Spring-Ford hopes early-season tests lead to success

When the Pioneer Athletic Conference went to its current two-division format and dropped the round-robin league schedule in 2016, it opened the doors for league members to start up some new non-league rivalries of their own. PAC teams have the opportunity to test themselves against schools from different classes, areas — even out-of-state opponents — before embarking on a five-week, divisional round-robin in conference.

After a season-opening shutout of Central Bucks South, last week’s 33-22 setback at the hands of Wilson, and Friday night’s tilt with Exeter, there’s no questioning that Spring-Ford will enter PAC play plenty battle-tested.

“That was a heck of a football team,” Spring-Ford coach Chad Brubaker said after his team’s thrilling 33-27 overtime victory. “They had depth, size — I’m really proud of our effort.

The squads went back and forth in the first half and the lead changed hands four times before Spring-Ford was able to attain the first two-score lead on quarterback Ryan Engro’s fourth scoring pass of the night to Dante Bonanni that saw the junior receiver break several tackles en route to the end zone. Engro finished 16-for-39 for 314 yards passing and 4 TDs plus the game-winning TD carry in overtime. His top targets were Noah Baker (4 catches, 80 yards, 3 TDs) and Bonanni (7 rec, 130 yards, TD). Exeter quarterback Colby Haag impressed going 13-for-19 with 187 yards and 2 TDs before exiting due to injury.

“It was the kind of game where if I try to describe the highlight plays … I would be here all night,” laughed Brubaker. “Just so many kids, from both sides, stepping up time and again.”

Exeter’s man defense employed no safeties, loading the box to quiet the Spring-Ford rushing attack, forcing Engro to put the ball in the air 39 times. As is often the case with such defenses, the strategy suppressed the junior QB’s completion percentage, but when the Rams connected, they made it count. Engro averaged almost 20 yards per completion.

“I give [Exeter] credit,” said Brubaker. “I didn’t think any team could do that to us for 48 minutes, but they made their plays. They have some tremendous athletes in that secondary.”

But just as it looked like the Rams were pulling away, Exeter’s Alex Javier stepped up with a 12-yard TD off Engro’s lone interception of the evening. With seconds remaining in regulation, Sean Henry treated the crowd to some free football, courtesy of a 41-yard field goal.

High school football overtime features each team taking a turn to score, starting with a first-and-goal at the opponent’s 10-yard line. Exeter went first, working their way into a 4th-and-goal after Spring-Ford stopped Feeney short on a 3rd down reception. As the Eagles decided to go for it and put the pressure on the Rams, the SF defense stacked up Jeremiah Nixon (31 carries, 153 yards) at the goal line to give their offense a chance to win it.

The two coaches offered differing viewpoints on the 4th down decision.

“I should’ve gone for the field goal,” Exeter’s Matt Bauer second guessed. “I told my kids we can put this loss on me.”

“I certainly agreed with his call,” countered Brubaker. “They were killing us with the run all night (205 yards on 47 carries) so it wasn’t a longshot to punch it in there.”

No matter. Engro rendered the point moot with his fifth TD of the evening, this one a QB sneak inside the one-yard line to bring the instant classic to a close.

Coming off their first loss of the season, Brubaker pondered the character-building nature of Friday’s win as opposed to an easier outing against a less challenging opponent.

“As a coach, you always enjoy those [40-50 point] victories from a lack of anxiety standpoint,” he laughed. “But the way we played tonight, getting ourselves out of jams — the next time we’re in a similar situation, we can draw on that experience, knowing we’ve done it before.”

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Two squads, Pottsgrove and Owen J. Roberts, handed out shutouts to their respective opponents this week.

Pottsgrove moves to 4-0 on the strength of their second shutout this season, 43-0 over Del Val League outfit Glen Mills. Isaiah Taylor’s 146-yard performance moved him into the top among PAC rushers (443 yards on the season), while Jay Sisko’s (5-for-6, 56 yards, 2 TD passing, rush TD) efficiency kept the Battlin’ Bulls defense from loading the box against the running game.

Owen J. Roberts’ defense tossed a shutout of their own against Upper Merion, 21-0, with Dante DeNardo’s early INT setting up the only score the Wildcats would need. Marcus Martin (189 total yards, rec TD) led the Wildcats’ attack, moving the team to 3-1 ahead of a showdown with defending PAC champion Perkiomen Valley.

The aforementioned champions from Perkiomen Valley (2-2) will come into the matchup on a two-game winning streak, courtesy of their most complete performance this season in a 42-14 victory over Interboro earned at Phoenixville HS on Saturday. Cole Peterlin connected with Isaiah Domine for all three of his passing TDs, and added 69 yards and a rushing TD for good measure.

The Methacton-Pottstown matchup was graced by the presence of Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery, who gave the Warriors an impassioned halftime speech. Methacton got onto the scoreboard for the first time this season on the strength of two Chris Meehan field goals, but it was the versatility of Pottstown QB Josiah Wiggins (53 yards passing, 123 yards rushing, pass/rush TD) that made the difference in the Trojans’ 12-6 victory. Pottstown improved to 3-1 with the victory, while Methacton fell to 0-4.

Pope John Paul II (4-0) remained undefeated by defeating Schuylkill Valley for the third consecutive year, 42-14. Kamal Gray threw for 291 yards and found four different receivers for TDs, keeping his perfect ratio alive (12 TD passes without an interception). The defense held Schuylkill Valley without a point after half, turning a six-point lead into a rout.

Boyertown fell to 1-3 on the year in a 64-6 defeat at the hands of Berks Catholic. The Saints found the end zone on ten occasions as Boyertown suffered from three turnovers, including one fumble recovered in the end zone for a Berks Catholic score. Berks Catholic also scored on both a kickoff and punt return. Jamie Moccia’s 12-yard run in the first quarter provided the lone tally for Boyertown.

A trying week for Upper Perkiomen (1-3) ended in a tough 24-21 defeat at the hands of Fleetwood, as the Indians couldn’t hold an early 13-point lead. The game, originally scheduled to be played at Upper Perkiomen, was moved to Fleetwood due to the closings of Upper Perk schools last week. Speedster Tyrese Reid had a successful season debut with three total TDs including a 93-yard catch-and-run play with QB Tyler Weber. Weber exceeded 200 yards through the air on the day, but a late fourth-quarter rally provided the winning margin for Fleetwood.

Norristown fell behind Cheltenham 17-0 by halftime and couldn’t complete the rally, falling 17-7 despite outgaining their opponents by nearly 100 total yards. Nick DiNolfi found Christian Thomas for 17 yards and the Eagles’ lone score in the fourth quarter. The Eagles drop to 1-3 on the season.

Phoenixville couldn’t overcome a remarkably efficient day for Chichester QB Nate Decenzi (13-for-13, 157 yards, 2 TDs) in a 20-9 defeat that dropped the Phantoms to 2-2. Alex Washington’s early fourth-quarter TD run brought Phoenixville within four, but Decenzi found leading receiver Damian Thompson (8 receptions, 77 yards, TD) for the clinching score on the ensuing drive. The Eagles held Phoenixville to 145 total yards of offense.

It was a tale of two halves in Robesonia, as Conrad Weiser broke open a 14-all halftime score into a dominant third quarter and won going away, 42-14. Four different Scouts found the end zone (all on the ground) in dropping the Blazers to 2-2 on the 2018 campaign. Conrad Weiser gave the Blazers a taste of their own medicine, running for 316 yards while holding the area’s leading rushing attack to a relatively quiet 132 yards on the ground. The Blazers attempt to bounce back next week against Fleetwood.

Finally, Hill School dropped to 0-2 in a 33-26 defeat to Kiski School. Quarterback Javon Clements led the way in giving the Rams a 20-6 halftime lead with a rushing and passing TD. But despite a Maurice Mazzcua kickoff return for a score, Kiski converted a Hill turnover into the tying score in the fourth quarter before pushing across the deciding touchdown minutes later. The Rams will try to break through this Saturday when they take on Episcopal Academy.

Offensive Player of the Week >> Spring-Ford QB Ryan Engro made the most of his 16 completions, throwing for 314 yards and compiling five total touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) in Spring-Ford’s OT win over Exeter.

Defensive Player of the Week >> After notching three fumble recoveries in a 43-0 victory where the Falcons held Glen Mills to 90 total yards, Pottsgrove junior lineman Darrian Seaman gets the nod.

Up Next >> The Perkiomen Valley-Owen J. Roberts showdown highlights the opening weekend of PAC play in the Liberty Division, while Boyertown travels to Methacton. On Saturday, 3-1 Spring-Ford makes the trip to Norristown.

In the Frontier Division, Pottsgrove and Pottstown renew acquaintances on Friday night, while Phoenixville travels to Upper Merion. Saturday afternoon, Pope John Paul II tries to avenge a pair of 2017 losses to Upper Perkiomen when they welcome the Indians in Royersford.