Week 8 Preview: PAC teams face critical week for postseason aspirations

Some weeks a marquee matchup jumps off the schedule and fills this spot at the top of the preview.

Week 8 isn’t such a moment, but chances are when we look back at the end of the season this will be one of the critical weeks in determining the postseason fates of local high school football squads.

Playoff ramifications highlight each game on the Pioneer Athletic Conference slate, the crowning of a division champion appears imminent, and clarity for the all-important crossover matchups are the stakes in a lineup with no true Game of the Week, but plenty of pivotal contests on deck.

Owen J. Roberts (4-3, 1-2 PAC Liberty) at Boyertown (3-4, 1-2 PAC Liberty), 7 p.m. Friday >> It’s more or less do-or-die for the host Bears in terms of the District 1 6A playoff race, as a loss here would leave a formidable amount of ground to cover in the final two weeks. This game pits the Liberty’s two leading rushers in Cole Yesavage of Boyertown (760 yards, 11 TDs) and Hunter Rhoads of OJR (758 yards, five TDs.)

The difference could be the duo of seniors Michael Reed and Danny Cashman for OJR – Cashman has a chance at the PAC’s receiving triple crown (most catches, yards, and scores.) The Wildcats are current No. 14 in the 16-team playoff field and stand a chance to move up in the standings with a win.

Norristown (2-5, 0-3 PAC Liberty) at Perkiomen Valley (6-1, 3-0 PAC Liberty), 7 p.m. Friday >> Norristown is in a spoiler’s role and hopes to catch Perkiomen Valley at the right time after the Vikings’ hard-fought rivalry win over Spring-Ford last week. Jamal Griffin has come on to lead the Eagles’ rushing attack but avoiding turnovers and penalties will be paramount against a PV defense that makes few mistakes.

Perkiomen Valley looks to clinch its second consecutive PAC Liberty division title and take another step towards securing a home game in Districts. The Vikings have gotten contributions of late on both sides of the ball from Michael Poruban and Brad Curci, while Sam Koehler keys the league’s toughest defense.

Methacton (4-3, 2-1 PAC Liberty) at Spring-Ford (4-3, 2-1 PAC Liberty), 7 p.m. Friday >> The Warriors looks to separate from the logjam of 4-3 teams in District 1 Class 5A, which means taking the same approach as last week when they outlasted Boyertown, 10-7. For coach Brian Kennedy, that means playing with an edge, executing fundamentals, and players filling their various roles.

Specifically, Levi Borkowski and Ben Grove have keyed the Warriors’ defense as Mike Wolbers becomes a dependable offensive leader. Tyler Ready kicked a pivotal field goal in the special teams phase last week.

Spring-Ford needs no extra motivation after last week’s gut-wrencher at Perkiomen Valley, and the chance to close with two regular-season games at home before Crossover Week bodes well for the Rams’ playoff chance (currently No. 11 in the 16-team 6A field). Coach Chad Brubaker lauded the efforts of defensive linemen Franny Undercuffler, Zach Zollers, and Luke Pajovich against the Vikings last week – the trio combined for an eye-popping 26 tackles and two sacks.

Upper Perkiomen (2-5, 1-2 PAC Frontier) at Phoenixville (5-2, 3-0 PAC Frontier), 7 p.m. Friday >> The Indians carry some momentum into this contest after last week’s win at Pottstown and running back Zach Schwartz was a big reason for the victory. The sophomore rushed for 170 yards, moving into sixth place among the league’s leading rushers and more importantly giving Upper Perk a reliable option to sustain drives.

This week, Schwartz goes up against Phoenixville’s Sam Moore, the PAC’s leading rusher, and a Phantoms squad looking to check off another goal. Last week was their first win again Pottsgrove since 2005 – this week, a victory would mean the first winning season at Phoenixville since 2012. A win would also mean a winner-take-all showdown with PJP next week for the Frontier title.

The return of Hayden Tenbroeck to the lineup gives the Phantoms a complement to big-play specialist Ahmid Spivey in the passing game.

Pottsgrove (3-4, 1-2 PAC Frontier) at Upper Merion (3-4, 1-2 PAC Frontier), 7 p.m. Friday >> A win in this contest would go a long way towards either team’s playoff hopes for the 2022 season. The visiting Falcons find themselves at No. 5 in a four-team playoff field in Class 4A but could vault all the way to No. 3 with a win against 5A Upper Merion.

Pottsgrove’s defense has kept them within striking defense, but the offense needs to make plays against a determined host Vikings squad. Riley Delp, Marc White, and Bryce Caffrey’s contributions will be pivotal in the Falcons’ effort to stop a two-game skid against an Upper Merion squad who gained a measure of confidence in hanging with undefeated Pope John Paul II for much of the contest.

The consistency of Upper Merion’s offensive line, led by Dom Cacciavillani, has allowed Justin Besz to emerge as a force in the Vikings’ running game.

Pottstown (1-6, 0-3 PAC Frontier) at Pope John Paul II (7-0, 3-0 PAC Frontier), 1 p.m. Saturday >> Levert Hughes complimented his players’ dogged determination, lauding the senior class’s dedication to building a foundation for the future of Pottstown football. Nahzier Booker, Joneil Oister, Dimark Lyons, Devin Green, and Tyrese Washington have been consistent presence through thick and thin for Pottstown this season.

The Trojans may face their biggest challenge of 2022 this week when they take on the Golden Panthers, one of six undefeated teams in all of District 1 looking to lock up the No. 1 seed in Class 4A. Scott Reed applauded the players’ responses to some early adversity against Upper Merion last week and says the team needs to focus on continued improvement as they prepared for the stretch drive.

Reed praised Chase Frantz and Nyzir Lake as consistent contributors on the offensive and defensive lines, and said senior Chris Lucci stood out on defense against Upper Merion last week.

Solanco (7-0, 3-0 Lancaster-Lebanon 3) at Daniel Boone (1-6, 0-3 Lancaster-Lebanon 3), 7 p.m. Friday >> It’s been a trying season for the Blazers, but coach Rob Flowers says the team is determined to finish strong and continuing building a foundation for the future. Flowers says the focus is on themselves this week and the continued desire to compete exhibited by wide receiver/linebacker Anthony High and quarterback/cornerback Dean Rotter.

Undefeated Solanco provides yet another stiff challenge, coming in unbeaten and averaging nearly 300 yards per game on the ground.

Hill School (2-3, 1-0 Mid-Atlantic Prep League) at Hun School (N.J.) (5-0), 6 p.m. Saturday >> Kayden White has emerged as a force on both sides of the ball for the Rams in recent weeks, accounting for three scores and leading a secondary that picked off four passes last week against Peddie. But business picks up this week when the Rams visit powerful Hun School, outscoring opponents by a cumulative 228-33 total, averaging an unfathomable 14.5 yards per carry.