WEEK NINE CAPSULES

(Compiled by Don Seeley)

TONIGHT’S GAMES

MUHLENBERG AT DANIEL BOONE

Records: Muhlenberg is 2-3 in Berks Football League Section One (4-4 overall) after a 32-13 loss to Conrad Weiser. Daniel Boone is 2-3 (2-6 overall) following a 31-6 loss to Reading.

Inside the lines: Muhlenberg is led by quarterback Adam Huber (65 of 137, 903 yards, 11 TDs) and the running tandem of Francisco German (696 yards, 9 TDs) and Ben Ortiz (680 yards, 5 TDs). Elias Quinter and Zachary Waltz are the leading receivers with 24 and 21 catches, respectively, for the Muhls, who were 4-1 at one point but have slipped to .500 following three straight losses. … Daniel Boone saw its two-game winning streak and hopes for a postseason berth end last week. Injuries continued to mount, too, seeing both Pat Stone and Jeremy Bartman sidelined in the first half, then losing Adam Myers, Chris Ford and Tanner Pajakinas for the rest of the season. Rhett Glaser continues to anchor both lines. J.D. Okuniewski, with injuries limiting him to just defense recently, came on to quarterback in the game and now has 525 yards throwing the ball.

Notes: Muhlenberg leads the series, 34-10-3. … Daniel Boone has won the last three meetings after losing the previous 19. … Blazers have not scored a point in the first quarter this season, and they’ve been outscored in the first half by a 91-26 margin. … Daniel Boone head coach Bill Parks: “The injuries have affected preparation this week, but not the kids’ drive to finish strong. They have a lot of heart and strive for success. They’ve stepped up to every challenge they’ve faced and do not back down. Muhlenberg is big and physical, and will present challenges for our undersized lines. We have our work cut out for us this week.”

PERKIOMEN VALLEY AT POTTSGROVE

Records: Perkiomen Valley is 7-0 (7-1) after a 47-14 win over Upper Perkiomen. Pottsgrove is 7-0 (8-0) following a 55-20 win over Pottstown.

Inside the lines: See Seeley's Column / PV-Pottsgrove battle for title.

Notes: Pottsgrove leads the PAC-10 and overall series, 20-6. … Falcons have won the last four meetings. … Pottsgrove is 10-3 at home against the Vikings, and 10-3 at Perkiomen Valley. … Veteran Falcons coach Rick Pennypacker is 7-1 against Reed, now in his ninth year at PV.

PHOENIXVILLE AT UPPER PERKIOMEN

Records: Phoenixville is 4-2 (5-3) after a 40-19 win over Pope John Paul II. Upper Perkiomen is 0-7 (0-8) following a 47-14 loss to Perkiomen Valley.

Inside the lines: See Football Notebook.

Notes: Phoenixville leads the PAC-10 and overall series, 15-11. … The Indians have scored as many points in their last three games (54) as they did in their first five (54), and in the last three games have nearly doubled their offensive yardage from the first five.

POPE JOHN PAUL II AT BOYERTOWN

Records: Pope John Paul is 0-7 (0-8) after a 40-19 loss to Phoenixville. Boyertown is 1-6 (1-7) following a 24-20 setback to Methacton.

Inside the lines: Pope John Paul has the area’s best passing game (averaging 22 yards a game) behind quarterback Matt Mesaros (three straight 200 yard-plus games since taking over for injured James Bleming. The lack of a run game and a generous (allowing 387 yards and 42 points a game) has hurt, though. The Golden Panthers have also been slowed by turnovers (minus-10 in takeaways). … Boyertown scored twice in the final four minutes last week and nearly pulled off the upset behind solid play up front led by David Pettine, quarterback Griffin Pasik (season-best game throwing two touchdown passes and running one in for another score), and a defense led by sophomores Dalton Hughes and Justin Siejk (team’s leading tackler). Bears could get a boost with the return of linebacker Anthony Borzillo, who’s been out since Week Two with an injury.

Notes: The PAC-10 and overall series are tied, 1-1. … The Golden Panthers, who may have to go without two-way starter Tim Tadors (game-time decision), won last year’s meeting, 27-14. … PJP head coach Mike Santillo: “We’re going to strap them up and expect (our kids) to play as best they can, and may the best team that manages turnovers, penalties and adversity rise to the top. Boyertown runs that offense very well, so you have to keep them off-balanced with formations to counter their run game. We can’t afford to have their quarterback have a big night, either.” … Boyertown head coach Mark Scisly: “We just have to keep improving. Defensively, we played our second-best game of the year last week (at Methacton). We have three sophomores (Hughes, Mike Murphy and Siejk) who are really starting to play well. We’re not overlooking PJP, because that team has had some bad luck, especiall with injuries, the only reason they’re winless.”

POTTSTOWN AT SPRING-FORD

Records: Pottstown is 3-3 (4-4) after a 55-20 loss to Pottstown. Spring-Ford is 5-1 (7-1) following a 33-6 win over Owen J. Roberts.

Inside the lines: Pottstown still has two of the biggest offensive threats in the PAC-10 with running back Monroe Hampton (799 yards, 17 TDs) and quarterback Sage Reinhart (area-high 1,4844 yards passing), and have been getting big production of late from Denzel Harvey and Antonio Moore. Trojans’ big concern is improving on the defensive side, where they’re allowing an average of 385 yards and 38 points a game despite consistence performances from Chase Waters. … Spring-Ford’s defensive front has played well of late, anchoring a unit that allows just 128 yards a game. Robby Varner is coming a solid game in which he blocked a field goal, and Jarred Shoemaker is becoming an all-league caliber cornerback. Quarterback Hank Coyne (1,254 yards, area-high 17 TDs) is on pace to have seven different receivers with at least 10 receptions each, a group led by Gary Hopkins and Tate Carter.

Notes: Spring-Ford leads the PAC-10 series, 18-8, and the overall series, 31-23-1. … The Trojans, who are still without two-way tackle Josh Everette (injured), are currently 10th in the District 1-AAA playoff standings, where only eight advance into the postseason. … Pottstown head coach Brett Myers: “We’re not concerned about any hangover from last week, from playing Pottsgrove and Spring-Ford, because everybody in the league has had to deal with the same. There’s no time for the weary. We have to improve our blocking and our tackling. Spring-Ford is very good, so we must get into rhythm and not waste plays on offense.” … Spring-Ford head coach Chad Brubaker:  “We played well offensively, pretty consistently on defense and really well on special teams last week. We must continue to play like that, and not overlook Pottstown, to have a chance at the playoffs. We need to prevent (the Trojans) from getting momentum and confidence because Pottstown is very dangerous. I love Reinhart, a gritty, get-it-done type player who puts the ball where is needs to be and is very shifty. We must be disciplined and execute.”

SATURDAY’S GAMES

OWEN J. ROBERTS AT METHACTON

Records: Owen J. Roberts is 3-3 (3-5) after a 33-6 loss to Spring-Ford. Methacton is 3-4 (3-5) following a 24-20 win over Boyertown.

Inside the lines: OJR’s offense is in a tailspin the last two games, averaging only 106.5 yards, or well below 315.3 from the previous six games. Quarterback Jarred Pinelli (997 yards, 14 TDs) is still among the leaders in passing efficiency, Wyatt Scott (755 yards) is still among the leaders in yards rushing, and Matt Raymond (31 catches, 722 yards, 11 TDs) is still among the leaders in receving. Kyle Shronk, back the last two games after being injured, has been a key for the Wildcats’ improved defense. … Methacton’s defense, especially interception-happy Kyle Lowery, Cooper Given, Nico Williams and Akeem Walcott (a combined 10 picks) will be a test for Pinelli and OJR. Mike Cassidy has also been playing well for the Warriors, who have offensive threats in quarterback Brandon Bossard and receivers Dillon Alderfer and Given, all key players in ending a two-game skid last week..

Notes: OJR leads the PAC-10 series, 3-1, and the overall series, 4-1. … Warriors beat the Wildcats for the first time last year, 13-7. … OJR head coach Tom Barr: “We played well for a half last week (against Spring-Ford), but some breaks led to three (SF) scores. Our kids still have a lot of confidence in themselves, continue to work hard, and the injury list is beginning to decline. … Methacton head coach Paul Lepre: “It was good to get a win after the previous two weeks. The mistakes we made in the fourth quarter were more technique than anything, which we hope the kids corrected during practice this week. I think (OJR) and us match up well up front and in the skill positions, so it should be a good game.” 

HILL SCHOOL AT MERCERSBURG ACADEMY

Records: The Hill School is 0-3 in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (0-5 overall) after a 34-6 loss to Blair Academy. Mercersburg is 0-3 (2-4) following a 42-13 setback to Peddie School.

Inside the lines: Hill’s offensive woes were dealt another blow last week when two more offensive linemen (tackles Will Rich and David Oh) went down with injuries. Wideout Jack Barry is also out for Saturday, and two senior defensive starters may miss the game due to ACT testing. Quarterback Grant Smith has his best game of the season (8 of 17, 170 yards, 1 TD), with Seth Regensburg pulling in six of the completions for 159 yards and the touchdown – his fourth of the season. Rams scored in the first half for the first time this season, but two first-half fumbles cost them two more possible touchdowns. … Mercersburg is led by quarterback Matt Hirshman, who has thrown well but also is susceptible to throwing interceptions. His favorite receivers have been Jordi Shapiro, Reggie Fiumano and Ben LoPrimo. The run game is fueled by Ayo Adjibaba and Kam Undieh.

Notes: Hill School leads the series, 39-19. … Rams have won the last four meetings, outscoring the Blue Storm 106-13 in the four games. … Mercersburg started off with two wins, but lost its last four and giving up an average of 39 points in the skid. … Hill School head coach Grey Simpson: “This week represents our best chance to get one in the win column, but I’m sure Mercersburg is approaching the game the same way, so they’ll be ready to play. We have to travel out there with a sense of urgency and pride ready to leave it on the field to get a win. There were definitely some positives coming away from the Blair game that we hope to build on these last two weeks. At this point, it’s become blatantly obvious to everyone involved in our program we’re not going to get any breaks or any lucky bounces. It is just going to be one of those years, so we have to go out and make our own luck and opportunities by our play on the field … every rep in practice and all four quarters in the game.”