Unblemished, Pope John Paul II passes biggest non-league test against Father Judge

UPPER PROVIDENCE >> Pope John Paul II knows all good things must come to an end. That was true on Saturday, but without much consequence.

The Golden Panthers hadn’t allowed any points on defense through three weeks, until District 12 Class 6A Father Judge came to call, scoring early. While that unblemished defensive streak ended, another remained squeaky clean. Pope John Paul II outlasted the Crusaders, 49-20 at home to remain unbeaten.

In its biggest test of the year, Pope John Paul II (4-0), a 4A program, came up with four interceptions, a combined sack and a touchdown on special teams to propel ahead of Father Judge (1-3).

“The coaches get us ready every week. They run us through all the plays and get us ready for what we’re going to see,” junior linebacker Denny Owens said. “It’s really just us following through and coming out with the win.”

Pope John Paul II quarterback Luke Terlesky (9) looks downfield for an open receiver against Father Judge at Pope John Paul II High School on Sept. 16. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)

Tied 14-14 with 1:27 to go before halftime, Owens provided the boost that allowed the Golden Panthers to stay ahead to the finish. Deep in their own territory, the Crusaders punted the ball but senior TJ Boccella blocked it at the line.

Owens came up with the ball in his hands, dashing on in for a 20-14 advantage, never looking back from that point on.

“TJ made a great play, I was just in the right place at the right time and caught it for a touchdown,” Owens said.

On the day, Owens and defensive back Jack Lockrey provided two interceptions apiece. Each time, the Golden Panthers cashed in.

Two minutes into the first quarter, Lockrey picked off Father Judge quarterback Tyler Yerkov, leading to a 27-yard touchdown connection from Luke Terlesky (7-of-11, 159 yards, 3 TD) to Braden Reed to go up 7-0. Yerkov was intercepted by Owens on the ensuing drive, leading to a 39-yard connection from Terlesky to Boyd Skarbek, doubling up 14-0.

Father Judge quarterback Tyler Yerkov (12) passes the ball against Pope John Paul II at Pope John Paul II High School on Sept. 16. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)

Four picks aside, Yerkov dealt through the air. The senior signal caller threw 19-of-33 for 190 yards and three touchdowns, finding the bulk of his production on screen plays for chunks of yardage at a time.

Yerkov cut the Crusaders’ deficit in half, 14-7 with an 18-yard strike to Nymeir Appling (five receptions, 69 yards) with 51 seconds left in the first quarter. Aided by a personal foul on Pope John Paul II, Yerkov again found his man in the end zone on a 10-yard strike to equalize the game, 14-14.

“I think they had a really good game plan because our D-line is pretty aggressive,” Golden Panthers coach Scott Reed said. “They get after the quarterback so (Father Judge) tried to slow us down with screens, and then they had the RPOs, which were tough. You get that run look and then they were hitting that slant behind it.”

Penalties mounted on both sides throughout. Pope John Paul II was dealt nine penalties for 80 yards, while the Crusaders amassed 13 calls for 130 penalty yards.

“The biggest thing I’m worried about right now is us having penalties,” Reed said. “The personal fouls, the unsportsmanlike conducts, we have to clean it up. I told them Monday, they’re going to pay the bills.”

Father Judge’s Eric Smith (5) runs the ball against Pope John Paul II at Pope John Paul II High School on Sept. 16. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)

A pass interference call against Father Judge set up another scoring play for Pope John Paul II as time expired in the first half. With zeros on the clock and a play to go before the break, the Golden Panthers brought their field goal unit out on the field.

But what the Crusaders got instead was a trick play, Braden Reed (four receptions, 37 yards, TD) with the ball in his hands instead of kicker Ben Bosio. Reed squirmed from side to side along the line of scrimmage, drawing up defenders before zipping along the sideline for a 17-yard rushing touchdown. With a two-point conversion reception by Reed after, Pope John Paul II took a 28-14 advantage into halftime.

Senior running back Boyd Skarbek went a fourth straight game with over 100 yards of total offense, finishing with 12 carries for 151 yards on the ground and four catches for 37 yards through the air – 188 altogether with three touchdowns.

Pope John Paul II running back Boyd Skarbek (13) moves between Father Judge defenders at Pope John Paul II High School on Sept. 16. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)

Skarbek credited an offensive line anchored by Makel Parker, Aidan Sgarra, Ignacio Escobar, Chase Frantz, Kevin Haywood and Owens for his status as the leading rusher in the Pioneer Athletic Conference at present.

“Our inside run game is just unstoppable. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without our line, so huge props to them,” Skarbek said. “We work on it constantly at practice, every day all day. I just have to give it up to the line.”

Pope John Paul II made a pair of bang-bang plays to pull away in the third quarter. Two minutes into the frame, Terlesky hit Brandon DeAngelo with a checkdown that went for 64 yards to the house. Following Lockrey’s second interception of the game after, Skarbek went 76 yards to the playdirt on the first snap, elevating to a 42-14 cushion.

With 1:22 to go in the third, Skarbek piled on one last touchdown with a 5-yard punch-in to enact the running clock.

“In the locker room we were discussing how the inside runs really worked,” Skarbek said. “In the second half, the holes were just there. The line was doing a great job blocking, creating holes and giving me an opportunity to score.”

Father Judge’s Kysheion Dawkins (3) runs out from the pocket after taking a handoff against Pope John Paul II at Pope John Paul II High School on Sept. 16. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)

Father Judge put up one last touchdown with exactly five minutes left. Yerkov floated a pass 18 yards to Gavin Hutz to score, one last swing from the Crusaders in a slugfest between both squads.

The Golden Panthers gained some power points in the District 1-4A standings with a takedown of a 6A school out of the Philadelphia Catholic League, but Pope John Paul II isn’t satisfied with such matters.

Having reached and lost both the PAC and District 1 championships last year, the Golden Panthers have their eyes squarely on a PAC Frontier circuit that includes a high-flying Phoenixville squad and a Pottsgrove team fresh off a massive win over Liberty foe Boyertown.

“We have a lot of confidence, but again, we really haven’t accomplished anything,” Skarbek said. “We still have to get the job done, win the Frontier (Division), win the PAC and win districts.”

Pope John Paul II 49, Father Judge 20
Father Judge 7 7 0 6 — 20
Pope John Paul II 14 14 21 0 — 49
SCORING
First quarter
PJP — Reed 27 pass from Terlesky (Bosio kick), 7:55
PJP — Skarbek 39 pass from Terlesky (Bosio kick), 4:57
FJ — Appling 18 pass from Yerkov (Pizzaro kick), 0:51
Second quarter
FJ — Appling 10 pass from Yerkov (Pizzaro kick), 8:40
PJP — Owens blocked punt return (kick failed), 1:27
PJP — Reed 17 run (Reed catch), 0:00
Third quarter
PJP — DeAngelo 64 pass from Terlesky (Bosio kick), 10:13
PJP — Skarbek 76 run (Bosio kick), 6:26
PJP — Skarbek 5 run (Bosio kick), 1:22
Fourth quarter
FJ – Mahon 18 pass from Yerkov (kick failed), 5:00
TEAM STATISTICS
PJP FJ
First downs 8 12
Rushes-Yards 23-217 25-31
Passing yards 159 190
Total yards 376 221
Passes C-A-I 7-11-0 19-33-4
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0
Penalties-Yards 9-80 13-130
Punts 3 3
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Father Judge — Dawkins 16-27; Smith 2-1; Dunbar 1-3; Yerkov 6-0.
Pope John Paul II — Skarbek 12-151, 2 TD; Reed 2-26, TD; Mitala 3-37; Terlesky 2-(minus-3); Lucci 1-(minus-3); DeAngelo 1-3; Myers 2-6.
Passing
Father Judge — Yerkov 19-33, 190 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT.
Pope John Paul II — Terlesky 7-11, 159 yards, 3 TD.
Receiving
Father Judge — Appling 5-69, 2 TD; Hutz 4-36, TD; Smith 5-4; Brooks 1-54; Dunbar 2-15; Dawkins 2-12.
Pope John Paul II — Reed 4-37, TD; Skarbek 1-39, TD; DeAngelo 1-64, TD; Myers 1-19.
Sacks: PJP 1 (Owens 0.5, Boccella 0.5); FJ 1 (Broderick).
Interceptions: PJP 4 (Lockrey 2, Owens 2).