District 1 opening round had some sizzle

November 7, 2016

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Perkiomen Valley’s defense finished with a PAC-best seven interceptions, while senior receiver Justin Jaworski bested his own PAC record.

Spring-Ford’s TJ Pergine eclipsed a school record.

Oh, and Rahsul Faison went full circle against Upper Perkiomen,

It was an overwhelmingly positive first round of districts. Here are some highlights:

1. Justin Jaworski shatters PAC receiving record … again.

Perkiomen Valley's Justin Jaworski jukes Downingtown West's Cole Zapf on a 53-yard reception Saturday. (Sam Stewart - Digital First Media) — Perkiomen Valley’s Justin Jaworski jukes Downingtown West’s Cole Zapf on a 53-yard reception Saturday. (Sam Stewart – Digital First Media)

Perkiomen Valley’s Justin Jaworski shattered his own Pioneer Athletic Conference single-season receiving record and finished with three of the team’s seven total interceptions as the Vikings ran away with a 55-28 victory over No. 14 Penn Wood in the District 1 Class 6A opening round Friday night.

Jaworski, who missed three games after injuring his knee in Week 4’s victory over The Haverford School, bested his previous record of 1,195 yards. He now sits at 1,203 yards.

“It’s awesome to get the record again, especially after getting hurt earlier this season,” Jaworski said after the team’s victory Friday. “I thought my season was over to be honest. To get that was awesome. But the record is just a testament of how great my teammates are. (Stephen) Sturm is a great quarterback. He’s the reason I have all my yards and the offensive line has always been great for us.”

2. Pergine, Scarcelle set Spring-Ford school records

Spring-Ford's Stone Scarcelle celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first half. (Sam Stewart - Digital First Media) — Spring-Ford’s Stone Scarcelle celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first half. (Sam Stewart – Digital First Media)

Spring-Ford quarterback TJ Pergine’s 217 passing yards in the Rams’ 38-7 victory over CB East in the District 1 Class 6A opening round was enough to move him up to the top of the Spring-Ford record book for most passing yards in a season. Pergine, now with 2,122 passing yards, moved ahead of Hank Coyne, who finished with 1,932 yards in 2012 and 1,904 in 2011. Brandon Leacraft is third on the list with 1,893 yards in 2014 with Ricky Venuto’s 1,882-yard season last year in fourth.

Pergine, who has 26 touchdown passes this season, is tied with Coyne’s 2012 season for the school record for most touchdown passes in a season.

Stone Scarcelle surpassed Brandon Barone’s mark for most receiving touchdowns, hauling in his 12th touchdown reception.

3. Faison has career night

Pottsgrove's Rahsul Faison (2) rushes against Upper Perkiomen. Faison ran for 360 yards in the Falcons' win over the Indians in the first round of the 1-4A playoffs Friday. (Austin Hertzog - Digital First Media) — Pottsgrove’s Rahsul Faison (2) rushes against Upper Perkiomen. Faison ran for 360 yards in the Falcons’ win over the Indians in the first round of the 1-4A playoffs Friday. (Austin Hertzog – Digital First Media)

Pottsgrove junior running back Rahsul Faison had the best night of his career, rushing for a gaudy 360 yards in the Falcons’ 28-14 victory over Upper Perkiomen. Faison is second in the PAC in rushing with 1,795 yards on 220 attempts, sitting behind only Phoenixville’s Matt Garcia (255 attempts for 1,820 yards). Faison ranks first in the league in rushing touchdowns (24).

4. Jenkintown moving on

District 1 Class A saw a new champion Saturday as Steve Charlemagne led the Drakes to its first district championship since 2008 with a 34-6 victory over Delco Christian. Charlemagne finished with a game-best 163 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

Jenkintown moves onto this week’s subregional against District 2 champ Lackawanna Trail.

5. Neshaminy survives upset bid over Pennridge

Pennridge defender Alex Schmidt (#52, right) has a hold on Neshaminy running back Will Dogba in District 1 playoff opener at Nov. 4 Harry Franks Stadium, Langhorne, Pa. (J.S. Garber – For 21st-Century Media)

No. 15 Pennridge was poised to knock off No. 2 Neshaminy but two touchdowns in the final seven minutes of play had the Redskins moving on to the second round with a 26-21 victory. Mason Jones finished with 278 passing yards and four touchdowns in the win.

6. Lennox gets win No. 300

Interboro’s 49-12 rout over Pope John Paul II was enough to propel them into the District 1 Class 4A Championship against Pottsgrove on Friday. It gave head coach Steve Lennox his 300th career win during his 24-year career guiding the Bucs.

7. Marple Newtown wins first district home game

Showing the passion of a defense that dominated throughout, Marple Newtown defenders, from left, Dylan Conan, Dash Dulgerian and Carmen Christiana, swarm Upper Moreland running back Sterlen Barr in the third quarter of the Tigers’ 35-7 victory Friday night. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)

The Tigers, guided by a dominant defensive effort, bested Upper Moreland 35-7 in the District 1 Class 5A playoffs to win their first ever home playoff game.

8. WC East ends drought

West Chester East players celebrate Friday's win over Unionville. (NATE HECKENBERGER) — West Chester East players celebrate Friday’s win over Unionville. (NATE HECKENBERGER)

West Chester East ended a 10-year playoff drought courtesy of a dramatic last-minute 27-yard field goal by Jake Bonnet that lifted the Vikings to a 10-7 victory over Unionville in the opening round of the District 1 Class 5A playoffs.