Rest of PAC-10 ready for another shot at breaking up Big 3’s domination

It may only be Week 4, but this week’s slate of PAC-10 games already has big implications.

PAC-10 title big?

Not necessarily. More like, ‘Can anyone compete with the Power 3 of the PAC-10?’ big.

So far, that answer is no.

Perkiomen Valley, Pottsgrove and Spring-Ford have handled their conferences foes with ease to start 2015. Pottsgrove overcame a sloppy first half to top Pope John Paul II by 22 two weeks ago, Perkiomen Valley pitched a 60-0 shutout over a depleted Methacton squad and Spring-Ford, fresh off a 58-7 victory over Phoenixville, scored 53 first-half points in a 53-7 win over Upper Perkiomen last week.

Should that be surprising?

No.

In the last three-plus seasons, the Big 3’s cumulative record against Boyertown, Owen J. Roberts, Phoenxiville, Pottstown, Pope John Paul II and Upper Perkiomen has been 60-1. The lone loss came with Spring-Ford playing the majority of their subs in a 49-0 loss to Phoenixville in 2012 — a game thrown right into the Rams’ District 1-AAAA playoff race, played a few days before the team defeated Pennridge three days later on Saturday in the district semifinals.

Making the wound even deeper: no game in the 60 victories has been decided by 10 points or less.

That’s why this week becomes integral in diagnosing the parity, or lack there of, in the PAC-10.

Friday, three teams come in with something to prove as Boyertown looks to snap a four-game losing streak to Spring-Ford, likewise with Owen J. Roberts, which looks to snap its losing skid to Perkiomen Valley. Phoenixville will attempt to double its win total from last season with a victory over Pottsgrove, a team that has dominated the Phantoms as of late, not falling since 2005.

All have something to prove, especially Boyertown after racking up near 100 yards of penalties while its offense proved to be inept in the red zone in the first half in a 28-14 loss to Pottstown.

“Spring-Ford is a good team all around and will be are toughest opponent so far in the PAC-10,” Boyertown head coach George Parkinson said. “We need to enter this game being focused, disciplined and enthusiastic throughout.”

Phoenixville is looking to build off its victory over Methacton Friday where quarterback Troy Rossman threw for four touchdowns, three of them to Nasir Green. Pottsgrove will be their second stiff test in three weeks after the Phantoms fell to Spring-Ford in Week 2.

“Pottsgrove’s a very physical smash mouth team with a stable of backs that can run you over or go around you,” Phoenixville head coach Evan Breisblatt said. “Coach (Rick) Pennypacker is the best and we are getting a very angry Pottsgrove team who was physically dominant last week. We are going to have to eliminate our mistakes and be able to stop the run. Offensively, we have to be able to run the football, attack their man coverage and protect Troy.”

Owen J. Roberts, meanwhile, is also riding high after running away from Pope John Paul II for Rich Kolka’s first win. The Wildcats are surely hungry to give him his second, especially against a team as good as Perk Valley.

“PV is extremely talented with explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball,” Kolka said. “They force teams into mistakes and take advantage of them.”

All three go into Week 4 with a chance to shirk the proverbial monkey that is the Power 3 off its back.

It’s no easy feat, but even keeping the final results close will go a long way in closing a gap that continues to dangerously widen.