Mercury Area Week 8 Preview Capsules

Friday’s games

Perkiomen School at Wyoming Seminary, 6 p.m.
Record: Perkiomen School 5-1 overall; Wyoming Seminary 1-6 overall.
Last week: Perkiomen School defeated Academy of the New Church 20-14; Wyoming Seminary lost to Kiski School 35-30.
Panthers Facts/Figures: Brett Ciocari has thrown for 445 yards and five touchdowns in wins for the Perk School. … Josh Cruz is in the Top 25 in the area in receptions, leading his team with 15.
Blue Knights Facts/Figures: Most losses haven’t been pretty for the Blue Knights, losing five of their six games by more than three scores including a 70-6 drubbing to the Hun School.
Notable: Blue Knights returned to varsity football in 2014 after play was suspended in 2010 due to lack of interest which ended a historic 128-year run. Since a $4 million donation, Wyoming Seminary has rebuilt its athletic facilities and its football field. … Wyoming Seminary played the first night game in football history.

Perkiomen Valley at Phoenixville, 7 p.m.
Record: Perkiomen Valley 6-0 PAC-10, 7-0 overall; Phoenixville 2-4 PAC-10, 2-5 overall.
Last week: Perkiomen Valley defeated Boyertown 51-0; Phoenixville defeated Pope John Paul II 10-7.
Vikings Facts/Figures: Junior quarterback Stephen Sturm leads the area in touchdowns (21) and passing yards (1,634). … Justin Jaworski is coming off a career-night where he hauled in 12 passes for 135 yards and two scores. … David Williams broke the 100-yard mark in that win with 112 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Phantoms Facts/Figures: Phoenixville finally got the ground game moving with Matt Garcia running for a career high 140 yards on 19 carries. … Senior wide receiver Matt Palubinsky is third in the area in receptions (25).
Notable: The Vikings are outscoring their opponents 348-86, best in the PAC-10. … The Vikings have outscored Phoenixville 124-14 in their last two meetings.

Pope John Paul II at Upper Perkiomen, 7 p.m.
Record: Pope John Paul II 0-6 PAC-10, 0-7 overall; Upper Perkiomen 1-5 PAC-10, 1-6 overall.
Last week: Pope John Paul II lost to Phoenixville 10-7; Upper Perkiomen lost to Pottstown 21-13.
Golden Panthers Facts/Figures: PJP held with Phoenixville throughout, limiting the team to less than 50 yards of total offense in the first half in last week’s loss. PJP just couldn’t finish in second half. … Matt Duff is third in the PAC in passing yards (939) with Jared Johns-Lupold tied for fourth in receptions (23).
Indians Facts/Figures: Indians turned the ball over five times in loss to Pottstown that was tied at 7 at the half. … Indians rank second to last in points for (99) and third to last in points against (261).
Notable: Pope John Paul II hasn’t defeated Upper Perk since 2012 season which it won 35-26 in the last week of the season. … Golden Panthers have lost 13 straight league games.

Pottsgrove at Boyertown, 7 p.m.
Record: Pottsgrove 4-2 PAC-10, 4-3 overall; Boyertown 3-3 PAC-10, 3-4 overall.
Last week: Pottsgrove defeated Methacton 51-7; Boyertown lost to Perkiomen Valley 51-0.
Falcons Facts/Figures: Tyrell Barr eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark on the season with a 194-yard performance in win over Methacton last week. … Barr is first in the area in rushing yards (1,008) and touchdowns (11). He’s averaging 7.9 yards per carry. … Wyatt Porter now ranks fifth in the area in rushing yards (505) after running for 126 yards and two scores.
Bears Facts/Figures: Bears were limited to 71 yards of total offense in loss to Perk Valley, which snapped a two-game winning streak. … Boyertown being outscored by 34.3 points in four losses.
Notable: Pottsgrove’s Chris Defrancesco was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer. He responded by scoring a safety with his tackle of Jason Eckman in the end zone after the Methacton quarterback recovered a bobbled snap from the visitors’ 10-yard line and then recording a second-half sack last week.

Pottsville at Daniel Boone, 7 p.m.
Record: Pottsville 0-4 Berks I, 0-7 overall; Daniel Boone 0-4 Berks I, 3-4 overall.
Last week: Pottsville lost 42-20 to Conrad Weiser; Daniel Boone lost to Governor Mifflin 48-0.
Crimson Tide Facts/Figures: Darion Jacoby leads team with 488 rushing yards. … Eric Wapinsky has thrown for 518 yards, one touchdown and 11 interceptions. … Korey Kleckner leads team with 119 yards receiving.
Blazers Facts/Figures: Team has lost four straight since 3-0 start and injuries to Nick Hughes and Cinque Ramsey. … Quarterback Josh Ehst performed well in first start last week, throwing for 67 yards on 11 of 15 passing.
Notable: Both teams aren’t known for their second quarter performance with the Crimson Tide being outscored 71-28 in the second quarter; Daniel Boone 117-34.

Saturday’s games

Owen J. Roberts at Methacton, 1 p.m.
Record: Owen J. Roberts 3-2 PAC-10, 3-4 overall; Methacton 0-6 PAC-10, 0-7 overall.
Last week: Owen J. Roberts lost to Spring-Ford 35-14; Methacton lost to Pottsgrove 51-7.
Wildcats Facts/Figures: Wildcats recorded eight sacks in loss to Spring-Ford last week. … Team has won two of three after starting season 1-3. … Nick Duliakas and Conor Mitchell are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, in sacks with 8 and 7.5, respectively.
Warriors Facts/Figures: Dylan Feaster is second in the PAC in receptions (28). … Jason Eckman has thrown for 768 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season under center.
Notable: Warriors’ Liam McClure hauled in his first pass in last week’s loss to Pottsgrove. … McClure was featured by the Philadelphia Eagles and also had a chance to interview Jordan Matthews back in August. … OJR last beat Methacton in 2010.

Pottstown at Spring-Ford, 2 p.m.
Record: Pottstown 4-1 PAC-10, 6-1 overall; Spring-Ford 6-0 PAC-10, 7-0 overall.
Last week: Pottstown defeated Upper Perkiomen 21-13; Spring-Ford defeated Owen J. Roberts 35-14.
Notable: See Story – http://papreplive.com/blog/2015/10/22/different-stakes-for-this-pottstownspring-ford-tilt/

Blair Academy at Hill School, 3:30 p.m.
Record: Blair Academy 4-1 overall; Hill School 0-5 overall.
Last week: Blair Academy defeated Mercersburg 42-0; Hill School lost to Hun School 44-6.
Bucs Facts/Figures: Blair ranks No. 3 in the NJ.com Prep/Independent Football Rankings. … Team is led by quarterback Thomas Jenkins. … Running back Alfred Dobor has rushed for 267 yrads in five games for Blair.
Rams Facts/Figures: Clayton Oliver threw for 73 yards in loss to Hun School. … Trey Humes has rushed for 377 yards in 0-5 start for the Rams.
Notable: Blair Academy is entering its 120th year of football and is coached by Jim Stone. … All of Blair’s wins have come by 20-plus points. … Hill School last defeated Blair on Oct. 30, 2010 with a 41-21 victory.