Mercury-Area Week 4 Football Preview Capsules
Friday’s Games
Perkiomen School at Tower Hill, 6:30 p.m.
Record: Perkomen School 1-0 overall; Tower Hill 1-0 overall.
Last week’s result: Perkiomen School defeated St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy 44-13; Tower Hill defeated Harford Technical HS 38-22.
Panthers Facts/Figures: Steve Ratigan needed only eight carries to run for 192 yards and four touchdowns in Panthers’ opener. … Newly-minted QB Nick Guadarrama threw for 61 yards and two touchdowns in debut.
Hillers Facts/Figures: Senior QB AJ Falco threw for a touchdown and ran for two more in team’s opening victory. … Win marked the fourth straight over Harford.
Be on the Lookout: Perk School snapped a four-game losing streak against Tower Hill last season. Ratigan will look to torch Hiller run defense.
Prediction: Perk School makes it two straight. Close game but Panthers win 18-16.
Owen J. Roberts at Upper Merion, 7 p.m.
Record: Owen J. Roberts 0-0 PAC, 1-2 overall; Upper Merion 0-0 PAC, 1-2 overall.
Last week’s result: Owen J. Roberts lost to West Chester Henderson 35-0; Upper Merion lost to Sun Valley 32-22.
Wildcats Facts/Figures: Not the week the Wildcats were looking for in being shut out. … QB Dawson Stuart had another rough outing, throwing two interceptions while completing only 32.2 percent of his passes. That gives him six interceptions the past two games. … Wildcats defense looking to regroup after allowing 350 yards in the air in Week 2 loss to Great Valley followed by 393 yards on the ground last week.
Vikings Facts/Figures: Vikings took a step back after close victory against MLK in Week 2. … Team is being outscored 33-3 in the second quarter. … Tyrease Leach ranked sixth in the PAC in rushing yards (206) but was held in check in both losses, finishing with 55 yards combined.
Be on the Lookout: OJR defense vs. Tyrease Leach. Contain him and Wildcats will fare well. Stuart, despite two picks in last two games, isn’t a poor quarterback by any means. Look for him to bounce back.
Prediction: Wildcats use 35-0 loss last week as motivation on the road. OJR wins 28-20.
Phoenixville at Chichester, 7 p.m.
Record: Phoenixville 0-0 PAC, 1-2 overall; Chichester 0-0 Del Val, 2-1 overall.
Last week’s result: Phoenixville lost to Oxford 32-6; Chichester defeated Pope John Paul II 30-15.
Phantoms Facts/Figures: Phantoms had disappointing showing last week after win over Upper Moreland in Week 2, finishing with 135 yards of total offense. RB Matt Garcia continues to shine for PHX, however. Garcia is second in the league in rushing yards (373). … Phantoms ninth in total offense (201 ypg).
Eagles Facts/Figures: Blaine Lewis-Thompson coming off 129-yard rushing effort in team’s victory over PJP last week. … Trio if Ishaad Maultsby, Lewis-Thompson and Greg Allman have combined for 421 rushing yards.
Be on the Lookout: Hard to get a read on Phoenixville which followed a good road win with a dud at home. How good is Phoenixville? This game will provide better insight. Phantoms defense is allowing an averaging of 203.7 rushing yards per game. The need to contain Chichester runners becomes imperative.
Prediction: Chichester does just enough, wins 21-12.
Cocalico at Uper Perkiomen, 7 p.m.
Record: Cocalico 0-0 Lancaster-Lebanon II, 0-2 overall; Upper Perkiomen 0-0 PAC, 1-2 overall.
Last week’s result: Cocalico lost to Governor Mifflin 17-13; Upper Perkiomen lost to Upper Moreland 41-34.
Eagles Facts/Figures: Rough start for Eagles who nearly pulled out a win against Mifflin last week, seeing the Mustangs score 10-unanswered in the second half to come away with four-point victory. … Offense didn’t do much in loss, with Noah Palm and Brady Sawyer combining for 106 passing yards, 55 coming on a touchdown from Sawyer. … Defense was torched on ground by Mifflin, allowing 346 yards, including 191 from tailback Isaac Ruoss.
Indians Facts/Figures: Indians have led in 10 of 12 quarters this season but high heat in two games have led to letdowns in the fourth quarter. … Zeke Hallman is second in the PAC in passing yards (637) and passing touchdowns (11). … Indians rank second in total offense (386 ypg.).
Be on the Lookout: Lower game-time temperatures should have stars of Upper Perk on the field in the fourth, not the sideline.
Prediction: Don’t let record fool you, Cocalico is strong. Eagles win 28-21.
Academy Park at Boyertown, 7 p.m.
Record: Academy Park 0-0 Del Val, 3-0 overall; Boyertown 0-0 PAC, 1-2 overall.
Last week’s result: Academy Park defeated Bonner-Prendergast 28-8; Boyertown lost to Pottsgrove 36-6.
Knights Facts/Figures: Dazhon Miller ranks third in the Daily Times leaderboard with 326 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He’s closely followed by Teddy Wright (286) yards on a team that averages 217.7 yards on the ground per game.
Bears Facts/Figures: After strong showing against Upper Perk in Week 1, Bears have been outscored 57-20 in last two contests. … Bears allow 230 rushing yards per game and rank sixth in total offense (264 ypg).
Be on the Lookout: AP finding tons of success running from the spread attack. Speed is abundant for Knights.
Prediction: Knights too fast for Boyertown, win 28-14.
Pottsgrove at Glen Mills, 7 p.m.
Record: Pottsgrove 0-0 PAC, 2-1 overall; Glen Mills 0-0 Del Val, 1-2 overall.
Last week’s result: Pottsgrove defeated Boyertown 36-6; Glen Mills defeated Great Valley 42-26.
Facts/Figures: Click here for more.
Prediction: The 233-pound tailback Quadir Gibson will cause problems but Falcons will prevail in tight one. Pottsgrove wins 20-18.
Haverford School at Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m.
Record: Haverford School 0-0 Inter-Ac, 2-0 overall; Perkiomen Valley 0-0 PAC, 3-0 overall.
Last week’s result: Haverford School defeated West Catholic 34-27; Perkiomen Valley defeated Pennridge 38-20.
Fords Facts/Figures: Fords winners of 21 straight. … QB Tommy Toal has thrown for 270 yards and four scores. … Malik Twyman is fifth in the Daily Times leaderboard in rushing yards (297).
Vikings Facts/Figures: QB Stephen Sturm and WR Justin Jaworski recently broke into the PAC All-Time record books. Sturm broke the record for most career passing yards set by former PV QB Zach Zulli and now sits at 6,106 yards. Jaworski broke the record set by UP’s Ronnie Gillespie for most career receiving yards. He now has 2,563 for his career. … Vikings first in PAC in total offense (437.3).
Be on the Lookout: Can Haverford School stop Sturm and Jaworski? If not, watch out. Haverford School will try to pound PV into submission with run-heavy offense out of the pistol. Bootlegs have caused major damage in two wins for the Fords.
Prediction: PV’s kryptonite is a team that can run the ball (see Spring-Ford last season). PV, though, wins 35-28.
Exeter at Spring-Ford, 7 p.m.
Record: Exeter 0-0 Berks I, 2-0 overall; Spring-Ford 0-0 PAC, 2-1 overall.
Last week’s result: Exeter defeated Hempfield 35-7; Spring-Ford lost to Wilson 41-40 2OT.
Eagles Facts/Figures: Team is outscoring opponents 30-7 in second quarter but hasn’t scored in first or fourth quarter to start season, which is OK since either has its opposition. … Eagles averaging 325 rushing yards per game. … Nick Sarangoulis leads team with 272 yards rushing, QB Brandon Unterkoefler second with 177 yards. … Gabe Schappell team’s leading receiver (123 yards with seven receptions).
Rams Facts/Figures: Dan Cassidy set a Spring-Ford record with 16 tackles in double OT loss to District 3 power Wilson. … Rams second in the league in scoring averaging 36 ppg and fourth in the league in total offense (344.3 ypg). … TJ Perigne has thrown for 528 yards and seven touchdowns. … Matt Gibson is fifth in the league with 233 yards rushing. … Stone Scarcelle is third in the league with 194 receiving yards.
Be on the Lookout: Rams looking to avoid 2-2 start for second time in three seasons.
Prediction: Rams too strong, top Exeter 35-14.
Northern Lebanon at Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.
Record: Northern Lebanon 0-0 Lancaster-Lebanon III, 1-1 overall; Daniel Boone 0-0 Berks I, 0-2 overall.
Last week’s result: Daniel Boone lost to Red Lion 42-7.
Vikings Facts/Figures: Team is coming off tough loss to Cedar Crest after topping Pine Grove 32-13 in opener. … Team allowed 440 yards of total offense in loss, 346 on the ground.
Blazers Facts/Figures: Blazers have been outscored 102-13 and haven’t scored until fourth quarter in each of the two losses (outscored 102-0 after three). … Team has registered only 182 total yards and has allowed 684. … Spencer McIntosh leads team with 71 yards rushing … Ryan Okuniewski leading receiver with 59 yards on five receptions.
Be on the Lookout: Can Daniel Boone score early?
Prediction: Northern Lebanon stronger team, tops Daniel Boone 33-12.
Saturday’s Games
Penn Wood at Norristown, 1 p.m.
Record: Penn Wood 0-0 Del Val, 3-0 overall; Norristown 0-0 PAC, 0-3 overall.
Last week’s result: Penn Wood defeated Archbishop Carroll 14-7; Norristown lost to Plymouth-Whitemarsh 26-8.
Patriots Facts/Figures: Answered Gleplay ranks second in Daily Times leaderboard in rushing yards (430) and is averaging 9.1 yards per carry. … Patriots off to 3-0 start after finishing last season 3-7.
Eagles Facts/Figures: Eagles rank 10th in points per game (0.3) and total offense (184). … Eagles rank 11th in the rushing yards per game (58).
Be on the Lookout: Penn Wood’s wins have come against teams with a combined 1-6 record. Gleplay has made opposing defenses pay and will have a tough task rushing against a defense that allows 96.7 ypg.
Prediction: Penn Wood, four seasons removed from an 0-11 finish, goes to 4-0, wins 20-13.
Methacton at Pottstown, 1 p.m.
Record: Methacton 0-0 PAC, 0-3 overall; Pottstown 0-0 PAC, 0-3 overall.
Last week’s result: Methacton lost to Central Bucks East 42-6; Pottstown lost to Bishop Shanahan 50-6.
Warriors Facts/Figures: Not a good start for the Warriors as they rank last in the PAC in total offense (123 ypg.), total defense (426 ypg.) and points allowed (43.7 ppg.). Silver lining in all of that is that all three losses have come to more than quality opponents, Upper Dublin the reigning District 1-AAAA champion, PAC perennial powerhouse Pottsgrove and a 3-0 CB East squad. … QB Jason Eckman has thrown for 226 yards. … Ryan O’Toole is 11th in the PAC with seven receptions for 98 yards.
Trojans Facts/Figures: Trojans rank last in points for (6 ppg) and have struggled to get anything going offensively, averaging 146.7 yards per game, second worst in the PAC. … Isaiah Mayes continues to be leader for Trojan offense, rushing for 199 yards on 42 carries, seventh best in the league.
Be on the Lookout: Who blinks first? Whoever it is will lose.
Prediction: Methacton gets the win in a tight one, wins 12-6.
Schuylkill Valley at Pope John Paul II, 1 p.m.
Record: Schuylkill Valley 0-0 Berks II, 0-3 overall; Pope John Paul II 0-0 PAC, 0-3 overall.
Last week’s result: Schuylkill Valley lost to Leighton 33-14; Pope John Paul II lost to Chichester 30-15.
Panthers Facts/Figures: Could easily be 2-1 after one-score losses to Pequea Valley and Fleetwood to start season. … Team is being outscored 28-0 in the fourth quarter. … Defense has forced six fumbles. … QB Justin Nawrocki has thrown for 430 yards and three touchdowns (two interceptions). … Nathan Braucher team’s leading rusher (161 yards) with Jackson Brown second (111 yards, 22 carries). … Brian Hoffman team’s leading receiver (8 receptions for 253 yards).
Golden Panthers Facts/Figures: Golden Panthers averaging 15.3 ppg and average 250.7 yards per game, both good for middle of the PAC rankings. … QB Matt DeLaurentis has thrown for 525 yards and three touchdowns. … Dan Cirino leads team in both rushing (42 carries for 179 yards) and has hauled in 13 passes for 141 yards. … Ryan Kormos leads team in receptions (14) and receiving yards (173). … PJP hasn’t won since Week 3 of 2014 season.
Be on the Lookout: Lengthy losing streaks will end Saturday no matter who the winner. Schuylkill Valley comes into Saturday losers of eight straight dating back to last season. PJP hasn’t won since defeating Pottstown 21-14 in 2014. Since then, the Golden Panthers have lost 21 straight.
Prediction: One of the best shots PJP has for a win in last two years. Schuylkill Valley plays heartbreakers, wins 28-26.
Hill School at Pennington School, 4 p.m.
Record: Hill School 0-0 MAPL, 1-0 overall; Pennington 2-0 overall.
Last week’s result: Hill School defeated Wyoming Seminary 25-16; Pennington defeated Bristol 21-14.
Rams Facts/Figures: Hill made most of Jeff Hollway’s coaching debut by topping his former team. … Freshman running back Gerard Finney rushed for 77 yards on 10 carries while first-year running back Daniel Adeboboye rushed for 108 yards and two scores.
Red Raiders Facts/Figures: Pennington outscoring opposition 50-14 in two wins. … Nyshere Wilson had two touchdowns and 74 yards rushing in last week’s win over Bristol with Dante Wilson’s 50-yard punt return sealing the deal.
Be on the Lookout: Adeboboye will look to continue hot start against solid Pennington ‘D.’
Prediction: Hill School wins in another tight one, 26-24.
