Mercury Week 1 Football Preview: Boyertown, Upper Perkiomen keep tradition going
When the PAC went to two divisions in 2016, Boyertown and Upper Perkiomen committed to maintain their rivalry with an opening week, ‘nonleague’ game. Last year, they got more than they bargained for, meeting during the regular season and again during the season-ending divisional crossover week.
For the hosts at Upper Perkiomen, the emphasis is on maintaining the momentum seized in an otherwise trying 2018 by ending on a two-game winning streak.
The trials began a year ago on opening night when the Tribe fell in a surprisingly lopsided game to Boyertown, 37-12. A six-game midseason losing streak — featuring three losses by shutout — threatened to torpedo the campaign entirely.
But then a funny thing happened. The Indians upended eventual District 1 Class 4A finalist Pottstown 21-20 in their regular-season finale. That win set up a rematch with Boyertown in the Week 10 PAC crossover game, with Upper Perk dominating from start to finish in a 35-8 victory that sent the squad into the offseason with momentum.
When Boyertown visits Friday night (7 p.m.) for the teams’ third encounter in one calendar year, it will be up to junior Hunter Flack to keep the good times rolling as he takes over at quarterback this season. Similarly, Boyertown will counter with Noah Segal in his first year as a full-time starter after filling in ably last season when the team was hit by repeated injuries under center.
While they don’t figure to meet on the field, the matchup to watch is that of leading tailbacks Jamison Moccia (Boyertown) and Tyrese Reid (Upper Perk). Each speedster has a new weapon at his disposal — in Moccia’s case, it’s a revamped offensive line with impressive size, led by Rob Wood who’s making the transition from lacrosse to football.
For Reid, he’s fully healthy for the first time in a year during football season. UP coach Tom Hontz says maintaining his health will be a key to the Indians’ fortunes in 2019.
Boyertown coach T.J. Miller made no secret about the focal point for his defense. “Coach Hontz does a great job of utilizing (Reid),” he said, “and we’re concerned about him getting to the edge. Their lines are fast off the ball and it’s going to be key for us to match that speed.
In Zach Davis and Jon Myers, Boyertown has at least two other backs who will see carries in their triple-option attack. Each brings a different skillset to the table in hopes of keeping the young Upper Perk defense off balance.
While other area teams are headed far and wide Week 1, the Bears and Indians, former Thanksgiving Day opponents, are keeping a tradition alive while trying to get a leg up on the neighbors.
Methacton at Harriton, 5 p.m. Friday
Last Meeting >> Teams have not met in the past decade.
Preview >> As the Warriors look to continue their upward trajectory in the PAC this season, they figure to turn to multi-talented RB Mike Torcini on offense. Torcini figures to be a leading rushing and receiving threat, while providing solid pass protection when Methacton looks downfield to Larry Dickerson or TE Ron Fondots.
On defense, Methacton’s strength one year ago, LB Brent Romano returns from a season-ending injury last year to stabilize a unit hit hard by graduations.
Across the field, Harriton finds themselves in a similar position to Methacton one year ago—a team encouraged by both the quantity and quality of young players who came out for fall camp this year. Coach Justin Mellor figures to spread the ball around to his playmakers, a group led by seniors RB Max Copley and RB/WR Daral Cresswell.
Central Bucks South at Spring-Ford, 7 p.m. Friday
Last Meeting >> The Rams went on the road and claimed a shutout victory, 21-0 over the Titans to open the 2018 season.
Preview >> Ranked No. 13 in PaPrepLive.com’s Top 20, Spring-Ford comes into the year with several known quantities at the skill position in QB Ryan Engro, last year’s PAC leader in passing, and WR Dante Bonanni, who stands poised to challenge several school records. The rich got richer in preseason practice, however, where WRs BJ Beard and Nick Teets showed marked improvement. Defensively, DJ Francis’ quickness at nose tackle figures to give opponents fits while the Rams continue to develop several newcomers in the secondary.
CB South will look to answer several questions in the early going. With only five returning starters, coach Tom Hetrick will rely on two-way standout Sean Smith, a three-year starter at WR and cornerback. The Titans will need an otherwise young secondary to play up to their capabilities if they want to hang with the explosive Rams offense.
Conestoga at Owen J. Roberts, 7 p.m. Friday
Last Meeting >> The Wildcats upended the Pioneers 20-7 on opening night last year, extending their winning streak to three in the annual opener for both schools.
Preview >> If the Pioneers are to end OJR’s three-year winning streak in this traditional opening week matchup, their best bet may be up front, where Conestoga can pit their four returning starting offensive linemen against a Wildcats defense that aims to replace first-team PAC performers Aidan Hayward and Arnaldo Montagano. Senior Kurt Sayers heads up a group of defensive linemen hoping to shore up a rush defense that allowed 300-plus yards on the ground four times last season.
Of course, that’s only one side of the ball, and OJR will be eager to counter with the dynamic duo of senior QB Cooper Chamberlain and junior WR Dante DeNardo when they have the ball. Head coach Rich Kolka expressed optimism that the Wildcats could take a leap forward in the passing game this season, while senior RB Josh Jackson aims to supplant the production of 2018 PAC Liberty-leading rusher Marcus Martin.
Lower Merion at Upper Merion, 7 p.m. Friday
Last Meeting >> Teams have not met in the past decade.
Preview >> After a bounce-back 2018 season, coach Victor Brown’s Upper Merion squad has heard the coach preach against complacency throughout preseason camp. Quarterback Dale Clayton heard the message loud and clear, as Brown cited the senior signal caller as the key to the Vikings’ ability to take another step forward this season.
They’ll open with a Lower Merion squad short on experience but with plenty of potential. It starts with Rodger Roberts, a senior QB who steps in for school record-setting Matt O’Connor, now playing at Villanova. Coach Brown cited containing Roberts as the number-one goal for the Vikings’ defense in the opener.
Norristown at Upper Dublin, 7 p.m. Friday
Last Meeting >> Upper Dublin topped the Eagles 28-7 in 2018’s season opener.
Preview >> Nick DiNolfi figures to get the start behind center for the Eagles, who took pride a year ago in giving every opponent a tough game en route to a 3-7 finish. One exception was the Upper Dublin Cardinals, a 5A powerhouse who took advantage of some early mistakes in a 28-7 victory over Norristown to start the 2018 campaign.
This year, coach Joe Milligan hopes his players’ increased familiarity with his staff and one another will allow them to finish on top of a few more of their trademark tight games. The first test will be a stern one, as Upper Dublin returns standout QB Mike Slivka to the helm of the defending District One 5A champions, who finished 13-2 just one year ago.
Perkiomen Valley at Avon Grove, 7 p.m. Friday
Last Meeting >> Teams have not met in the past decade.
Preview >> It wouldn’t be a Perkiomen Valley opener without a challenge from an experienced Ches-Mont opponent. That’s exactly what the Vikings will see when they travel to Avon Grove, where the Red Devils’ eight returning offensive starters will test a young PV defensive unit. Coach Rob Heist singled out his linebacking unit as a key to the opening night contest, the first of three games for the Vikings against Ches-Mont opponents (Downingtown East in Week 2, Downingtown West week 4.)
The Vikings, ranked No. 8 to begin the year in PaPrepLive’s Top 20, bring their own battle-tested attack commanded by sophomore Ethan Kohler, who Heist believes will bring a more cerebral approach to the position as opposed to the plus-athleticism of the graduated Cole Peterlin. PV’s offensive line features all seniors, and they plan to create room for RB Jacob Sturm to complement Kohler’s aerial attack with WRs Randy Washington and Mike Dougherty. An admittedly offensively-oriented coach, Heist will be looking for another weapon to emerge from a group featuring receivers Kevin Beattie, Dawson Debebe, and Logan Holloway.
Phoenixville at Great Valley, 7 p.m. Friday
Last Meeting >> Great Valley won the Battle of Route 29 last season, 29-15, their seventh consecutive victory in the series.
Preview >> Distractions are typically minimized in an opening game, but Phoenixville promises to bring a razor-sharp focus to the Battle of Route 29, a game that coach Don Grinstead has emphasized throughout the offseason and preseason practice. The Phantoms’ attempt to end Great Valley’s seven-game winning streak in the series will double as Jack Pizor’s first career start at QB for Phoenixville, as well as the head coaching debut of Great Valley’s Jeff Martin. The key matchup could be Phoenixville’s promising—but inexperienced—offensive line against Great Valley’s linebacking corps, led by Graham Muscella, the unquestioned strength of the Patriots’ defense.
Pottsgrove at Souderton, 7 p.m. Friday
Last Meeting >> Pottsgrove topped Souderton 41-13 in a season-opening contest back in 2013.
Preview >> The time has come to replace three-year starter Jay Sisko at QB, but Pottsgrove coach Bill Hawthorne stressed the fact that senior Joe Silvestri has earned his spot under center, where he will bring an increased aerial dimension to the traditionally ground-heavy Falcons attack. Of course, Pottsgrove won’t deviate from their traditional punishing running game, especially not against a Souderton team whose size and toughness is its calling card.
Hawthorne is tasked with replacing several starters on the offensive and defensive lines, the two units that are the hallmarks of Pottsgrove’s strongest units. Max Dopwell, Gabe Flores, Zach Van Horn, and Ahmed Moussa will need to get up to speed in a hurry if the No. 12-ranked Falcons want to take their first step toward a fourth consecutive District One Class 4A title.
Pottstown at Octorara, 7 p.m. Friday
Last Meeting >> The Trojans opened 2018 with a 26-6 victory over Octorara.
Preview >> Jeff Delaney’s first game in charge of the Pottstown program got a little more complicated early this week when he confirmed that QB Josiah Wiggins is no longer with the team. Instead, Delaney will turn over the reins to freshman Joneil Oister, whose potential allows the Trojans to utilize their remaining talent from the surprise team of 2018, as Daniel and Dereck Darden figure to see an increased role in the running game, while Jorge Mundo headlines a defense that returns ten starters.
Meanwhile, Octorara embarks on its second year in the Lancaster-Lebanon League after making the switch to District 3 from the Ches-Mont one year ago. Seniors Nick Mattingly and Janson Schempp figure to split time at QB as the Braves return 17 starters in all from last year’s squad.
Garden Spot at Daniel Boone, 7 p.m. Friday
Last Meeting >> The Blazers won Coach Rob Flowers’ debut last year in a 24-21 thriller over Garden Spot.
Preview >> The Blazers bring an enthusiasm and excitement into the 2019 campaign that hasn’t been seen for years in Birdsboro. The emergence of first-year starter Justin DeMild at QB gives coach Rob Flowers hope that the Blazers will be able to complement their multi-dimensional running game with an increased reliance on the aerial attack. When the Blazers go to the air, DeMild figures to look for WR Dan Hojnowski, whose leadership led Flowers to call him “the glue of the team, and a head coach among the players.”
The physicality of Logan Dallas and Jake Dwinchick will be key in slowing Garden Spot’s offense, which returns dual-threat QB Jesse Martin and RB John Dykie, two players Flowers admitted gave the Blazers fits in last year’s opener.
Roman Catholic at Pope John Paul II, 2 p.m. Saturday
Last Meeting >> Teams have never met.
Preview >> Coach Rory Graver won’t allow his experience-laden squad to ease into the 2019 campaign, as the Golden Panthers welcome a 6A squad in Roman Catholic in the opener. Roman comes in boasting an offense that includes Norristown transfer Christian Thomas at wide receiver among other weapons that will test an underrated Golden Panthers defense.
When the Panthers have the ball, they know that their senior duo of QB Kamal Gray and WR Steve Skarbek will be the focal point for the Cahillites’ defense, but Graver stressed the need for Matt Dobrowolski and the offensive line to create room for RBs like junior Chris Bruder to run and control the clock, lessening the pressure on the defense on what promises to be a warm afternoon.
