Continuity the key to Pottsgrove’s success in 2018

KINTNERSVILLE >> When longtime assistant Bill Hawthorne took over the Pottsgrove football program last winter, he vowed to stick with what works.

And evidently, what’s worked best for the Falcons has been nothing out of the ordinary for the maroon and white.

“A lot of people can state a lot of reasons about why Pottsgrove football is what it is and why it’s successful,” said Hawthorne after Friday night’s 58-20 loss against Bethlehem Catholic in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal round at Palisades High School. “But it’s pretty simple: We’ve got great kids and great coaches who work hard day in and day out.

“That’s what it comes down to.”

The loss puts an end to a memorable season for Pottsgrove (12-2 overall) a week after the Falcons earned the first state playoff win in program history. It’s the third season in a row Pottsgrove’s season came to a finish against the Golden Hawks.

A stout defense mixed with a run-heavy approach on offense had been the forte of the Pottsgrove program for the better part of the last three decades under longtime head coach Rick Pennypacker.

But perhaps one of the most important elements has been the continuity on the Falcon coaching staff.

“I came in as the head coach, but the guys who came with me are equally as talented and equally as determined,” said Hawthorne. “They’re a lot like Pottsgrove football players — they don’t ask for attention. They just love to be around this team.”

Pottsgrove’s defense, headed by longtime defensive coordinator Bill Bradford, has been a force in the Pioneer Athletic Conference as well as District 1 year after year.

Entering Friday night’s game against Bethlehem Catholic, the Falcons boasted the area’s best defense, allowing under 10 points per game with four shutouts and limiting teams to a league-best 173 yards against per game.

Senior defensive end Ryan Bodolus has been at the forefront of it all, racking up 20 sacks on the season and bringing the pressure to help the Pottsgrove defense force 12 interceptions on the year.

“The kids are as tough as we are, and we’re all tough,” said Bradford, motioning to several other of Pottsgrove’s assistants. “The biggest thing for us is the camaraderie. It’s a hell of a feeling to get here (at states) every year.”

By this point, Bradford and the defensive staff have had a grip on the game for almost 20 years. He’s spent 19 seasons in various posts with the Pottsgrove program alongside Brent Haring, the current middle linebackers and running backs coach.

Also part of the Falcon staff has been Eric Engstrom, a longtime defensive-backs/wide receivers coach, along with middle linebackers/running backs coach Preston Moser.

Josh Ford, a defensive back and linebackers specialist, became the special teams coordinator this season while Josh Lindy, who had been the offensive/defensive line coach for four years, stepped in as offensive coordinator.

Entering Friday night, Lindy’s offense led the league in points per game (30), rushing yards per game (246) and total yards per game (293).

Junior running back Isaiah Taylor led the league in rushing for the year, racking up 1,544 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging just under six yards per carry. It’s the second year in a row that a Falcon running back has led the league in rushing, that after Rahsul Faison set a new PAC record last season with 2,919 rushing yards.

Quarterback Jay Sisko was a threat to run it this season as well, as he finished out the year with 805 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground.

Through the air, Sisko was plenty efficient all season. Despite just 80 passing attempts (a few area QBs tripled his passing attempts with two fewer games), the senior finished with 10 touchdown passes against four interceptions.

Keith Schurr has also been pacing the Pottsgrove sideline as an assistant for a decade while Jack Thomas has served as the program’s athletic trainer for 32 seasons.

“This program would be nothing without our assistants and what they bring every day,” said Hawthorne. “My assistants are special to me. Not only are they hard working coaches, but they’re great people who our kids look up to.”

Just a day after Thanksgiving, Hawthorne couldn’t help but to step back and look at the big picture when it came to his team’s success this fall.

“These kids and these coaches gave us everything they had this season,” he said. “As a coach, that’s all I could ask for.”