Kapp, Boyertown outlast Upper Perkiomen in PAC opener

BOYERTOWN >> As a kid, Jerry Kapp spent a season working as the ball boy for the Boyertown High School football team.

His favorite memory from that season? Being down on the sidelines during the Bears’ rivalry Thanksgiving game against Upper Perkiomen.

Flash forward to Friday night.

Kapp found himself under center during Boyertown’s season-opening 34-27 win against the Tribe at Bear Memorial Stadium.

“It gives me chills, just to think about it,” said Kapp, recalling then and now. “It was cool for me to be so young, and still feel like I was a part of the team. Even as a kid, I knew how big of a rivalry this game was.

“For us, (the win) is a perfect way for us to get this season started. We’ve got a ton of momentum on our side.”

The junior was phenomenal on the night, racking up 177 yards on the ground and scoring three touchdowns, including a keeper from 29 yards out with just over four minutes left to give Boyertown the decisive lead.

Running back Hunter Vogels carried it six times for 115 yards to go along with a 49-yard touchdown. Next to him, Marcus Thomas put up a workman’s effort of 77 yards on nine carries with a 16-yard touchdown.

“We’ve got to give a ton of credit to the offensive line,” said Kapp. “Our backs were running hard and they were creating the holes. All around, this was a really good win, but we’re not where we want to be yet.”

Photo  Gallery: Upper Perkiomen at Boyertown

While Boyertown’s offense mostly operated by foot, Upper Perkiomen did its traveling through the air.

Quarterback Zeke Hallman racked up 303 passing yards and four touchdowns — three of which were to Ryan Kendra. Kendra caught 11 passes for 202 yards with scores from 9, 43 and 58 yards out.

“Zeke’s got all the tools to be successful,” said Upper Perkiomen head coach Tom Hontz. “He and Kendra have a great quarterback-receiver connection. That’s a huge positive that we can take away from this one.”

Hallman also threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Whary midway through the second quarter.

Austin Tutolo carried it 11 times for 55 yards while Whary rushed it 10 times for 45 yards. Both backs were on the sideline late in the game, though.

“When you lose your two workhorses like that, it really hurt us,” said Hontz. “Tutolo rolled his ankle and Whary was battling cramps during the second half. Both of them should be fine, we just didn’t want to test anything this early in the season.”

Turning Point

With a shade under 10 minutes left in regulation, Kapp fumbled the snap on the Bears’ opening play of the drive. Upper Perkiomen’s Trevor Stephen fell on it and the Tribe took over possession at the Boyertown 30-yard line.

Less than a minute later, the Tribe turned it over on downs when Hallman threw an incomplete pass to Kendra.

“If we can convert there,” said Hontz, “who knows what could have happened. We’d still have to get the ball in the end zone, which is never a given.”

“The defense made a great stop there,” said Boyertown head coach George Parkinson. “That was huge. If they go in and score there, that could have been the end of us. I was proud of our guys for stepping up.”

Thanks For Playing

Parkinson tries not to buy into the Boyertown-Upper Perkiomen rivalry, which used to be at the season’s end on Thanksgiving Day.

“We’re more focused on getting the season started on the right foot,” he said. “We’ve got a tough schedule coming up. We’ve got Exeter next week, then Pottsgrove then Academy Park. So it was very, very important for us to come away with this win.”

The Bears have now won the past seven contests against the Tribe — their last loss coming on Thanksgiving in 2009.

Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!

A season after breaking the Boyertown receiving record with 645 yards, it seems as though Kapp will have the ball in his hands even more this season. With slated starter Evan Giannetti on the sideline, Kapp surely made his case in his first varsity quarterback experience.

“I’d been taking reps at quarterback during the offseason,” Kapp said. “I’ll play wherever I’m needed. All we’re focused on right now is winning.”