PAC-10 Preview: Look for trend to continue

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It’s been five years since a team other than Pottsgrove, Spring-Ford or Perkiomen Valley has won a PAC-10 title.

Expecting that to change in 2015 is at your own risk, not with the personnel the Vikings, Falcons and Rams return.

Not with how the Power 3’s grip on the conference has become stronger with each passing year since Boyertown and Owen J. Roberts shared a conference title in 2010.

For the past four seasons, Rick Pennypacker’s Falcons, Chad Brubaker’s Rams and Scott Reed’s Vikings have finished in the top four of the conference, compiling a 92-16 record against league opposition in that span. Beside 2010, the conference hasn’t seen a different outright champion other than the Power 3 since 2006 when Boyertown won the title in 2006. Since that season, Pottsgrove has won four championships (all outright), Spring-Ford one and Perkiomen Valley two (one outright, one shared with Lansdale Catholic in 2007).

More notably, a team other than the Power 3 has climbed into the Top 3 of the PAC-10 standings twice during that span as Methacton accomplished the feat in 2011 and 2014, going 5-4 in 2011 before finishing 7-2 with a win over Pottsgrove in 2014.

However, with Methacton graduating a bevy of its starters that led the Warriors on their historic run last season, including quarterback Conner Derrickson, running back Louis Cotteta, Akeem Walcott and others, the chance of the Power 3 seeing its grasp on the top of the conference loosen takes a blow.

Upper Perkiomen, after seeing a major improvement under first year head coach Tom Hontz, will try to make its way into the PAC-10 picture with ever-present Boyertown thrown into the mix.

Owen J. Roberts will be a question mark across the board, not because of talent, but because of the massive culture and scheme change that head coach Rich Kolka has brought. It’s been 60 years since an OJR offense has run anything beside the I-Formation or a Hybrid Wing-T. If these players, including Mitch Bradford, Dawson Stuart and Rayquan Stewart among others, can successfully adapt to the spread offense and the 3-3-5 stack on defense, then OJR could be in for a special year.

Only time will tell with the Wildcats.

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown for 2015.

Boyertown
Who to watch: Lawrence Garnett, Sr., Quarterback; Mike Banks, Sr., Offensive Line; Jerry Kapp, So., Wide Receiver.
Garnett returns after throwing for 655 yards and rushing for 669 and 13 touchdowns in 2014. Banks returns after winning the Boyertown Offensive Line Player of the Year award while Kapp makes the shift from the hardwood to the gridiron and will look to be a primary target for Garnett and the Boyertown offense. Included in the mix is Hunter Vogels who returns after rushing for 272 yards last season.

Why Bears will compete in 2015: Garnett returns after a solid junior season. He made the most of his second chance

given to him by coach George Parkinson after a horrid Week 1 last season and the Bears responded well, winning a nip-and-tuck battle with Upper Perkiomen before finishing with a 5-4 finish in the PAC-10.

What will keep Bears back: The Power 3. The Bears, beside a 28-0 loss to Exeter, came away with wins against the teams that finished in the bottom half of the PAC-10 in 2014. However, against Methacton, Pottsgrove, Perkiomen Valley and Spring-Ford, the offense and defense sputtered, falling in those contests by an average of 22 ppg.

Game to watch: Boyertown vs. Upper Perkiomen, Sept. 11. This game will be telling for both teams with Upper Perkiomen falling to the Bears after wearing out after halftime a year ago. Garnett went 10-for-12 with 156 yards in the win after the Week 1 defeat to Exeter. Another win against Upper Perkiomen would set the tone in the PAC-10 as well as give them some added confidence with a date with Spring-Ford only two weeks later.

Methacton
Who to watch: Jason Eckman, Jr., Quarterback; Dylan Feaster, Sr., Wide Receiver.
Eckman becomes the new signal caller for the Warriors and will have big shoes to fill with Conner Derrickson graduated

after throwing and rushing for more than 1,000 yards as Methacton finished with a 7-2 record in the PAC-10 and were one seed away from garnering a District 1-AAAA playoff berth. Feaster is one of only six seniors on the squad and will be Eckman’s primary target and primary leader on the team.

Why Warriors will compete in 2015: Eckman’s skillset compares to Derrickson and head coach Paul Lepre saw some preseason promise from him in their read-option scheme.

What will keep Warriors back: Depth. The Warriors have a roster hovering around 30 players, have no JV squad and a lack of experience across the board. It could be a growing year for Methacton.

Game to watch: Methacton at Perkiomen Valley, Sept. 11. It’s another Week 2 game that garners some i

ntrigue. Methacton fell to the Vikings in last season’s date in the September mid-day heat. Now, it will be about how the Warriors compete with the team who will be picked to finish high in the PAC-10 and how much confidence they can build or lose after the outcome.

Owen J. Roberts
Who to watch: Mitch Bradford, Sr., Quarterback/Flex; Conor Mitchell, Tight End/ Defensive End.
Bradford and Mitchell return to the offense and with what looks like, different roles. Bradford should have a chance to

showcase his arm this season as OJR shifts away from a power-running attack. He, along with Dawson Stuart, should see their passing totals increase this year while Mitchell will provide leadership to both sides of the ball.

Why Wildcats will compete in 2015: Because the system they are in will work and it will suit the strengths of each player. The spread will give Ray Stewart an opportunity to stretch the defense. Bradford also has some speed and will look to slice through the defense. Also, the 3-3-5 stack the Wildcats will employ on defense has catered to the strengths of the team, according to Mitchell who said it allows them to run to the ball more freely.

What will keep Wildcats back: Because the system they are in won’t work and won’t suit the strengths of each player. That’s the intrigue around what Kolka brings in his first season. This isn’t a coaching change, this is a culture change. Longtime head coach Tom Barr (now a Boyertown assistant) was a firm believer in power running and backed it in his play-calling. It was old school and it worked extremely well for a large portion of his tenure. Now, it’s time to see if Kolka’s system will work. For his players, they think it will. Only time will tell.

Game to watch: Conestoga at Owen J. Roberts, Sept. 4. What’s a better game to watch than the debut of a new offensive and defensive system on Week 1?

Perkiomen Valley
Who to watch: Stephen Sturm, Jr., Quarterback; David Williams, Jr., Running Back; Justin Jaworski, Jr., Athlete; TJ

Foley, Jr., Defensive Line; Ronnie Arch, Jr., Tailback.
The Vikings return junior quarterback Stephen Sturm after he led the area in passing with 2,029 yards and 21 touchdowns against five interceptions. Justin Jaworski returns after leading the area in receptions (49) while top rusher David Williams is back after rushing for 652 yards on 105 carries with 10 touchdowns (12 total). Ronnie Arch and TJ Foley also return with Foley coming back after an area-leading 10.5 sacks from last season.

Why Vikings will compete in 2015: The skill players on the Vikings all return minus Liam Grande and Taiyir Wilson. David Williams will be the primary threat both in the backfield and in the slot, with Sturm looking more polished than last season. Sturm was sensational in 2014 and with some of the throws he made in preseason camp, it should be no different. The defense returns Foley and Arch who led the league in sacks and will look to build off a season in which it allowed a PAC-10 best 13.0 ppg.

What will keep Vikings back: The offensive line. The feared bunch that included Seth Jonassen, Dan Roh and Andrew Narducci is gone. Only John Tittle remains. The major question: Will the Vikings’ skill players make up for an inexperienced offensive line just as the offensive line made up for an inexperienced quarterback last season? If that becomes the case, the Vikings should be OK. If not, the Vikings may be in some trouble.

Game to Watch: Perkiomen Valley at Pottsgrove, Sept. 18. A rematch of last year’s showdown will likely have PAC-10 title implications again. The Vikings will face only two teams that finished .500 or better in 2014 the remainder of the year after its date with Pottsgrove – Boyertown (Oct. 16) and Spring-Ford (Nov. 6).

Phoenixville
Who to watch: Matt Palubinsky, Sr., Wide Receiver/Safety; Johnavin County, Jr., Running Back.
Palubinsky returns as the Phantoms’ primary threat as the Division I recruit will look to build off a season in which he finished eighth in the area in receptions. County has been a pleasant surprise for the Phantoms in camp and has the

potential to be a feature back for Phoenixville.

Why Phantoms will compete in 2015: The combination of Troy Rossman and Palubinsky works and County has the ability to run wild. Also, the defense recovers after allowing 36.9 ppg last season.

What will keep Phantoms back: Depth and injuries. The Phantoms lost both Jeff Conboy and Shyheim Abernathy to broken collarbones within 10 minutes of each other on the first day of camp. Also out is Ezekial Frank-Vinson who tore his ACL back in July. The Phantoms don’t have the numbers to lose any more players and need to stay healthy the rest of the way to compete.

Game to Watch: Phoenixville at Owen J. Roberts, Oct. 9. The Phantoms will look to avenge a 21-20 loss to the Wildcats last season where OJR stopped the Phantoms on a two-point conversion in the final minute to come away with the win.

Pope John Paul II

Who to watch: Jared Johns-Lupold Sr., Wide Receiver; Ricky D’Aquilante, Sr., Offensive Line/Linebacker
Johns-Lupold returns after finishing second in the area in receptions (42). He also had 501 yards and two touchdowns for the Golden Panthers. D’Aquilante’s senior leadership should be a bonus for PJP.

Why Golden Panthers will compete in 2015: Johns-Lupold has another solid season and PJP gets into the end zone more than it did a year ago when it averaged 11.3 ppg. Good tackling and fundamentals trump being undersized, enabling PJP to get some wins.

What will keep Golden Panthers back: PJP isn’t the biggest across the board. If PJP isn’t strong in the fundamentals of its offense and tackles poorly, it could spell another long season.

Game to Watch: Bishop McDevitt at Pope John Paul II, Sept. 5. The Golden Panthers let one get away last season after taking a one-point lead into halftime. With the season opener at home against a familiar foe, look for PJP to get a win.

Pottsgrove

Who to watch: Deyon Doctor, Sr., Quarterback; Jake Adams, Sr., Tackle; Wyatt Porter, Sr., Fullback.
Doctor becomes the full-time starter with Calvin Klein model Torin Verdone departed due to graduation. Jake Adams is the key cog to a line that returns Brandon Drozda, Mike Gantert and Matt Wasniewski. Porter returns to the backfield and will look to continue to be a force on both sides of the ball that garnered him All-League honors last season.

Why Falcons will compete in 2015: It’s Rick Pennypacker and it’s Pottsgrove. Need there be more said? Guided by

Pennypacker for the past 26 seasons, the Falcons have compiled a record of 211-89-3 and have won PAC-10 titles in seven of the past 15 seasons, including three out of four in 2000-2003 and two straight in 2012 and 2013. The Falcons are poised to get back to the top after falling to Perkiomen Valley in a do-or-die clash that could have earned them a split of the PAC-10 title in 2014.

What will keep Falcons back: The loss of Michael Fowler, Patrick Finn and Devon Fink. Those three were integral pieces of Pottsgrove’s dominance the last three seasons, especially All-Area Player of the Year Fowler who finished third in the area in total touchdowns (15), third in receptions (41), first in receiving yards (882), first in receiving touchdowns (11) and tied for seventh in interceptions (3). Also, losing Fink, who racked up 1,155 yards and 13 scores, classifies as ‘must address’ for Pottsgrove. However, similar to Perkiomen Valley last season after losing two-time Mercury All-Area Player of the Year winner Rasaan Stewart, the next big piece could be around the corner.

Game to Watch: Perkiomen Valley at Pottsgrove, Sept. 18. Same reason as stated earlier for Perkiomen Valley. This will be redemption for the Falcons after the Vikings routed them 49-21 in last season’s contest.

Pottstown
Who to watch: Brandon Tinson, Sr., Quarterback; Bryant Wise, Sr., Tailback; Jimmie Zazzi, Sr., Center.
Tinson shifts from running back/receiver to quarterback for the Trojans after Gary Wise graduated. Tinson has as much, if not more, explosiveness than Wise which should suit the Trojans in an offense that is projected to run the ball 80 percent of the time. Bryant Wise has progressed as a runner the last year and had a solid camp while Zazzi’s 260-lb frame is a far cry from the 115 pounds he came in as a freshman.

Why Trojans will compete in 2015: The sheer athleticism of their backs, receivers and quarterback. Tinson is a special athlete to watch, especially when he’s in space. Coach Don Grinstead said they are developing schemes to suit Tinson’s talents and if that scheme takes shape, watch out. Wise and fullback Isaiah Mayes are solid with Grinstead saying that this could be a breakout year for Mayes, a junior. Aaron Diamond and OJR transfer Quantell Washington give Pottstown a formidable receiving core.

What will keep Trojans back: Failing to execute in the red zone. It was an Achilles’ heel for the Trojans in 2014 as the team was last in the league in scoring average (9.7 ppg). The team scored seven touchdowns in the five games it amassed 250 or more yards of total offense.

Game to Watch: Owen J. Roberts at Pottstown, Nov. 26. Thanksgiving Day. Is there anything more to say?

Spring-Ford
Who to watch: Ricky Venuto, Sr., Quarterback; Trey Jarmon, Sr., Running Back/ Cornerback; Tim Rudderow, Sr., OL/DL; Stone Scarcelle, Jr., Quarterback/Wide Receiver; Selwyn Simpson, Jr., Wide Receiver/Linebacker; Matt Gibson, Jr.,

Running Back/Defensive Back.
Venuto takes over as the signal caller and has a football pedigree working for him: his father, Sam Venuto, is a successful offensive coordinator at Villanova. Jarmon will return after a successful 2014 season with Tim Rudderow one of the only defensive line players returning. Scarcelle will become an all-purpose athlete for Spring-Ford, which also expects big years from shifty tailback Simpson and Gibson.

Why Rams will compete in 2015: The Rams are contenders year-in and year-out. This year should be no different with the depth that the Rams have in the skill positions. Venuto is untested after the starting job was held by Brandon Leacraft the past two seasons so the opening game versus State College will be telling. However, Jarmon, Scarcelle, Simpson, Gibson and others are ready to take the Rams to the next level.

What will keep Rams back: Like Pottsgrove and Perkiomen Valley, not much. The Rams got off on the wrong foot with a loss to State College last season. That could happen again with State College looking stronger than last season. The good thing for Spring-Ford is that they don’t have to face the Vikings and Falcons in a span of three weeks but they do face back-to-back games against Boyertown and Upper Perkiomen, and if both teams are healthy, could give the Rams a surprise if they aren’t ready.

Game to Watch: Pottsgrove at Spring-Ford, Oct. 9. The Rams dropped a tough test to Pottsgrove, 35-29, last season, in a game that put them behind the eight ball in the PAC-10 standings as well as the district playoff race.

Upper Perkiomen
Who to Watch: Mike Felix, Sr., Running Back; Ryan Kendra, So., Wide Receiver; Mahlon Schaffer, Sr., Guard/Defensive Tackle
Felix returns after finishing fourth in the area with 877 rushing yards on 115 carries while Kendra returns after a solid freshman season. Schaffer is on track to return for Week 1 and will bring a senior presence to the offensive and defensive line.

Why Indians will compete in 2015: Tom Hontz’s group showed serious promise last season in improving from a one-win squad in 2013 to a four-win squad last season. The only problem … injuries and depth. The Indians were in a few games last season until halftime where they would run out of gas. Hontz has tried to rectify that problem with more conditioning in and after practice.

What will keep Indians back: Same problem as 2014, injuries and depth. Upper Perk has seen an increase in its roster size, but still face a problem in its depth of players that have varsity experience. If all goes according to plan, Upper Perk has a shot at being in the mix come season’s end. If not, it could be a repeat of 2014.

Game to Watch: Boyertown vs. Upper Perkiomen, Sept. 11. Upper Perkiomen faces a tough stretch in the opening weeks with a home date against Quakertown (38-0 loss last season) and trips to Boyertown and Spring-Ford the next two weeks. Upper Perkiomen was in it with Boyertown until the second half last season. A win against the Bears and who knows what kind of confidence that will give them entering a clash with the Rams.