Mercury Week 1 Preview: Old rivals Boyertown, Upper Perkiomen stick together as area readies for opening night

It’s a new era in Boyertown football – but it’ll start against a familiar foe.

When the Bears take the field on Friday night for the first time under new coach Justin Konnick, they’ll do so against Upper Perkiomen in a rivalry both schools have made a priority despite the divisional split in 2016. It will be the 22nd season in a row the teams have met and the 65th overall meeting (Boyertown leads the series 43-19-3).

While Upper Perkiomen head coach Tom Hontz appreciates the tradition of the rivalry, he admits the Bears have gotten the better of the Tribe more often than not, owing in large part to greater depth and experience. But with a roster almost twice the size of last season’s, Hontz hopes to turn the tables Friday night.

“The turnout, the work ethic, the leadership – they’ve all been strong in the preseason,” said Hontz.

An overall young roster gets an infusion of senior leadership from Josh Hill, Chidike Eruba, and new quarterback Mike Boyle, a transfer from Perkiomen School who comes in off a prolific MVP season in the 8-man Keystone State Football League. Hontz is hopeful Boyle’s aerial exploits can help the Indians diversify their attack, because while the roster may be greater in numbers, Boyertown still figures to have a size advantage up front.

That’s thanks in large part to seniors like Cole Marinello and Nathan Deming, who alongside junior Nick Panarello figure to see time on both the offensive and defensive lines. Meanwhile, Anthony Panarello and Ryder Gehris may share time behind center in the new Wing T-derived offense. Replacing graduated halfback Leo Egbe will be a job done by a committee led by Cole Yesavage and Anthony Famularo. The option-based attack may go away, but an overall smashmouth approach is here to stay.

“We may not be the best team,” said Konnick during preseason, “but we will be the most physical, and the team in the best shape.”

Meanwhile, Hontz is ready for new wrinkles and schemes from the Bears in Konnick’s debut. But his focus was his own players and the need to embrace the spotlight.

“We’ve got some young guys who need to be ready for game action,” he said.

They include Zach Schwartz and Jayden White, who figure into the Indians’ plans on both sides, while the coach identified Tyler Hoffer as a major defensive contributor. As the Indians search for clarity in the special teams unit, it seems likely the battle in the trenches will decide the opener, as is tradition in this matchup.

“We need to establish the run,” concluded Hontz. “That doesn’t change.”

Spring-Ford at Governor Mifflin, Friday, 7 p.m. >> A year ago, Mifflin was home to Nick Singleton, one of the nation’s top running backs now honing his craft with James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions. But Rams coach Chad Brubaker knows better than to assume any drop-off from the District 3-5A powers.

“We’re going into a hostile environment,” he said. “So we need to match their energy from the opening kickoff.”

That means assignment football against Mifflin, who employs the veer option as their base set. On the offensive side, sophomore quarterback Matt Zollers figures to face repeated pressure and different looks from an aggressive Mustangs defense. Brubaker identified senior Luke Pajovich’s versatility as a key on both sides of the ball.

“He works hard and applies the coaching he receives,” said the coach. “It’s turned him into an excellent high school football player.”

Conestoga at Owen J. Roberts, Friday, 7 p.m. >> Last season, this matchup of District 1-6A playoff qualifiers went to the wire, with ‘Stoga claiming a 17-14 decision in overtime. The Wildcats are out for payback this year – not just against the Pioneers but in general as they seek to take the next step in the PAC Liberty.

“We’re healthy going into week one,” said coach Rich Kolka. “But the first game is always a challenge in terms of scheming.”

The focus will be fundamental football – score touchdowns in the red zone, eliminate big plays, and win the field position battle. Kolka is hopeful Hunter Rhoads, Alec Karnbach, and Dan Cashman can have strong starts to their senior years against a Conestoga squad looking to prove that 2021 – their first playoff campaign in seven years – was no accident.

Penn Wood at Perkiomen Valley, Friday, 7 p.m. >> The defending PAC champions begin the title defense at home against their opponents from the Del-Val League, a Patriots squad loaded with quick, elusive players that will provide myriad challenges for a Perkiomen Valley defense with numerous new faces.

Carter Euker, Drew Kenworthy, Brad Curci, Robbie Sturges, Dimitri Toman, and Ty Hall are new names on the defense, while Coach Rob Heist looks for continued progress from an offensive line that looks to give time to starting QB Danny Koehler and open holes for a running game that now includes Jake Stewart.

“We’re encouraged by the energy on this team,” said Heist. “The focus, the leadership from our seniors – it’s been great, and we look forward to taking that mentality into game action.”

Methacton at Pottsgrove, Friday, 7 p.m. >> Another cross-divisional showdown sees the Warriors – owners of .500 records the past two seasons – in their first game action since moving down in classification to 5A. Can the move yield the first playoff berth in recent history?

Mike Wolbers takes over for graduated Dan Brandi at quarterback, while Tyler Weil-Kaspar figures to be a bell cow at running back after seeing his 2021 season cut short by injury. “We’ve seen several youngsters develop into very solid football players,” summarized coach Brian Kennedy. “We expect big things from them.”

They’ll get their first chance against Pottsgrove, finalists in District 1-4A a year ago. The Falcons also break in a new QB in junior Gabe Rinda but have a senior-laden roster that includes running back Amir Brunson, and two-way lineman Mark White. As always, the key at Pottsgrove centers on controlling the ball, owning the line of scrimmage, and winning the special-teams battle – a job made easier by Brunson and Bryce Caffrey, the area’s top kick return duo.

Lower Merion at Pottstown, Friday, 7 p.m. >> Levert Hughes’ first game at the helm in Pottstown features an opponent with a similar chip on their shoulders after a lackluster 2021.

Lower Merion took it to Pottstown in last season’s opener, but the Trojans can take encouragement from an impressive offensive showing in last week’s scrimmage. The home opener is Hughes’ first chance to establish the family and community support he highlighted as a major emphasis in his first season atop the Pottstown program.

Norristown at Bensalem, Friday, 7 p.m. >> Head coach Joe Milligan believes the Eagles have what it takes to continue moving forward after last season’s strong finish and applauded the energy he’s seen through preseason. At the same time, it’s an inexperienced roster that will need stability from returning starters like Robbie Miller and Meyon Ferrell.

In the early going, the focus will be on fundamentals. “Finishing drives, not turning the ball over on offense,” explained Milligan, “while avoiding big plays on defense, and making tackles on special teams.”

The Eagles travel to take on a Bensalem squad that got the better of them in Week One last year. The Owls come into 2022 with high hopes after narrowly missing the District playoffs a year ago but will have to navigate a challenging Suburban One-Continental schedule.

Phoenixville at Great Valley, Friday, 7 p.m. >> It’s the first matchup in three years for the longtime rivals – but it’s been an even longer wait for the Phantoms to claim victory in this showdown. For a team looking to take another step forward after last season’s District playoff appearance, there could be no greater start than the first win over Great Valley in a decade.

“[The losing streak] is a heavy weight to carry around,” confirmed Phantoms coach Anthony Ciarlello. “But we need to build trust as a team, and among all three units (offense, defense, and special teams) before we can move forward.”

This week, the focus is on an offensive line that replaces Roman Ciavarelli and Solomon Ortiz, both All-Area performers, but has the potential to be as strong or stronger than last year with continued development.

Conwell Egan at Upper Merion, Friday, 7 p.m. >> Last year, the Eagles rode the momentum of an opening win over Upper Merion all the way to the District 12-2A title game. In 2022, the Vikings possess the top-end talent and senor leadership to become contenders in their own right. Zayd Etheridge is the leading returning passer in the area, while Villanova commit Nolan Clayton brings playmaking ability to both sides of the ball at tight end and defensive end.

Upper Merion is motivated by several losses characterized by poor second-half play a year ago – a trend that started in the opener against Conwell Egan. Increased familiarity in coach Davis Chubb’s second season will be a key to playing a full 48 minutes and realizing their potential.

Exeter at Daniel Boone, Friday, 7 p.m. >> It’s no easy start for the Blazers, who take on defending District 3-5A champions Exeter. The game figures to be something of a ‘baptism by fire’ for a squad coach Rob Flowers admits has as many question marks as they do answers.

A few of those answers, however, come in the form of two-way lineman Tony Rulli and RB/LB Ryan Souder, a three-year starter of defense. Rulli and Souder figure to join RB/LB Ethan Kryman in providing stability to a young squad.

Archbishop Carroll at Pope John Paul II, 1 p.m. Saturday >> The easy part of new coach Scott Reed’s job will be motivation, after the Golden Panthers narrowly missed the District 1-4A playoffs’ four-team field last year. With players like Brendan Kenning returning from injury, PJP could be even stronger in spots this season – bad news for a Carroll squad who dropped last year’s opener to the Golden Panthers, 43-14.

A spot to watch is quarterback, where Kamal Gray, Rocco DiRico, and DJ Clarke have created quite a legacy over the past few years at PJP. Sophomore Luke Trelesky and senior Logan Wessalt each figure to receive an opportunity to be next in line.