Times Herald Week 10 football preview capsules

PERKIOMEN VALLEY AT SPRING-FORD

TIME: Friday, 7:00 p.m., Spring-Ford High School

RECORDS: Perkiomen Valley is 9-0, 8-0 after defeating Upper Perkiomen, 45-0. Spring-Ford is 9-0, 8-0 after defeating Pope John Paul II, 56-0.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Perkiomen Valley won, 20-7.

OUTLOOK: This is it, a true championship game played on the final day of the regular season with the two best programs in one conference duking it out.

It’s a big one, to be sure, and they might be lining up at Spring-Ford as you read this.

Neither side has been challenged since their respective season (and non-league) openers.

As usual, it will come down to execution and taking advantage of opportunities.

UPPER MORELAND AT WISSAHICKON

TIME: Friday, 7:00 p.m., Wissahickon High School

RECORDS: Upper Moreland is 7-2, 5-2 after defeating Springfield (M), 62-14. Wissahickon is 1-8, 0-6 after losing to Upper Merion, 18-6.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Upper Moreland won, 44-23.

OUTLOOK: The Trojans season, seemingly jinxed from the start, comes to an end with the team trying to salvage a victory.

It won’t be easy against the playoff-bound Bears (In Class AAA), who have both beaten Plymouth Whitemarsh and taken Hatboro-Horsham down to the wire.

To make matters worse, the Bears are unbeaten (6-0) on the road this year.

Trojans safety Rasheed Wright picked off three passes last week, although this week the Trojans defensive focus will be on Bears running back Rodney Morgan (176 carries, 1,258 yds., 12 TDs).

UPPER DUBLIN AT UPPER MERION

TIME: Friday, 7:00 p.m., Upper Merion Middle School

RECORDS: Upper Dublin is 9-0, 8-0 after defeating Hatboro-Horsham, 31-10. Upper Merion is 3-6, 1-5 after defeating Wissahickon, 18-6

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Upper Dublin won, 42-0.

OUTLOOK: The Cardinals should complete their unbeaten regular season Friday night against the Vikings, but don’t expect them to take the Vikings lightly.

Instead, the Cards will try and go for the jugular early, then get their starters off the field as quickly as possible.

Upper Merion has gotten some consistency in its ground attack of late, and will attempt to continue that trend this week.

SPRINGFIELD (M) AT PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH

TIME: Friday, 7:00 p.m., Plymouth Whitemarsh High School

RECORDS: Springfield is 3-5, 2-3 after losing to Upper Moreland, 62-14. Plymouth Whitemarsh is 7-2, 4-2 after defeating Cheltenham, 35-14.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Plymouth Whitemarsh won, 30-13.

OUTLOOK: The Colonials know they cannot get tripped up this week, or there will be no postseason.

That means expect Nafeese Nasir to carry the load for the home team as PW will try and keep the ball in the most secure hands.

The Spartans are dangerous, especially with QB Justin Hill is running the show.

ABINGTON AT NORTH PENN

TIME: Friday, 7:00 p.m., North Penn High School

RECORDS: Abington is 1-8, 1-5 after defeating Bensalem, 36-35 . North Penn is 7-2, 6-0 after defeating Neshaminy , 22-17 .

LAST SEASON’S GAME: North Penn won, 28-0.

OUTLOOK: With the Knights surviving (and thriving) over the past two weeks, it’s time to lock up the SOL National title, and they should see little resistance from the Ghosts, who while winning for the first time last week are not likely to make it two in a row.

North Penn seems complete now that Nyfease West is back and healthy, and the Knights would like to take care of business this week and then check out the playoff brackets.

POPE JOHN PAUL II AT METHACTON

TIME: Saturday, 2:00 p.m., Methacton High School

RECORDS: Pope John Paul II is 0-9, 0-8 after losing to Spring-Ford, 56-0. Methacton is 0-9, 0-8 after losing to Pottstown, 40-14.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Methacton won, 49-12.

OUTLOOK: Who will earn their first win in the PAC finale?

The Panthers and Warriors have been stumbling most of season, and now will duel to avoid the conference cellar.

Keys in this one are the play of the offensive and defensive fronts, and who’s able to take advantage of opportunities.

PJP is the healthier of the two squads, but the Warriors may be a bit more motivated.

HARRY S TRUMAN AT NORRISTOWN

TIME: Saturday, 1:00 p.m., Norristown High School

RECORDS: Truman is 3-6, 1-5 after defeating William Tennent, 53-20. Norristown is 3-6, 1-5 after losing to Council Rock South, 49-45

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Norristown won, 18-17.

OUTLOOK: See Sideline Insider.

GERMANTOWN ACADEMY AT HAVERFORD SCHOOL

TIME: Saturday, 1:30 p.m., Haverford School

RECORDS: Germantown Academy is 7-1, 2-1 after losing to Malvern Prep, 34-7. Haverford School is 8-0, 3-0 after defeating Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 45-14

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Haverford School won, 35-0.

OUTLOOK: The two-time Inter-Ac champion Fords were thought to be cooked about three weeks ago when they endured a number of key injuries.

Imagine the surprise of the Inter-Ac League when the club’s fill-ins began outperforming the injured former starters.

One of those fill-ins was QB Tommy Toal, pressed into service when starter Kevin Carter went down, who has thrown for better than 1,000 yards in just five games.

Meanwhile, the Patriots, fresh off their first setback of the season, will be hard-pressed to avoid a second straight loss.

CONWELL-EGAN VS. LANSDALE CATHOLIC

TIME: Saturday, 3:00 p.m., Cardinal O’Hara High School

RECORDS: Conwell-Egan is 5-4, 2-2 after defeating Bishop McDevitt, 31-20. Lansdale Catholic is 7-2, 3-1 after defeating Neumann-Goretti, 42-6.

LAST SEASON’S GAME: Lansdale Catholic won, 7-6.

OUTLOOK: The PCL playoffs begin in earnest as the Crusaders take on the Eagles in the opening game of a Class AA playoff doubleheader at Cardinal O’Hara.

LC defeated Conwell-Egan just three weeks ago, 34-21, and hope to repeat that result when it means the most.

Kyree Bronson (87 carries, 489 yds., 5 TDs) leads the Eagles in rushing.