Mercury All-Area: Pascoe puts imprint on defining moments of Perkiomen Valley’s championship season

“He’s a football player. If you understand the game, you’ll know what that means,” says Perkiomen Valley coach Rob Heist.

To Heist, it means good instincts. It means leadership. It means an ability to do whatever is asked of you on the football field – and do it with a physical and mental edge that give you an inherent advantage regardless of the situation.

The season began with plenty of questions for Perkiomen Valley on the defensive side of the ball. But by the conclusion of their second consecutive PAC championship campaign, Carson Pascoe established himself as the answer. It’s why Pascoe is the 2022 Mercury All-Area Football Player of the Year.

Pascoe led the team with 94 total tackles, contributing a half-dozen quarterback sacks, along with a pair of fumble recoveries and interceptions.

But the timing of Pascoe’s biggest plays made the senior outside linebacker stand above the crowd. In the Vikings’ three biggest victories of the season, Pascoe made defensive plays that ultimately decided the game, clinched a victory, or marked a turning point in the victory.

For the past several years, the Spring-Ford/Perkiomen Valley game has determined the Liberty Division title and ultimately the PAC championship, with the two schools combining for the last seven titles.

On October 7, Spring-Ford scored with 46 seconds remaining to cut Perkiomen Valley’s lead to 7-6. The Rams didn’t hesitate to go for the win at Thomas J. Keenan Stadium with a two-point conversion attempt.

Contributing to Heist’s characterization of Pascoe as ‘a football player’ is the fact that weeks or months after a big play, the defensive stalwart has total recall on the anatomy of the plays.

“I knew they were looking to run their quarterback up the middle,” recalled Pascoe, “because we had [Zach Zollers, the Rams’ leading receiver] bracketed. I just went with that instinct.”

Shane Nelson, a fellow senior and first-team All-Area defensive tackle, attacked the mesh point with abandon while Sam Koehler and Pascoe converged on Rams’ quarterback Matt Zollers.

“Sam hit him first,” said Pascoe, “and I took him down. Everyone on our defense had a role in the play, and to get that win at home, my senior year – there’s no better feeling in the world.”

Three weeks later, however, with the PAC title on the line and Pope John Paul II providing the Vikings with an equally stiff test, Pascoe’s instincts would be tested again.

With the game knotted at 7 in the third quarter, the Golden Panthers lined up for a fourth-down conversion around their own 35-yard line.

“They were in a Wildcat formation with [running back Boyd Skarbek], and he hadn’t thrown out of that look the entire game,” said Pascoe.
“I was over the slot WR, but I read run up the middle all the way.”

The ensuing takedown swung the momentum and the Vikings would score on their next two drives, providing the deciding margin in a 21-14 championship victory.

Having the instincts to make such plays possible is just one part of what Pascoe brought to the Vikings’ defense. His willingness to trust those instincts are what sets him apart from other read-and-react linebackers. Any momentary hesitation on either play could’ve proven disastrous.

One of the primary sources of motivation to the Vikings in their 11-2 season was a 35-30 loss to Coatesville in 2021’s District 1 Class 6A quarterfinals. This year, the Vikings found themselves at the same stage of the postseason, but their impressive regular season meant a No. 2 seed and the ability to host a quarterfinal game with Souderton.

“Before that game, I told the guys how much that Coatesville loss still bothered me,” Pascoe said. “At home, in front of our fans, we weren’t letting the season end that way again.”

Pascoe backed up those words throughout PV’s 27-14 victory that sent the Vikings to the District 1 Class 6A semifinals for the first time since 2016 but demonstrated his versatility when the Indians looked to rally late in the fourth quarter.

The bulk of Souderton’s offense came via pass plays to receiver Danny Dyches, who had 130 yards and two scores by the time Pascoe ventured out to the slot – just as in the PAC title game – to cover the big-play threat.

“First play, I was able to tip a pass away,” Pascoe recalled, “and later in the drive he used that same outside release. I knew the ball was coming his way.”

Again, Pascoe thwarted an opponent’s threat with a leaping interception in the end zone, prolonging the Vikings’ season and keeping his pregame promise.

Senior year had some added meaning for Pascoe, who arrived in the Perkiomen Valley School District in the middle of his ninth-grade year with his twin brother, Gavin.

Sports were the outlet for both brothers, the sons of Jeff and Connie Pascoe. Carson, who wrestles and plays middle infield for the baseball team as well as football, looked forward to establishing himself in his new school. Then March 2020 arrived.

“That 2020 season was an outlier for so many reasons,” said Heist. “It was hard to get together, so lifting in the offseason was done on their own.

“Our relationships just weren’t the same that season. As a result, I didn’t really get to know Carson and Gavin well until they were juniors.”
The first thing Heist noticed about Carson? “It was very clear the edge he brought to the field,” said Heist. “There’s a presence, a competitive edge he has. It’s huge – kids feed off that kind of leadership.”

Pascoe knew after the 2021 season the Vikings would be losing a significant portion of their defense. But he assessed that Coatesville loss as a turning point in his own approach and mentality toward the game.

“I realized after my junior season that football was what I wanted to do,” he said. “With one more shot, I gave it everything I had in the offseason. I made it a top priority.”

As one of three returning starters, he also took on a ‘lead by example’ mentality. “It’s a lot of encouragement, getting everybody on the same page, and making sure people are confident. You’re building relationships with everyone on that side of the ball.”

Perkiomen Valley enjoys the roster depth that allows a player like Pascoe to focus his efforts and talents on one side of the ball – even if he had the tools to be an asset both ways.

“He was physical as a running back – Carson could’ve played tailback for a number of teams in this area,” said Heist. “But we didn’t need him to do that. The idea of keeping him fresh, keeping his attention on one side of the ball is appealing.”

“It allows me to focus when I’m watching film, learning the other team’s offense,” said Pascoe. “I don’t know if I’d have been as successful on defense if I’d been [playing offense] as well.”

He became the lynchpin of a linebacking corps regularly cited as the strength of Perkiomen Valley’s defense that allowed an average of 14 points per game. The Vikings’ system employs five players who are designated as linebackers – and all five of those starters are All-Area honorees.

“He is just a pure football player,” said Heist. “He could’ve played tailback for us and done it well. He could’ve been a boundary receiver, even a quarterback.”

Quarterback? “Yeah, I can sling it a little bit,” Pascoe laughed.

His desire to be a ‘complete athlete’ is why his time as a PV athlete isn’t near done with wrestling and baseball seasons ahead.
Pascoe hasn’t decided on a school for next year but plans to focus on playing football and turning his 4.0 GPA into future success in the classroom.

“I’ve been lucky to have a family who’s so supportive – growing up, working out with my brother all the time – and my coaches became like family,” he said. “It’s not just football. They’re keeping up with me while I’m playing other sports as well.”

“When I think of Carson in the future, the word ‘tenacious’ will pop into my mind,” said Heist. “Every time he was challenged, he responded. He can handle being coached hard, he stepped up as a leader. It’s a real testament to him.”

“I give the credit to my coaches,” responded Pascoe. “They put their hearts and souls into every bit of this. It’s helped me as a player, and it makes us into a strong team.”