Pottstown tops PJP, goes to 4-0 for first time since 2002

UPPER PROVIDENCE >> Pottstown is 4-0 for the first time since 2002.

They have their ground game to thank for that.

Brandon Tinson eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the third straight game while Bryant Wise and Isaiah Mayes also racked up big numbers on the ground as Pottstown scored on eight of its first nine possessions to come away with a 52-34 victory over Pope John Paul II Friday afternoon.

“It feels amazing (to be 4-0),” Pottstown head coach Don Grinstead said. “How much these guys have been through, how much this program has been through, it feels amazing to have these guys have some success. I can’t tell you how proud I am of my kids. They work so hard, they deserve it.”

“It feels good, being 4-0 gives our team life,” Tinson added. “It gives us that extra push to keep wanting to move forward and to see what potential that we have.”

Tinson, the senior quarterback, finished the game with 106 yards on nine carries with three scores while adding 68 yards through the air. Wise and Mayes (three touchdowns) contributed 84 and 79 yards, respectively, on the ground as the Trojans tallied 301 yards rushing in the win — their second best total of the season.

“We pounded the ball,” Grinstead said. “We looked on film, looked at what we’ve done. We just thought that we could move the ball if we just stayed responsible up front.”

The big boys on the offensive line: Jaylen Chestnut. Javonte Tinson, Jimmie Zazzi, Cole Sellers and Nyles Rome did just that.

Minus a punt on the team’s third possession, Pottstown made quick, methodical work of Pope John Paul II’s defense, scoring on eight of the nine possessions the starters were on the field. The 52 points was the highest point total for Pottstown since scoring 53 in a Week 1 win over St. Pius X in 2008.

“We challenge those guys every week and they’re getting better every week,” Grinstead said. “We only have one senior up front (Zazzi), we’re so young on that side of the line. They’re getting better and better each week, which is what you want. I think if they stay together and we keep that unit together, we can have a couple nice years with that line.”

“It all started up front,” Tinson said. “We told them before the game, ‘We go where you go. You take us where you want us to go,’ and they took us to the end zone.”

The scoring frenzy was needed as the Golden Panthers struck paydirt on their first possession of the game. Matt Duff finished with 206 yards passing with three touchdowns while Jared Johns-Lupold finished with a game-high 144 yards receiving on nine receptions.

However, PJP couldn’t overcome a dire last 3:40 in the first half.

With the score in favor of Pottstown, 12-6, Tinson first muscled his way in for a 21-yard score before scoring again on a quarterback keeper that was set up by a 45-yard kickoff return by Wise to make it 28-12. Following a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Tinson scrambled to his right before firing a laser off his back foot to the sliding Wise for a 34-12 halftime lead.

“We just had trouble stopping them,” PJP head coach Rory Graver said. “It was a game until the last 50-some seconds left in the half. We can’t turn the ball over. That’s going to be a darn good football team. We gave them that huge lead going into halftime. If we don’t make those mistakes it’s 20-12, a different type of game.”

From there the Trojans piled it on, Wise finding the end zone on a one-yard run to start the third to make it 40-12 with Mayes following five minutes after with a 12-yard score to make it 46-12. Tinson then capped off the visitor’s scoring with an 8-yard run to further the gap and put the Trojans well on their way to keeping their undefeated mark.

“The group of kids we have, we’re humble, focused kids,” Tinson said, the Pottstown faithful screaming ‘We are Pottstown!’ as his team left the field. “We understand what we can be, we understand what we were and we understand where we want to go. They’re all in line. Nobody rebels and we’re all playing as one. When we all play as one, we end up where we’re at now.”

At 4-0.

NOTES >> DeLaurentis finished 3-for-5 for 30 yards and a score as the Golden Panthers scored three touchdowns in the final quarter. … AJ Natale finished with 47 yards and a 24-yard touchdown. … Pottstown averaged 7.34 yards per rush in the win. … Wise executed a perfect fake punt, connecting with Anthony Wiggins for a 45-yard strike. … Wise had one touchdown on the ground. … Joey Giannone had two touchdowns for Pope John Paul II.