Delco Football Friday: Fillis, Academy Park looking to bounce back in Del Val opener
SHARON HILL >> Skylor Fillis knows that Academy Park’s best has yet to come.
It could be argued that no team has played a more arduous nonleague schedule than the Knights, who’ve successfully passed four of their five tests.
Their most recent contest was one they’d like to forget. Or maybe not.
Facing the No. 3-ranked team in West Virginia, according to MaxPreps, AP suffered a one-sided defeat at home to Martinsburg High School.
The Knights hope to turn an ugly loss into a positive.
“It’s something we have to learn from,” Fillis said. “I feel like we know we’ve got to play better and we have to come together as a team more.”
That Martinsburg team had been averaging 51.8 points per game prior to last Friday night. The Knights held them to a season-low 42 points.
AP may not face a superior team the rest of the way, unless the Knights can capture a fourth District 1 championship and advance to the state tournament.
For now, though, they are prepared for the rigors of the Del Val League schedule. Academy Park travels to the South Avenue Athletic Complex to play Interboro Friday night. Kickoff is 7 o’clock.
“We’re just going to take it one game at a time,” Fillis said. “We can’t be looking ahead at anybody else on our schedule. Our goal is to (beat) Interboro this week. That’s who we’re preparing for. We’re not worried about anybody else.”
Fillis has been the Knights’ most valuable performer in the first five weeks. With 433 yards rushing and 479 yards passing, the 6-1, 175-pound senior has accounted for so much of AP’s offensive production. He is their biggest and best weapon.
“I just want to focus on making the right decisions with the ball,” he said, “and I want to be there to help my team win.”
Scoring hasn’t been the problem for the Knights, who are averaging better than 315 yards of total offense. They are 10th in Delco in points scored per game at 26.8.
It’s the defense that is leaking oil. In the last two weeks, opposing offenses have produced a total of 724 yards. Senior linebacker Marcus McBurrows has taken it personal.
“I feel as though we have to do a better job at communicating with each other,” McBurrows said. “We have the players and we are talented. I put that on my shoulders, as one of the seniors and quarterback of the defense, to make sure everyone is doing the right thing on defense and that we’re talking to one another.”
Academy Park (4-1) and Interboro (2-3) have had some memorable battles in recent years, and Friday should be more of the same. The Bucs are coming off a forfeited win against Lower Moreland. They have rested bodies thanks to the impromptu bye week.
Interboro’s biggest issue has been on the defensive side of the ball. They are allowing 37 points per contest.
While the Knights are the favorite to win, they will not treat this as an easy game. No way. Not after what they endured last week. They are ready for every team’s very best effort.
“Every game is big for us,” McBurrows said, “and we’re not going to take anyone lightly for the rest of this year.”
