Pope John Paul II wins first PAC title, toppling Spring-Ford 28-27 in instant classic

ROYERSFORD >> Throughout the 2023 season, Pope John Paul II maintained the same rallying cry.

No matter the score, the statistics, the Golden Panthers’ mantra remained identical.

“We haven’t won anything yet.”

The ‘unfinished business’ approach served PJP well in getting off to a 9-0 start for the second straight year. But it’s time to find a new slogan.

PJP withstood an attempted go-ahead two-point conversion with 26 seconds remaining and rode a career night from senior running back/linebacker Boyd Skarbek to their first Pioneer Athletic Conference football championship, 28-27 over Spring-Ford in an instant classic at Coach McNelly Stadium.

Not only is it Pope John Paul II’s first title in the school’s 14-year history, but it’s also the first for any Frontier Division school since the league went to the two-division system in 2016, and the first for any non-6A school in a decade (Pottsgrove, 2013).

Skarbek was a one-man wrecking crew. The senior carried 27 times for 217 yards and all four PJP touchdowns while adding four tackles for loss on defense including two quarterback sacks.

“That was the game plan,” said Skarbek. “We knew we could do it; we came in here to run the ball and we executed well.”

The Golden Panthers were able to control possession for most of the second half, yet Spring-Ford’s big-play ability allowed the Rams to answer every time.

Postgame interview with senior RB @BoydSkarbek after his 217-yard, 4 TD performance to lead Pope John Paul II to its first PAC football championship, 28-27 over Spring-Ford @_PopeFootball pic.twitter.com/L4I5ZEfcoU

— Austin Hertzog (@AustinHertzog) October 28, 2023

Skarbek’s fourth touchdown and final carry of the night looked identical to his third – a 48-yard jaunt down the PJP sideline, with his teammates and student section cheering him on along the way.

But Spring-Ford was undeterred, responding with a first-down run and two quick passes from quarterback Matt Zollers (12-for-27, 229 yards, 3 TDs) and moving into the red zone following back-to-back pass interference penalties.

After two incompletions, Zollers found senior wideout Belal Abdelrahman over the middle for an 11-yard scoring strike, bringing the Rams within a single point.

The Rams opted to go for two and the win, but Zollers was hurried by PJP two-way lineman Kevin Heywood. He got the pass away towards a host of players in the back of the end zone, but it fell harmlessly to the turf as the PJP celebration began.

Spring-Ford goes to 2 and doesn’t convert!!

Pope John Paul II 28, Spring-Ford 27, 26.9 to play pic.twitter.com/t0glkXi3zb

— Austin Hertzog (@AustinHertzog) October 28, 2023

“To go into the gym at our school and see that title banner, knowing that our team won that – it just means so much,” said Skarbek.

“We can pass it, we can run – the run was there tonight. That’s a great credit to our offensive line.”

While crediting his linemen Chase Frantz, Kevin Heywood, Ignacio Escobar, Aidan Sgarra and Makel Parker, Skarbek was too modest to save some of the credit for himself, as his head coach Scott Reed predicted.

“Boyd will be the first one to tell you – we believe in that offensive line,” said Reed, who celebrated his 100th career victory on Friday night.

“There was no question we had to shorten this game. And that offensive line, they asked to run the ball. They wanted to attack. So we took our time, we ran the ball, threw when we had to. We were probably more conservative than we’ve ever been.”

Reed had good reason for that strategy – the Spring-Ford duo of Zollers and receiver Mason Scott. Scott in particular played a game of “can you top this?” with PJP’s Skarbek for the first three-and-a-half quarters.

Ben Bosio’s booming 58-yard punt flipped a quarter-plus battle for field position in the Golden Panthers’ favor. After a Spring-Ford three-and-out coupled with Braden Reed’s punt return set up the Golden Panthers at the SF 35, five plays later Skarbek powered through right tackle for a 4-yard score, breaking the scoreless tie with 3:21 to half.

It wouldn’t take Spring-Ford long to respond.

Thirteen seconds, to be exact, as Scott scooped a squib kick inside his own 10-yard line and exploded down the left sideline, staying in bounds through a tackle attempt at midfield and sprinting into the end zone for a 94-yard touchdown.

After a full half spent battling for field position, Scott’s big play erased the visitors’ advantage.

PJP came out of the locker room and took the ball down the field on the strength of five consecutive Skarbek runs, the last coming from 11 yards out to put the Golden Panthers ahead 14-7.

But Zollers found Tyler Moyer for a critical first down to open the fourth quarter, and two plays later he found Scott behind the defense for a 73-yard connection to even the contest at 14.

Visiting PJP began to respond with a methodical, clock-killing drive that suddenly accelerated when Skarbek broke out of a pile around midfield and sprinted down the sideline for his third score, putting the Golden Panthers back in front, 21-14 with 5:53 to play.

Spring-Ford jumped right back on the seesaw, however, with a highlight-reel grab from senior wideout Jordan Marsilio to put the ball in PJP territory. Following a drive-extending penalty, Zollers found Scott from 11 yards away, tying the score for a third time and setting the stage for the thrilling finish.

The back-and-forth, big-play scores overshadowed a number of outstanding individual efforts on both sides.

For Spring-Ford, cornerbacks Blake Turner and Shane Lewis stood out, forcing PJP’s explosive passing game to move away from attacking vertically. Turner had an interception before halftime, while a banged-up Lewis battled to hold explosive Braden Reed to four catches on the evening.

Reed, however, made a further impression by returning two kickoffs out to midfield. PJP punter Bosio was 4-for-4 on extra points and averaged 46 yards on three punts, twice pinning Spring-Ford inside the 10-yard line.

Finally, two-way lineman Heywood played his final high school game (playing his first year for PJP, he is not eligible for district or state play).

“I came to (PJP) and I knew these guys were dogs,” Heywood said. “I’ve really enjoyed coming out here, balling out with them every week.

“I couldn’t imagine a better way to go out.”

Spring-Ford (8-2) will begin the District 1-6A playoffs at home next week against an opponent to be determined.

“We didn’t get some stops we needed in the second half,” said Brubaker. “Hats off to PJP – they played great defense, brought pressure from all over the place, and their secondary was holding up. We made some big plays, but we missed other opportunities because of that pressure.

“Scott Reed does an excellent job. They played their rear ends off. They stopped us a few times and made plays.”

For Pope John Paul II (10-0), who had the top seed in District 1-4A sewn up weeks ago, it was finally time to celebrate. Last year’s PAC title game brought heartbreak – a one-score loss to Perkiomen Valley, Reed’s former team – that if not erased, was more than balanced by Friday’s triumph.

“How do we top it? We don’t,” said Reed.

For a moment, he seemed ready to let out a year’s worth of frustration, disappointment, and heartbreak.

But just as quickly, he developed a new mantra in place of the now outdated slogan.

“It’s onto the next one,” he said. “I’ll enjoy it tonight, and we’ll celebrate it someday. I want to roll with these guys as long as we can.”

PAC Championship

Pope John Paul II 28, Spring-Ford 27

SCORING 

PJP — B. Skarbek 4 run (Bosio kick)
SF — Scott 94 kickoff return (Fields kick)
PJP — B. Skarbek 11 run (Bosio kick)
SF — Scott 73 pass from Zollers (McGarvey kick)
PJP — B. Skarbek 47 run (Bosio kick)
SF — Scott 11 pass from Zollers (Fields kick)
PJP ​— B. Skarbek 48 run (Bosio kick)
​SF — Abdelrahman 11 pass from Zollers (pass failed)

TEAM STATISTICS

PJP               SF
First Downs               17                  18

Rushing Yards          ​206              ​   97

Passing Yards           108                229

Total Yards                314                326

Passes C-A-I          10-​18-1         12-27-0

Fumbles-Lost             ​3-0               ​ 0-0

Penalties-Yards        ​6-55             ​  4-​47

Punts-Avg.              3-46                3-40