Finish the job: Upper Merion intent on being better in close games in 2022
The Upper Merion football team believes it left some wins on the table last season.
Second-half collapses against Conwell-Egan, Phoenixville and Boyertown last year inspired a new motto for 2022: Finish the job.
Led by a large senior class, the Vikings think if they can live by that message they are well-equipped to improve on last season’s 4-6 finish and District 1-5A first round exit.
“Last year, all of our games were tight, tight, tight,” senior tight end/defensive end Nolan Clayton said. “At halftime we were always tied or up and in the second half we fumbled it and lost the game there. This year, we’re finishing the job. Our goal is to have our second half be stronger than our first half and win more games. I think with the team we have and the talent we have we can go really far this year.”
Upper Merion coach Davis Chubb is in his second season guiding the program.
Defensive coordinator Don Jackson has been around the program for a while so the players were already familiar with the defense heading into last season. But offensively, Chubb described last season as ‘touch and go’ as he tried to learn more about his players and tailor the offense around them.
With a full offseason under his belt, he’s felt a noticeable change already.
“I do feel like we have a leg up, especially because we’re so senior heavy this year,” Chubb said. “That is a positive, so we’ll see how it translates on Friday nights.”
Also working in the Vikings’ favor and making things easier for Chubb is having senior quarterback Zayd Etheridge (83-for-146, 1,142 yards, 7 TDs, 7 INT) back under center. Etheridge is the Pioneer Athletic Conference’s top returning passer.
Clayton and Etheridge split time at quarterback to start the 2021 season. By the end of the year, Etheridge emerged as one the league’s top signal callers, while Clayton, who recently committed to Villanova, turned himself into one of the league’s top offensive weapons at tight end (16 catches, 242 yards, 5 TDs).
With those two cemented in their roles to start the season, the Vikings’ offense could be primed to take another step forward in 2022.
“Basically we have our offense already,” Etheridge said. “We’re pretty smooth running. Obviously, I’m looking forward to a big year, and I think we’ll be ready when the time comes.”
Senior wide receiver/cornerback Marcus Crittendon (23 catches, 277 yards) is another weapon back in the mix. Senior Qwynne Seals made the switch from running back to slot receiver and should be used in a variety of ways.
Junior running back Yusuf Riley (28 carries, 99 yards, TD) is likely to lead the backfield, but Chubb noted the Vikings will have a number of ball carriers this season. Senior fullback/ defensive end Adam Pacelli will contribute to the ground attack too.
“I’m pretty excited,” Crittendon said. “We’ve been building connections whether it was from practice or offseason or just going to the field by ourselves. I think it’s all going to end up working out in our favor.”
Up front, senior offensive/defensive lineman Dominic Cacciavillani, junior offensive/defensive lineman Elijah Davis, senior offensive lineman Stephen Krauss and senior offensive/defensive lineman T.J. Handley give the Vikings a strong group.
With players like Cacciavillani and Clayton part of a deep group, Upper Merion’s defensive front should be a position of strength as well.
“We’ve been working really hard this offseason and I’m excited to see how it all plays out on the field,” Cacciavillani said.
The defense has less starters returning but Chubb noted there are still plenty back with game experience. Crittendon and senior Preston Thomas lead the secondary, while junior tight end/linebacker Mike Scavello returns to give the group a boost.
Outside of having another year with Chubb, the Vikings’ seniors can feel something different brewing this season. Throughout the offseason there was a unique commitment that hasn’t always been there in the past.
“A lot of people’s dedication is a lot stronger,” Etheridge said. “I think that’s because this year we started really early and it gave guys a chance to really find out if they want to be a part of this team and a lot of guys do want to be part of this team and they’ve been here since January or before then.”
That is perhaps the reason this senior-laden Vikings group is the closest Clayton has had in his tenure.
“Out of the four years I’ve been here, I don’t think our chemistry’s ever been this good,” Clayton said. “I think every single person on the team likes every single person on the team and it’s never really been that tight. Our family, our chemistry, it’s just through the roof this year.”
Since joining the PAC in 2016, Upper Merion has posted only one winning record in the Frontier when it finished 3-2 in the division for third place in 2018. The Vikings also hosted a District 1 playoff game that season.
There is belief within this group that they can surpass those accomplishments. They just have to ‘finish the job.’
“We had a tough ending last year,” Etheridge said. “We were fighting for a playoff position and ended up losing the first round of playoffs to Strath Haven. But this year with the talent and the dedication we have, I think that will change quickly.”
