PAC powers stay on top in 2018 while rising squads made things interesting

Pottsgrove’s 4A state quarterfinal loss to Bethlehem Catholic Friday night brought the Mercury area’s 2018 high school football season to an official close. With that in mind, we take a look back at the ups and downs of the past 14 weeks. 

Staying on Top >> The names remained the same at the top of both the Liberty and Frontier divisions this season. Perkiomen Valley (8-3) claimed their third consecutive Pioneer Athletic Conference championship after rebounding from an 0-2 start to reel off eight consecutive victories. The campaign was highlighted when the Vikings went on the road to top archrival Spring-Ford 27-20 in Week 9, before traveling to Pottsgrove and handing the Falcons their lone regular-season setback, 35-17, in the championship contest.

Unfortunately, both Liberty powerhouses (PV and Spring-Ford) were victims of bad timing in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs, as they ran into Quakertown and Downingtown East, respectively, teams that were tailor-made for the rainy conditions that particular Friday evening featured. Both opponents were dominant to the point that the weather may not have mattered, but the conditions noticeably affected the passing spreads of both squads. Quakertown held the ball for 34 of 48 minutes in ousting PV, 26-14, while Downingtown East rushed for 349 yards in ending Spring-Ford’s season, 39-12.

As for Pottsgrove, the Falcons transitioned seamlessly into life after legendary coach Rick Pennypacker. Longtime assistant Bill Hawthorne took the reins and oversaw a 12-2 campaign that would feature the first state playoff victory in school history, a 14-10 slugfest over District 4 champion Jersey Shore in Week 13. A third straight defeat against Perkiomen Valley in the PAC title game provided the lone blemish before the season-ender against Bethlehem Catholic, but an especially strong senior class provided the backbone for a squad that claimed a three-peat of their own with another District 1 Class 4A title.

Moving on Up >> While the rich got richer, the PAC saw the establishment of a solid middle class, so to speak, as also-rans of previous seasons made the ascent into playoff teams. Pottstown’s turnaround was the highlight as coach Mark Fischer’s charges went from a two-win team in 2017 to District 1 Class 4A runners-up this season, dropping the title game to Pottsgrove two weeks ago at Phoenixville HS.

Speaking of Phoenixville, the Phantoms made their own return to the district playoffs in Class 5A in coach Don Grinstead’s first season at the helm. They drew the unfortunate task of matching up with eventual district champion Upper Dublin in round one, which brought their season to an end at a record of 4-7. Coach Victor Brown’s Upper Merion squad also returned to the 5A playoffs, even hosting an opening-round game where they fell to Interboro.

Pope John Paul II set a school record with eight victories in 2018, battling Pottsgrove to the wire in a game that would eventually decide the PAC Frontier Division championship. The ending, a 42-34 loss to New Hope-Solebury in the first round of the District One Class 3A playoffs, left a sour taste in the mouth of the Golden Panthers, who held a 21-0 lead before an uncharacteristic five turnovers became their undoing in the late going.

Lastly, the Blazers of Daniel Boone enjoyed a bounce-back season under first-year coach Rob Flowers, topping their combined win totals from 2016 and 2017 (five) with a 6-5 campaign, capped by a 28-21 victory over Owen J. Roberts for the 5A/6A Eastern Conference championship. While the Blazers narrowly missed the District 3 Class 5A playoffs, it was clear that Coach Flowers, who came over from Reading High, injected new energy into the program that will hopefully carry forth into future seasons.

Only the Beginning >> Narrowing the focus to skill-position standouts, it would stand to reason that the PAC may be in for an even stronger 2019 season. Of the five leading passers, rushers, and receivers in the league (15 players in total), nine return to their respective schools for at least one more season. They include each division’s leading passers in Spring-Ford’s Ryan Engro and Pope John Paul II’s Kamal Gray, and their leading targets in Dante Bonanni and Steve Skarbek, who led their respective divisions in receptions and yardage.

Owen J. Roberts returns quarterback Cooper Chamberlain, who took over for school record holder Dawson Stuart in leading the Wildcats to another winning campaign.

In the running game, Pottsgrove’s Isaiah Taylor will be back to see if he can top this season’s 1,544-yard output, production that was invaluable to a Falcons offense attempting to replace graduated record holder Rahsul Faison. Pottstown signal caller Josiah Wiggins’ senior year promises to showcase the further development of a player who became one of the area’s premiere dual threats, as he rushed 813 yards and 12 TDs this year.

Saying Goodbye >> A few of the standout area performers who concluded their high school careers this year:

Perkiomen Valley QB Cole Peterlin piloted yet another Vikings’ championship season, battling through a nagging ankle injury in the key division title game against Spring-Ford. Peterlin was ably backed up by Ethan Kohler during his absence, and both QBs looked to Isaiah Domine and his league-leading 11 touchdown receptions in claiming a third straight trophy.

Owen J. Roberts loses leaders on both sides of the ball in Liberty Division leading rusher Marcus Martin (1,049 yards, nine rushing TDs) and newly-minted OJR career sacks leader Aidan Hayward.

Another strong senior class at Pottsgrove exits with another Class 4A District title and a state playoff victory under their belt. Jay Sisko was a model of consistency at QB for the Falcons, attempting only 94 passes this season but ably conducting a complex system of reads in the power running game and contributing 805 yards and 13 TDs of his own on the ground. Ryan Bodolus (20 sacks this season) led a trio of senior offensive/defensive linemen along with Nate Tornetta and Justin Adams that formed what Bill Hawthorne often called the “heart and soul” of the Falcons.

Spring-Ford will look to replace several leaders on defense, among them DL Walter Molishus and Nathaniel Orkfritz-Robinson, LB Nick DelRomano, and safety Stephen Brill.

Finally, while their last season yielded only one victory, Methacton may someday view their senior class of 2018 as the one that re-started the program under coach Dave Lotier. OLB Gary Knox, C/LB Colby Stahl, DT Tonee Ellis, and WR/SS Will Roese provided the backbone of a team that persevered throughout their careers and planted the seeds for what may be the PAC’s next great redemption story.

Mercury Area Final Stat Leaders