Mercury-Area Week 1 Preview Capsules

A look at this weekend’s matchups across the PAC:

 

Upper Perkiomen at Boyertown, 7 p.m.

2015 Records: Upper Perkiomen 3-6 PAC, 3-7 overall;  Boyertown 5-4 PAC-10, 5-5 overall.

Last meeting: 41-36 Boyertown (2015).

Indians Facts/Figures: Indians haven’t beaten Boyertown since the annual game was moved from Thanksgiving Day to both team’s opener. … Tyler Whary and Austin Tutolo were reported by Hontz as “having really stepped up and are playing at another level.” … Zeke Hallman also “looks poised to have a strong season.” … Team was outscored 316-185 in 2015.

Bears Facts/Figures: Parkinson was pleased with team’s camp. … Evan Giannetti figures to get the snaps at quarterback with Jerry Kapp returning after a record-setting year. “I thought camp went well,” Parkinson said. “Our success is going to come down to playing four quarters of football, being disciplined, and building team chemistry.”

Notable: Upper Perkiomen’s woes against Boyertown hasn’t spelled good fortune for the rest of the season for the Indians, especially last season where they stumbled to 1-5 in the PAC before winning two of its next three to end the year. … Since falling to Upper Perk 24-17 on Thanksgiving Day in 2009, the Bears have won the last six contests.

 

Methacton at Upper Dublin, 7 p.m.

2015 Records: Methacton 1-8 PAC, 1-10 overall; Upper Dublin 7-0 Suburban One, 14-1 overall.

Last meeting: 21-6 Upper Dublin (2007).

Warriors Facts/Figures: Warriors return Dylan Henry, Ryan O’Toole, Stephen Rhoads and Jason Eckman to a squad that will look to improve off its one-win season. … Henry will again be a factor on defense, O’Toole a factor on offense after rushing for team-best 291 yards in 2015. Methacton head coach Paul Lepre singled out the performances of O’Toole, Eckman, Henry, Rhoads and Pat Maloney in the team’s first scrimmage and said that “defensively we need to work more on getting off the field, but we played hard and did some good things.”

Cardinals Facts/Figures: Reigning District 1-AAAA champs graduated one of the best quarterbacks in the red and white in Ryan Stover. Now, Justin Horn gets the chance to lead the Cardinals. … Phil Butler is moving from free safety to cornerback. … Cardinals outscored their opposition 624-146 last season.

Notable: Last year’s district championship was the first-ever for Upper Dublin program. 

 

Pope John Paul II at Penncrest, 7 p.m.

2015 Records: Pope John Paul II 0-9 PAC, 0-11 overall; Penncrest 2-6 Central, 2-8 overall.

Last meeting: First meeting between two teams.

Golden Panthers Facts/Figures: Matt DeLaurentis gets his second varsity start at QB and Dan Cirino returns after leading the team in rushing last season. … AJ Dejewski headlines rebuilding offensive line that graduated Jake Hammill and David Debias.

Lions Facts/Figures: Lions have 25 seniors on 2016 squad and are led by MLB Shane Jones and OL James George. Jones returns after missing bulk of season due to season-ending concussion. George stands as team’s largest player at 6-4, 295-pounds. 

Notable: DeLaurentis finished with 207 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in his first varsity start in last season’s finale against Northampton.

 

Pope John Paul II at Penncrest, 7 p.m.

2015 Records: Great Valley 4-2 Ches-Mont, 9-3 overall; Phoenixville 2-7 PAC, 2-9 overall.

Last meeting: 28-19 Great Valley (2015).

Patriots Facts/Figures: Ryan Hubley returns after finishing with 908 yards receiving with 53 receptions and 11 touchdowns last season. … Rob Geiss returns at quarterback after throwing for 1,995 yards and 17 touchdowns. … Mark DeRobertis returns to the backfield after rushing for 1,175 yards last season.

Phantoms Facts/Figures: Phantoms are in midst of off-field issues which has made 2016 the second-straight year with unfortunate circumstances surrounding the program during training camp (last year two potential starters suffered season-ending injuries 10 minutes apart). Head coach Evan Breisblatt will miss Week 1.

Notable: The Patriots have had the upper hand in the Route 29 series the past four seasons, last falling to the Phantoms 43-27 in 2011.

 

Pope John Paul II at Penncrest, 7 p.m.

2015 Records: Owen J. Roberts 5-4 PAC, 6-6 overall; Conestoga 4-4 Central, 5-5 overall.

Last meeting: Conestoga 34-14 (2015).

Wildcats Facts/Figures: Stuart returns under center after throwing for 811 yards and 10 touchdowns with Eric LeVan headlining the returners along the O-line. Head coach Rich Kolka said: “The Wildcats were explosive in the passing game completing over 68 percent of their passes in their scrimmage. The work ethic during practice has been very good.  Depth is a concern at many positions.”

Pioneers Facts/Figures: Former Pioneer star Marquis Weeks is back and now the head coach at Conestoga. … Quarterback position is up in the air after the graduation of longtime starter Tim Miller.

Notable: Weeks finished with more than 6,000 rushing yards and 70 touchdowns before graduating from Conestoga in 2000. He was named a 1999 SuperPrep All-American, a three-time All-American by PrepStar and National Recruiting Advisor and second-team All-State by Pennsylvania Football News (accolades provided by Daily Local). … Wildcats haven’t bested their Week 1 rival since 2009 (13-3).

 

Pope John Paul II at Penncrest, 7 p.m.

2015 Records: Upper Merion 1-6 Suburban One, 5-7 overall; Radnor 4-4 Central, 6-4 overall.

Last meeting: Radnor 21-7 (2015).

Vikings Facts/Figures: All good signs for head coach Hal Smith and the Vikings: We are coming along as planned. “Our Amir Borgheai had a real good scrimmage along with our QB John Paul Batten.” … Vikings will look to Kyle Smith on defense.

Raiders Facts/Figures: Jake Horvath is back after rushing for 1,273 yards and 19 touchdowns. … Quarterback Pat McDermott is back after throwing for 1,376 yards and 15 touchdowns for Radnor squad that averaged nearly 41 points per game in its last three games.

Notable: Vikings have jumped from 3A to 5A classification.

 

Pope John Paul II at Penncrest, 7 p.m.

2015 Records: West Catholic 4-0 PCL, 10-5 overall; Pottsgrove 7-2 PAC, 7-4 overall.

Last meeting: First meeting between two teams.

Burrs Facts/Figures: Burrs advanced to PIAA-AA semifinals last season and have made the PIAA playoffs in all but one of their eight seasons with PIAA eligibility. … Amadou Barry (673 yards receiving) returns.

Falcons Facts/Figures: Falcons graduated 12 seniors and will look to Ryan Finn (QB), Rahsul Faison (RB) and Adam Girafalco (DB) among many to step up. “We are in for a huge challenge with our young team taking on a veteran West Catholic team with state championship aspirations,” Pottsgrove head coach Rick Pennypacker said. “They are very athletic and have as good skill kids as we will see all year.”

Notable: Pottsgrove hosts its annual Military Appreciation Night.

 

Saturday, August 27

 

Pennridge at Norristown, 1 p.m.

2015 Records: Pennridge 5-2 Suburban One, 8-4 overall; Norristown 2-5 Suburban One, 4-8 overall.

Last meeting: 35-7 Pennridge (2011).

Rams Facts/Figures: Jagger Hartshorn returns from Georgia and will be the team’s QB. … Ryan Cuthbert returns after finishing with 338 receiving yards in Wing-T offense.

Eagles Facts/Figures: Shannon Cardnard returns for Norristown and will be main focal point on offense. … Izaiah Webb will be team’s quarterback. … Joey Giannone transferred from PJP after rushing for 95 yards on 28 carries for the Golden Panthers.

Notable: The Rams gained more than 300 yards on the ground in the last meeting between the two teams, a 35-7 victory to close out the year in 2011.

 

Sun Valley at Pottstown, 1 p.m.

2015 Records: Sun Valley 2-4 Ches-Mont, 4-8 overall; Pottstown 5-4 PAC, 7-5 overall.

Last meeting: 21-0 Pottstown (2015).

Vanguards Facts/Figures: Gabe Boccella returns at quarterback after throwing for 700 yards and five touchdowns and rushing for 300 yards and seven touchdowns. … Jon Kester returns as main running threat, finishing with 1,213 yards rushing, as six offensive starters return.

Trojans Facts/Figures: Pottstown head coach Gary Rhodenbaugh says the trio of running backs (Isaiah Mayes, Jamal Adams and Anthony Wiggins) have stood out offensively along with WR Aaron Diamond. … Owen Morton has showed continued progress at quarterback.

Notable: This is the third-straight year that Pottstown and Sun Valley play each other on Week 1. The series record is 1-1.

 

Perkiomen Valley at Downingtown West, 7 p.m.

2015 Records: Perkiomen Valley 8-1 PAC, 10-2 overall; Downingtown West 5-1 Ches-Mont; 9-2 overall.

Last meeting: First meeting between two teams.

Vikings Facts/Figures: Stephen Sturm returns after throwing for more than 3,000 yards while senior receiver Justin Jaworski returns after breaking PAC receiving record. … Vaughn Stolzer, Chris Jimenez and Jahir Holmes all return along the offensive line.

Whippets Facts/Figures: Defense is name of the game for Whippets as team returns six starters from last season, including senior Wayne Anderson. … Whippets offense averaged 37.7 ppg. in 2015.

Notable: Whippets finished season on a two-game losing streak, falling in the District 1-AAAA playoffs to Pennsbury (35-28), which then took out Perk Valley in the next round.