Wiggins runs wild as Pottstown edges Phoenixville, 14-8

September 29, 2018

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PHOENIXVILLE >> Pottstown’s game plan was to use a heavy dose of junior quarterback Josiah Wiggins running the football against Phoenixville.

The plan worked.

Wiggins rambled for 136 yards and both Trojan touchdowns in a 14-8 victory over the Phantoms in a Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division game at Washington Field Friday night.

Wiggins, a 5-6 160-pounder who doubles at defensive back, scored on runs of 8 and 1 yard, and the Pottstown defense took care of containing Phoenixville most of the evening to produce the victory.

Phoenixville’s Jack Pizor signals for a safety after stopping Pottstown’s Dereck Darden. (Barry Taglieber – For Digital First Media)

The Trojans’ defensive stand included stuffing the Phantoms on a fourth-and-goal play from the Pottstown 3-yard line in the final seconds of the game.

“What a finish,” said Pottstown coach Mark Fischer. “You never know exactly how games are going to end. That’s an exciting finish.

“It’s a confidence thing. We held them all night. That was one of the things we preached about all week.”

In doing so, the Trojans raised their record to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the PAC.

Phoenixville quarterback Connor Patania rears back to throw as Pottstown’s Jon Oister tries to make the sack. (Barry Taglieber – For Digital First Media)

Phoenixville, which got a 19-yard scoring run from Alex Washington in the first quarter and then a third-quarter safety, fell to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the PAC.

As coach Don Grinstead pointed out, Friday’s loss was a continuation of mistakes made in recent weeks that have cost Phoenixville significantly in the final outcome of games.

Pottstown got another big game on defense from senior Nehemiah Figueroa, who booted both placements, as well as junior Jon Oister to lead the way.

But offensively, they turned to Wiggins.

Phoenixville’s Alex Washington breaks for a long gain as Pottstown’s Dereck Darden can along get grab his towel. (Barry Taglieber – For Digital First Media)

“We decided to feed him the ball more than ever,” said Fischer. “He is our workhorse. We felt he matched up well against their defense.”

Grinstead knew about the Wiggins family from when he coached at Pottstown.

“He is a good player,” said Grinstead. “They have one guy and they used him. He was in middle school when I was there. I coached his brother. Good family, good kid.”

But from a Phoenixville standpoint, it was simply too many mistakes to overcome.

“It was the whole first half,” he said. “Every time we made a good play it came back. We haven’t caught ourselves. It has happened for three weeks and we have to fix it. The kids have been through a lot and they have a fear of success.”

Phoenixville started to find its passing game in the second half with quarterback Connor Patania finding Jack Pizor and Washington for some big completions. But they just couldn’t break off the big play when they needed it most.