Reporter/Times Herald Area Week Nine Previews

Two PAC powers collide — with division title hopes and playoff seedings at stake — as Perkiomen Valley travels to Spring-Ford Friday night.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Vikings come into this one 6-2 overall and a perfect 4-0 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division. The Rams, meanwhile, are 7-1 overall and have an identical 4-0 mark in the PAC Liberty.

The winner of this contest will claim the division title and will play in the conference title game next week against the Division 2 title holder.

“We’re already motivated,” PV’s Jon Moccia said. “We’ve been talking about this game since the beginning of the season.”

The quarterback feels the same way.

“(This game) is going to be super-big,” Cole Peterlin added. “It will decide who goes to the PAC championship game.”

Peterlin showed off his versatility last week.

Throwing a pair of touchdown passes and running for two more, Peterlin directed the Vikings to a 42-21 victory over Boyertown. Perk Valley’s offense comes in rolling.

Peterlin will have to contend with a tough defensive line for Spring-Ford. The Rams wreaked havoc last week in their 30-7 rout of Owen J. Roberts, with Walter Molishus racking up three sacks.

Spring-Ford is aiming for a reversal of last year’s outcome: the Vikings earned a 28-7 win over Spring-Ford in 2017.

Not only does the contest have impact on the outcome of the PAC standings but also has playoff-seeding implications: Spring-Ford comes into Week Nine ranked sixth in District 1-6A and the Vikings are right behind, seeded ninth.

The top eight will get first-round home games in the 16-team field.

Archbishop Wood at La Salle
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., Cardinal Stadium, Upper Dublin High School.
On Twitter: @ADRobinson3.
Records: The Vikings are 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division. The Explorers are 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the PCL Red.
Last Week: The Vikings lost 49-14 to St. Joe’s Prep. La Salle was a 35-9 winner over Archbishop Ryan.
Last Meeting: The Vikings were 31-17 winners over the Explorers.
Players to Watch: Joe Wade got loose for a 64-yard TD reception last week for Wood. Dillon Trainer is a hard-hitting linebacker for La Salle.
Prediction: Wood 26, La Salle 14.

Central Bucks South at North Penn
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at North Penn.
On the Air: The game will be broadcast live on WNPV, 98.5 FM, and live online at wnpv1440.com.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: The Titans are 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the SOL Continental. The Knights are 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the SOL Continental.
Playoff Rankings: The Knights are No. 1 in District 1-6A.
Last Week: CB South lost 23-18 to rival CB East. North Penn defeated CB West 20-6.
Last Meeting: The Knights rolled, 40-9, over the Titans.
Players to Watch: Jon Haynes came up big last week for NP, with a pivotal 29-yard touchdown catch. Dante Scipione helps anchor the D-line for South.
Prediction: North Penn 27, CB South 13.

Norristown at Boyertown
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Boyertown.
Records: The Eagles are 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the PAC Liberty Division. The Bears are 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the PAC Liberty Division.
Last Week: Norristown beat Methacton 14-7. Boyertown fell 42-21 to Perk Valley.
Last Meeting: The Bears prevailed, 20-15, over the Eagles.
Players to Watch: Daniel Watson threw a pair of touchdown passes last week for the Eagles. Jamie Moccia is a key member of the Bear secondary, with an interception last week.
Prediction: Boyertown 20, Norristown 16.

Owen J. Roberts at Methacton
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Methacton.
Records: Methacton is 1-7 overall and 1-3 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division. OJR is 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the PAC Liberty Division.
Playoff Rankings: The Wildcats are No. 14 in District 1-6A.
Last Week: Methacton lost 14-7 to Norristown. OJR lost 30-7 to Spring-Ford.
Last Meeting: OJR romped, 55-14 over the Warrior.
Players to Watch: Marcus Martin, if healthy (knee), could be a big rushing threat for OJR. Mike Ciriello found the end zone last week for the Warriors and could be a key factor in the ground game.
Prediction: Owen J. Roberts 27, Methacton 12.

Pennridge at Truman
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Truman.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: The Rams are 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the SOL Continental. The Tigers are 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the SOL National.
Playoff Rankings: The Tigers are No. 5 in District 1-6A. The Rams are 17th.
Last Week: Pennridge was a 55-20 winner over William Tennent. Truman won 42-27 over Abington.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Zak Kantor is heating up for the Rams. Javeer Peterson is a double threat for Truman, as a pass catcher and runner.
Prediction: Truman 27, Pennridge 20.

Perkiomen Valley at Spring-Ford
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Spring-Ford.
Records: The Vikings are 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the PAC Liberty Division. The Rams are 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the PAC Liberty Division.
Playoff Rankings: The Rams are No. 6 in District 1-6A. The Vikings are ninth.
Last Week: Perk Valley rolled, 42-21 over Boyertown. Spring-Ford shut down Owen J. Roberts, 30-7.
Last Meeting: The Vikings downed the Rams, 28-7.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Cole Peterlin threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more last week for PV. Walter Molishus had three sacks last week as part of a fierce pass rush for Spring-Ford.
Prediction: Spring-Ford 35, Perk Valley 34.

Souderton at Central Bucks West
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., War Memorial Field, Central Bucks West
On Twitter: @amarcus515.
Records: CB West is 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the SOL Continental. Souderton is 4-4 overall and 3-1 in the SOL Continental.
Playoff Rankings: Big Red is No. 16 in District 1-6A.
Last Week: The Bucks lost 20-6 to North Penn. Big Red romped, 39-6 over Council Rock North.
Last Meeting: Souderton earned a 21-14 win over West.
Players to Watch: Connor Levant is a tough runner for West and is also a receiving threat out of the backfield. Quarterback Andrew Vince leads a balanced attack for Big Red.
Prediction: Souderton 24, CB West 17.

Upper Dublin at Plymouth Whitemarsh
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at PW.
Records: The Cardinals are 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the SOL American. The Colonials are 1-6 overall and 1-3 in the SOL American.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Playoff Rankings: The Cardinals are No. 2 in District 1-5A.
Last Week: The Cardinals blew out Wissahickon, 47-7. PW fell 17-14 to Quakertown.
Last Meeting: The Cardinals won 28-14 over the Colonials.
Players to Watch: Jacob Rossman puts heat on the quarterback for Upper Dublin. Quarterback Larry McLaughlin looks to get the attack going for PW.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 31, PW 14.

Wissahickon at Eastern York
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Eastern York.
Records: Wissahickon is 0-8 overall and 0-5 in the Suburban One League American Conference. Eastern York is 2-6 overall and 0-5 in York-Adams Division 2.
Last Week: Wiss lost 47-7 to Upper Dublin. Eastern York was nipped 43-42 by Susquehannock.
Players to Watch: Tyler Caso can bring pressure off the edge for Wiss. Kaleb Corwell provides plenty of speed in the ground game for the Golden Knights.
Prediction: Eastern York 15, Wissahickon 14.

Archbishop Carroll at Lansdale Catholic
Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., at Wissahickon.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: Carroll is 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the PCL Red. The Crusaders are 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the PCL Blue.
Last Week: The Patriots were edged, 21-20, by Bonner & Prendergast. The Crusaders lost 34-7 to Bishop McDevitt.
Players to Watch: Billy Coppock hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass last week and has the ability to break the big play. Jason Carr showed off his speed last week for the Crusaders on a 47-yard TD run.
Prediction: Archbishop Carroll 27, Lansdale Catholic 20.

Upper Merion at Pope John Paul II
Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., at Pope John Paul II HS.
Records: The Vikings are 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the PAC Frontier Division. The Golden Panthers are 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the PAC Frontier Division.
Playoff Rankings: The Vikes are No. 8 in District 1-5A. The Golden Panthers are first in District 1-3A.
Last Week: Upper Merion lost 17-7 to Pottsgrove. Pope John Paul II was a 20-12 winner over Pottstown.
Last Meeting: The Golden Panthers blanked the Vikings, 35-0.
Players to Watch: Marc Clayton caught four passes for 103 yards last week for Upper Merion. Cornerback Steve Skarbeck is a top corner for PJP.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 24, Upper Merion 23.

SCH Academy at Germantown Academy
Time/Place: Saturday, 1:30 p.m., at GA.
Records: SCH Academy is 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the Inter-Ac. Germantown Academy is 5-1 overall and 0-1 in the Inter-Ac.
Last Week: The Blue Devils lost 35-26 to Episcopal Academy. The Patriots lost 38-11 to Haverford School.
Players to Watch: Jack Sheridan helps anchor the defense for GA at linebacker. Rob Gentile is dangerous on screen passes for Springside.
Prediction: Germantown Academy 17, SCH Academy 10.