Defense, special teams shine in Spring-Ford’s winning debut

Heading into their season-opening matchup at Pa. Prep Live preseason No. 11 rated Bucks South, Spring-Ford’s players and coaches heard plenty about the Titans’ loaded, experienced defense. CB South returned seven starters from 2017, including All-State linebacker selection Matt Norris.

Instead, it was the Rams’ defense — and special teams — that loudly announced their arrival as one of the area’s top units in an impressive 21-0 victory in Warrington.

Two of Spring-Ford’s three touchdowns were produced by the defense and special teams, as Central Bucks South accumulated only 117 total yards of offense and seven first downs for the evening. CB South’s rushing attack was completely neutralized, ultimately losing 10 yards in total on the night.

“Thorough team effort,” Spring-Ford head coach Chad Brubaker acknowledged. “We got contributions from everyone on the unit, and our special teams kept us in good field position throughout the game.”

In fact, it was the Rams’ special teams that gave the team the early shot in the arm they needed. After an initial CB South three-and-out, senior Nick DelRomano broke through to get a hand on the ensuing punt, which bounced into the hands of Noah Baker. Baker’s 15-yard return put Spring-Ford on top 7-0 less than two minutes into the contest.

Minutes later, senior running back/safety Stephen Brill avenged a Rams turnover by undercutting an out route and taking it 69 yards to the house, outracing a pair of CB South pursuers. The Titans found themselves down 14-0—and their vaunted defense hadn’t allowed a point.

Despite losing starting quarterback Ryan Engro and later watching Brill leave due to injury, the Spring-Ford offense stayed afloat thanks to wide receiver Dante Bonanni moving behind center and steadying an inexperienced and suddenly undermanned offense. Those efforts paid off in the third quarter when Armante Haynes powered across the goal line from 23 yards out to give the Rams the final score of the evening.

(Brubaker added that he expects to have Engro and Brill available Friday night against Wayne Valley.)

In the interim, the Spring-Ford defense stifled any attempts at a Titans rally, surviving four turnovers thanks in large part to the efforts of DelRomano and James Albert at linebacker.

“James and Nick were the best linebackers on the field,” said Brubaker, high praise considering the presence of All-State performer Norris for CB South.

Meanwhile, Blake Terrizzi and Nate Orkfritz-Robertson held down the fort at the defensive end, while Nick Uba, Leo Van Hulst, and Alex Koretke ably manned the secondary in Brill’s absence. In all, the unit accumulated a sack and 12 tackles for loss. K/P Taylor Smith (36.6 yards per punt) consistently made CB South traverse the length of the field with booming punts pinning the Titans deep time and again.

Spring-Ford (1-0) battles Wayne Valley (N.J.), a perennial contender in North Jersey who returns 17 total starters this season. “I’ve seen their film, and that’s going to be a very strong team,” said Brubaker.

The scary thing for Wayne Valley? “A team’s biggest improvement,” Brubaker concluded, “occurs between games 1 and 2.”

Offensive Player of the Week >> Perkiomen Valley QB Cole Peterlin accounted for five total TDs in the Vikings’ 44-33 setback against Downingtown West.

Peterlin accounted for 420 of the Vikings’ 482 offensive yards (306 passing, 114 rushing), connecting three times with WR Isaiah Domine for scores and finding Doug Lingo on the other tally. The senior more than held his own in a showdown of two of the area’s QBs. Peterlin’s opposite number, Downingtown West’s Will Howard, went 17-28 for 240 yards and a score.

“Cole’s done everything we’ve asked of him so far,” said Perkiomen Valley head coach Rob Heist.

Defensive Player of the Week >> Spring-Ford LB Nick DelRomano got his squad off to a flying start, charging through and blocking a Central Bucks South punt that was scooped up and returned 15 yards by Noah Baker for the game’s opening score less than two minutes into the contest. From there, DelRomano anchored a stifling Rams defense (five tackles, 2 TFL) that completely stymied the Titans’ rushing attack in a 21-0 road victory.

Week 1 takeaways >> Five coaches debuted in their new roles Friday, with Pottsgrove’s Bill Hawthorne notching a 1-0 start in a last-minute, 15-14 win over West Catholic (more on that below), while Daniel Boone’s Rob Flowers got his first win, outlasting Garden Spot 24-21.

Phoenixville’s Don Grinstead made his return to PAC football in a 28-15 loss to Great Valley, while Norristown’s Joe Milligan and Methacton’s Dave Lotier dropped their respective openers to Upper Dublin and Harry S. Truman.

Hawthorne’s debut wasn’t looking so bright for the first three quarters, as West Catholic took a 14-0 lead over a Pottsgrove offense struggling to find its footing. But after Darrian Seaman recovered a fumble at the West Catholic one-yard line, QB Jay Sisko cut the Falcons’ deficit in half with a short plunge with just over eight minutes to play. From there, QB Sisko and Isaiah Taylor powered a drive to bring the game within one with 37 seconds to play.

Coach Hawthorne established himself as a gutsy game manager in calling for a two-point conversion, which Taylor took in for the 15-14 Pottsgrove win. “A two-point conversion for the win … it can’t get any better,” summarized senior defensive end Ryan Bodolus, who had four sacks on the night.
Boyertown avenged last year’s season-opening loss to Upper Perkiomen with a 37-12 decision powered by Jamie Moccia’s 243 total yards and four TDs. Declan Coyle set a school record for the Bears, nailing a 41-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Led by Moccia’s big night (190 yards on the ground), the triple-option Bears’ attack put up 322 total rushing yards, controlling the clock and pace of the game. Malachi Duka gained 137 yards on the ground for Upper Perk in a losing effort.

After Conestoga marched down the field in nine plays for a game-opening score, the Owen J. Roberts’ defense returned to its 2017 form, allowing only 110 yards the rest of the way in upending the Pioneers for a third consecutive year, 20-7.

Cooper Chamberlain was solid in his first start, completing 14-18 passes for 111 yards and adding another 51 yards on the ground. Marcus Martin compiled 127 rushing yards for the victorious Wildcats, while Hugo Mateos hit a pair of 30-yard field goals.

Kamal Gray announced his arrival as Pope John Paul II’s new starting quarterback. In a 51-0 victory over Kutztown, the junior Archbishop Carroll transfer was 7-for-7 for 119 yards passing and a pair of scores. Gray added a 30-yard TD run for good measure.

Defensively, the Golden Panthers held Kutztown to 23 total yards of offense. Next week, the Panthers, who reclassified to 3A for the 2018 season, travel to New Hope-Solebury for a showdown with their new District 1/12 3A rivals.

Taiyan Lobban had an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Upper Merion’s 31-23 loss to Radnor. Mark Picariello added a 44-yard fumble return for another touchdown for the Vikings.

So far, so good for the Josiah Wiggins era as Pottstown’s QB. The converted RB scampered for 160 yards and three touchdowns in a 26-6 decision over visiting Octorara. Coach Mark Fischer continued to ease Wiggins into the passing game (5-11, 35 yards) while relying on the junior’s elusiveness to carry the Trojans’ offense.

Up Next >> The week gets an early start, as Philadelphia Public League contender Martin Luther King High visits Phoenixville while Pottstown takes on West Chester East in the Trojans’ first road contest.

Owen J. Roberts tries to make it two in a row away from home to start the campaign when they travel to Daniel Boone Friday night. Upper Merion travels to Norristown for a PAC crossover game, while Pottsgrove does likewise at Methacton.

Perkiomen Valley continues their challenging non-conference schedule, traveling to Downingtown East for a Saturday night contest.