a 34-21 loss to Perkiomen Valley last week, the Falcons took a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 28-7 by halftime. The Falcons added their last 14 points during the third quarter.
Wyatt Porter put the Falcons on the scoreboard first with a 14-yard run, and he later scored on a 50-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Finn. Finn scored on runs of 20 and 8 yards. Finn threw three touchdown passes.
Besides the 50-yarder to Porter, Finn had a 7-yarder to Desmond Austin and a 17-yarder to Max Stump. Garrett Bleakley booted six extra points.
Phoenixville pulled even early on a 95-yard kickoff return by Johnavin County with Miguel Ramirez adding the PAT to tie the contest.
Tyrell Barr rushed for 121 yards on 12 carries with one 61-yard burst to anchor the running game by Pottsgrove (2-1 PAC-10, 2-2 overall). Porter rushed for 76 yards and Finn had 36 yards as the Falcons finished the night with 186 yards rushing and 327 yards of total offense.
“We controlled the line,” said Pottsgrove two-way lineman Jake Adams, a 6-3, 290-pound senior tackle. “We wanted to pound the ball up front. We didn’t have that good of a week of practice, but we had a good game tonight. We want to keep it going every week.”
Pottsgrove coach Rick Pennypacker was glad to see his Falcons rebound from the loss to the Vikings, although he did say he thought his team also played well against Perkiomen Valley.
“We challenged our offensive line,” said Pennypacker. “We put it on them. We wanted to be physical. We knew we were going to come in here and be physical.”
Up front, Pottsgrove got solid games from Adams, Brandon Drozda, Ryan Cassidy, Michael Gantert and Malichi Hurt-Ramsey along with tight end Chris DeFrancesco.
Pennypacker also applauded the work of Porter and Barr as well as Finn, his junior quarterback. Finn wound up completing 7 of 12 passes for 141 yards with three touchdowns.
Stump had four receptions for 81 yards with one TD.
Pennypacker was also glad his defense did not allow a touchdown from scrimmage. The Falcons also got an interception from Adam Girafalco and half-sacks from Madison Kelsey, Tyler Smith, DeFrancesco and Gantert.
The Falcons were also satisfied with the way they contained Phoenixville’s top skill people on the outside, namely Matt Palubinsky and Nasir Green, who both had big games last week when the Phantoms defeated Methacton, 48-20, to earn their first win of the season.
“We bounced back and we did what we had to do,” said Pennypacker. “I have a great group of kids. We have a very young group of sophomores who are playing some. They are playing exceptionally well. We’re pleased.”
Phoenixville coach Evan Breisblatt was glad to see the September games end with the contest against Pottsgrove.
“It was 7-7,” said Breisblatt. “Then we missed a couple tackles on Porter, and he takes it to the house. Then we’re third and long, and No. 9 (Finn) makes a play with his feet. Then we gave them the ball inside the 10-yard line. On the interception, we didn’t run the right play. They were all big plays. They did not constantly pound us. Number nine got outside and we couldn’t contain them. They really made plays. Our offense is struggling.
“We’ve got to establish a running game,” said Breisblatt. “They were putting seven and eight men in the box. They were playing man-to-man against our skill guys, who we thought could beat them. Early on we had some third and ones and fourth and ones where we were very close to getting first downs. We had to punt a lot early.”
Notes >> Phoenixville got some good defensive work from the likes of Jon Miller, Matt Garcia, Melvin Obando, Ian Brown and Cory Bird. … Phoenixville is on the road against Owen J. Roberts next Friday night and then returns to Washington Field for Homecoming against Pottstown on Oct. 9.
