Football: Perkiomen Valley survives test from Quakertown in District 1-6A playoff opener
GRATERFORD >> Early in Friday’s game, a Perkiomen Valley coach reminded the players around him how Quakertown is “a good team” that “isn’t going to quit.”
His words proved prophetic, the Panthers going toe-to-toe with the Vikings for much of their District 1 Class 6A playoff opener and taking a two-score lead midway through the third quarter. It was then PV took the opportunity to display its own talent and stick-to-itiveness, with the end result a 36-26 victory at Thomas J. Keenan Stadium.
Down 26-15 after Anthony Ferrugio returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown at the 7:17 mark, Perk Valley (9-2) returned the favor with Robbie Sturges executing a 50-yard “pick six” at 5:44. That was followed by running touchdowns from senior running back Xavier Nunez and sophomore quarterback Julien Corropolese and timely defensive play that prevented visiting Quakertown (6-5) from getting any closer to paydirt than the Vikes’ 40-yard line.
“All the coaches teach us to never give up,” Corropolese said. “We’re all brothers who pick each other up.”
Seventh-seeded PV advances to next week’s 6A quarterfinal with second seed Downingtown East, a 56-0 winner over Wissahickon. The 10th-seeded Panthers, in turn, have a Thanksgiving Day rematch with longtime rival Pennridge to anticipate.
“These are two quality programs,” PV head coach Rob Heist said. “George Banas (Quakertown head coach) and his staff have a good team. We knew it was going to be a dogfight, and I’m proud of the way our kids responded.”
The Panthers went to the airways for the bulk of their scoring. Senior quarterback Vince Micucci, completing 13 of 30 tosses for 180 yards, hooked up with Ferrugio twice on 29- and 19-yard plays, bookending a 38-yard scoring toss to Aiden Burgy with 3:50 left in the second quarter.
That left Quakertown one point (15-14) shy of Perk at the half, but Ferrugio’s TD catch and interception effected the turnaround in a 94-second span. The recovery of a PV fumble at its 46 had the visiting team looking good.
“I thought it was an even matchup,” Banas said. “Up by 11, and with the fumble recovery, I thought we were going to score.”
Sturges’ swipe, however, swung things solidly in the Vikings’ favor.
“After the defensive play, being two scores down, that changed the momentum,” he noted.
Another timely play, though contributing only two points to its total, demonstrated Perk Valley’s resilience.
Following a 72-yard scoring pass from Corropolese to Sturges, the hosts attempted a conversion kick by Corropolese. A mishandled snap left the holder, Brice Lewis, scrambling from a rush of Quakertown pursuers.
Lewis responded to the situation by hitting Sturges with his throw. It was good for an 8-7 lead.
“We practice it, but you never expect it to happen,” Sturges said. “That was a heads-up play by Brice Lewis.”
“Brice will be the first one to tell you he mishandled the snap,” Heist added. “We practice that ‘fire drill’ where we release three kids into the route. Sturges happened to be one of them.”
Corropolese had his own solid passing game, going 7-for-10 for 147 yards. His 72-yard toss to Sturges got the Vikes on the board at 8:19 of the second quarter, and a two-yard hookup between them provided PV its halftime advantage.
“The work I’ve put in since taking over at quarterback helps,” Corropolese said, noting he’s logged four games in the slot since the team’s Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division) game with Norristown.
Corropolese also chipped in to a running game that covered 215 yards, his 67 including a three-yard run inside the two-minute mark of the third quarter. Nunez led the way with 95 yards – a 25-yard TD jaunt among them – followed by Nathan Reedy (53).
“We like a balanced offense, but we’ve been more run-heavy,” Heist said. “We’re slowly but surely working more on the passing game. Julien is becoming more comfortable with his passing.”
Defensively, the Vikings benefited from Anthony Rodriguez’ interception early in the second quarter, the play setting the stage for Corropolese’s long-distance hookup with Sturges. Sacks by Drew Kenworthy and Brett McDonnell helped stop Quakertown’s final possession on downs.
NOTES: Joey Keough was PV’s leading receiver in terms of catches (four), and second to Sturges in aerial yardage, 74-66. … Banas on his team’s long-running Turkey Day matchup with the neighboring Rams: “It’s a good thing we play on Thanksgiving. It means we can finish the season with a win, something only a number of teams are able to say.”
District 1-6A Playoffs
Perkiomen Valley 36, Quakertown 26
Quakertown 7 7 12 0 – 26
Perkiomen Valley 0 15 14 7 – 36
First Quarter
Qt-Ferrugio 29 pass from Micucci (Cole kick), 2;07
Second Quarter
PV-Sturges 72 pass from Corropolese (Sturges pass from Lewis), 8:19
Qt-Burgy 38 pass from Micucci (Cole kick), 3:50
PV-Sturges 2 pass from Corropolese (Cube kick), :25
Third Quarter
Qt-Ferrugio 19 pass from Micucci (run failed), 8:51
Qt-Ferrugio 52 interception return (kick failed), 7:17
PV-Sturges 50 interception return (Corropolese kick), 5:44
PV-Corropolese 3 run (Corropolese kick), 1:24
Fourth Quarter
PV-Nunez 25 run (Corropolese kick), 9:17
TEAM STATISTICS
Qt PV
First downs 15 17
Rushing yards 83 215
Passing yards 180 147
Total yards 263 362
Passes C-A-I 13-30-2 7-10-1
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 3-35 2-10
Punts-Avg. 3-37.7 4-24.8
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Quakertown – Carroll, 6-33; Micucci, 12-31; Bittner, 5-17; Connelly, 1-2; Clancy, 1-0.
Perkiomen Valley – Nunez, 16-95, 1 TD; Corropolese, 20-67, 1 TD; Reedy, 13-53.
Passing
Quakertown – Micucci, 13-30-180, 3 TDs, 2 INTs.
Perkiomen Valley – Corropolese, 7-10-147, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
Receiving
Quakertown – Burgy, 5-70, 1 TD; Clancy, 4-37; Ferrugio, 2-48, 2 TDs; Connelly, 1-17; Mushrush, 1-8.
Perkiomen Valley – Keough, 4-66; Sturges, 2-74, 2 TDs; Hall, 1-7.
Interceptions – Quakertown: Ferrugio 1. Perkiomen Valley: Rodriguez 1, Sturges 1.
Sacks – Quakertown: Burgy 1, Eure 1. Perkiomen Valley: Kenworthy 1, McDonnell 1.
