Fueled by offseason motivation, Perkiomen Valley aims for another postseason run, PAC three-peat
One point.
That’s all that separated Perkiomen Valley from advancing to the program’s first-ever District 1 final last season when the Vikings took a 14-13 loss to Central Bucks West at home.
Rather than letting that result hold real estate in their heads, Perkiomen Valley’s returning players are turning the experience into bulletin board material.
“It’s kind of shown us what we’re capable of doing, how far we can make it,” senior inside linebacker Sam Koehler said. “We’re pushing the people coming up this year and showing them that it is possible to make it as far as you want to go, as long as you work hard.”
Koehler, along with fellow linebackers Drew Kenworthy, Kyle Gallagher and Robbie Sturges, make up the senior captains who aim to anchor Perkiomen Valley’s defense in the absence of now-graduated Mercury Player of the Year Carson Pascoe (Susquehanna University) and All-Area first teamers Shane Nelson and Stephen Ciaudelli.
Per program tradition, the Vikings select one junior each year to be a team captain while the rest are seniors. Filling that role last year, Kenworthy led Perkiomen Valley in fumble recoveries (three) and was among the team’s leading tacklers with 74 (15 solo, 58 assisted).
Dogged on the field, Kenworthy has long embraced his leadership role and is preaching it down to those under him alongside the rest of his class. The teaching point? Having reached the District 1 semifinals three times in the past decade (2013, 2016, 2022) and earning the No. 2 seed a year ago.
“With the guys beside me and other seniors, it’s become really easy because I know their desire to win is as much as mine,” Kenworthy said. “We like to bring that to the lower kids, freshmen, sophomores and juniors. We want to make sure we create a culture here that we want to win.”
Of course, before district play comes the opportunity to three-peat as Pioneer Athletic Conference champions. Perkiomen Valley has won the last two conference title games over Pope John Paul II, 30-0 and 21-14, respectively.
A 9-1 regular season and pair of district wins last year has allowed for both confidence and a winning culture, as well as the hunger to not let that one point throw a powerful program in Graterford off its rails in 2023.
“It still crushes me to this day how close we came,” Kenworthy said on last season’s District 1 semifinal exit. “Like Sam said, we can go farther this year. In the offseason, we became stronger and quicker, so we believe. We want to make that run again.”
With the ball in the hands of quarterback Pat MacDonald, that run is surely possible. Thrust into a starting role as a sophomore without varsity experience last year, MacDonald took over signal-calling duties when Danny Koehler suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in Week 2, ending the latter’s senior season.
Having two starting quarterbacks gone from graduation and injury in a matter of weeks, MacDonald stepped up and turned mud into a milkshake. As a sophomore, he went 95-for-149 for 1,187 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions for a 144.3 passer rating (fourth in the PAC). With his legs, he rushed for 226 yards and seven touchdowns.
MacDonald commanded the Vikings offense all fall, nearly reaching new postseason heights while repeating as PAC champions. From hopeful call-up to captain of the ship, the junior is already looking like a pillar of Perkiomen Valley’s program entering 2023.
“I think he’s become stronger mentally. He’s a more vocal leader for the team, which we need,” Kenworthy said on MacDonald. “Obviously he came in last year after Danny’s scary injury and he was kind of getting his feet wet, but this year he knows the task at hand and wants to take charge.”
Perkiomen Valley lost some offensive firepower with the graduations of running back Ryan Klimek (668 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns) and wide receiver Michael Poruban (41 receptions, 637 yards, four touchdowns), the latter being the No. 2 receiver in the PAC in 2022.
Cole Euker returns to the offensive line after a standout sophomore season that drew Division I interest while garnering All-Area first team honors.
The Vikings also return starting fullback Jake Stewart, who amassed 780 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Anthony Miceli is projected to be the primary tailback after leading the position at JV.
“I’m excited about the idea of having him in the backfield,” Perkiomen Valley coach Rob Heist said on Miceli’s addition to the varsity backfield.
While the annual matchup against Spring-Ford — slated for Oct. 6 on the road — has effectively decided the PAC championship the last several years, Perkiomen Valley isn’t thinking too far ahead. Or at least, not thinking out loud.
The attention falls to Week 1, which presents an immediate test, Aug. 26 on the road against District 1-5A quarterfinalist Chester — a squad that averaged 37.2 points per game through its first 11 games last fall.
From there, the Vikings travel to Downingtown West (Sept. 1) before hosting Smyrna, Del. (Sept. 8) and Cheltenham (Sept. 15) to round out their non-league circuit. Perkiomen Valley opens conference play on Sept. 29 at home against Owen J. Roberts.
“They’re all going to be tough games and we know that. We could easily go 0-3, 0-4,” Gallagher said on the Vikings’ non-league schedule. “We just have to take it one game at a time, one day at a time. We’re not worried about down the line.”
SCHEDULE
Saturday, August 26
Perkiomen Valley vs Chester, 11 a.m.
Friday, September 1
Perkiomen Valley vs Downingtown West, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 8
Smyrna vs Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 15
Cheltenham vs Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 22
Owen J. Roberts vs Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 29
Methacton vs Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 6
Perkiomen Valley vs Spring-Ford, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 13
Perkiomen Valley vs Norristown, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 20
Boyertown vs Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 27
PAC Crossover vs Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m.
