FOOTBALL: The Poopster's Week 12 picks

The Poopster wishes Pottsgrove, Spring-Ford and Perkiomen Valley good luck in tonight's District 1 football playoffs.

By Darryl Grumling
dgrumling@pottsmerc.com
Twitter: @MercSmokinD

Everyone knows you have to step it up come playoff time, and the Poopster certainly did that last week with an impressive 16-1 effort. That said, the going gets even tougher this week as the District 1-AAAA quarterfinals and District 1-AAA semis are at hand. Here's his take on the area and district action:

DISTRICT 1-AAAA QUARTERFINALS

Spring-Ford (9-2) at Neshaminy (10-1)
This one features two of the top running backs in the district (and state) in the Rams' Jarred Jones and the Redskins' D'Andre Pollard (who passed the 2,000-yard mark for the season last week). The Poopster is going to have to grudgingly go with the home team ... Neshaminy 26-21.

Perkiomen Valley (9-2) at Central Bucks West (9-2)
In a battle of somewhat similar squads that run no-huddle offenses and have a lot of playmakers, the Poopster again is going to hang his head and go with the Suburban One League squad ... C.B. West 28-27.

Other quarterfinals
Garnet Valley 34, Abington 23
Pennsbury 22, North Penn 21

DISTRICT 1-AAA SEMIFINALS

Academy Park (8-2) at Pottsgrove (11-0)
The No. 4 seed Knights could present some problems with star running back Jerry Lanier, but the Poopster feels Riley Michaels, Sene Polamalu, Jeff Adams, Tyrone Parker and the rest of the Falcons are on a mission after getting taken down in the semis last year ... Pottsgrove 35-20.

Other semifinal
Henderson 21, Glen Mills 19

OTHER GAME

Phoenixville (4-7) at Quakertown (6-4)
The Poopster senses a close one here, but is going to give the nod to the Panthers, who have won three straight since a 3-4 start. ... Quakertown 20-14.

Last week's record: 16-1 (94.1 pct.)
Overall record: 81-17 (82.7 pct.)

FOOTBALL: DISTRICT 1 PLAYOFF BRACKETS

FOOTBALL: The Poopster's Week 11 picks

The Poopster says to bundle up if you are going to a football game tonight.

By Darryl Grumling
dgrumling@pottsmerc.com
Twitter: @MercSmokinD

The area scholastic football postseason is finally upon us, and though it looks to be a cold one tonight, the Poopster is fired up for the District 1 playoffs. Here's his take on all of the area action, including some bonus district picks.

FRIDAY'S GAMES

Phoenixville (4-6) at Pottsgrove (10-0)
The PAC-10 champ Falcons dispatched the Phantoms 52-14 three weeks ago and have significant advantages in size, speed and strength heading into the District 1-AAA quarterfinal rematch ... Pottsgrove 42-7.

Spring-Ford (8-2) at Downingtown West (8-2)
The Poopster sees this District 1-AAAA opener as being a lot more competitive than a 12th seed (the Rams) vs. a 5th seed (the Whippets). He thinks Mason Romano, Robby Varner, Jarred Jones and Co. can draw upon the experience of last year's memorable run to the district final and recreate some of that magic against the Ches-Mont National Division champs, with things perhaps coming down to a David Gulati field goal ... Spring-Ford 24-21.

Perkiomen Valley (8-2) at Bayard Rustin (10-0)
After wrongly picking the No. 15 seed Vikings in their two earlier showdown games vs. Spring-Ford and Pottsgrove, the Poopster is a little leery about doing it again. But he's going to throw caution to the wind and say upset special in this District 1-AAAA opener ... Perkiomen Valley 28-27.

Northampton (0-10) at Boyertown (6-4)
The Bears ran a staggering 88 plays last week against Pottsgrove, and the Poopster shudders to think how many points they might ring up on the Konkrete Kids, whose defense is allowing more than 40 points per game ... Boyertown 60-20.

Owen J. Roberts (2-8) at Upper Moreland (3-7)
This appears to be one of the more competitive matchups of the night (at least on paper), so the Poopster is going to give the nod to 1,000-yard rusher Wyatt Scott, lineman Steve Myers and the Wildcats ... Owen J. Roberts 27-21.

Pottstown (1-9) at Great Valley (6-4)
First-year Trojans coach Don Grinstead used to be an assistant at Great Valley, but the Poopster has a bad feeling the Patriots aren't going to take it easy on him in the reunion of sorts ... Great Valley 35-13.

SATURDAY'S GAMES

Norristown (0-10) at Methacton (6-4)
The Warriors have won 5-of-6 since a 1-3 start, and the Poopster likes Conner Derrickson, Mike Cassidy, Nick Torcini, Dillon Alderfer, Kyle Lowery and the crew to stay hot as they go for their first seven-win season since 2000 ... Methacton 43-21.

Hill School (1-6) at Lawrenceville Academy (4-3)
The Poopster can't find any kind of status report on UMass-bound star Big Red QB Randall West, who went down with a knee injury last week. If he can't play, the Rams (coming off a 28-26 win over Mercersburg) have a puncher's chance. If he can, expect a shootout at the O.K. Corral between West and Hill gunslinger Matt Foltz .... Lawrenceville 44-32.

BONUS PICKS

District 1-AAAA first-round

Garnet Valley 30, Council Rock North 21
Abington 28, Upper Dublin 27
Neshaminy 33, Unionville 17
C.B. West 27, Plymouth-Whitemarsh 20
Pennsbury 35, Upper Darby 19
North Penn 33, Coatesville 21

District 1-AAA quarterfinals

Academy Park 28, Interboro 14
Glen Mills 22, Springfield (Delco) 13
Henderson 35, Bishop Shanahan 14

Last week's record: 7-1 (87.5 pct.)
Overall record: 65-16 (80.2 pct)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Pope John Paul comeback effort comes too late

Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury Pope John Paul’s Lauren Dao drives against Merion Mercy’s Martha Zeller.

By Dennis Weller
sports@pottsmerc.com

WHITEMARSH — All the Pope John Paul II girls could do in the second half of Tuesday night’s District 1-AAA basketball semifinal was try to get back into the game one play at a time after a horrible half of shooting left them 17 points behind.

And that’s what they did, by not only finally hitting some of their own shots, but by also shutting down Merion Mercy’s inside game while cutting what had eventually become a 19-point deficit to just three by midway through the fourth quarter.

But Merion then scored its only basket of the final period and added 10 free throws in the last minute and a half to hold off the Golden Panthers, 47-35 at Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Colonial Elementary and clinch one of the district’s three spots in the PIAA Tournament. PJP will have a second chance to earn its first state berth in the three-year history of the school back at the same place on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against fourth-seeded Lower Moreland, a 52-28 loser to top-seeded Villa Maria.

Taylor Beardon scored 11 for the third-seeded Golden Panthers (17-6), all of them in the second half, and Caroline Corzel led 10th-seeded Merion (17-10) with 14 points, including six straight free throws down the stretch.

(For the complete story, click here...)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Methacton falls short in fourth quarter

Photo by Adrianna Hoff/JRC Methacton’s Sean Mann goes up for a 3-pointer during Tuesday’s game against Coatesville.

By Jonathan Vander Lugt
sports@pottsmerc.com

FAIRVIEW VILLAGE — One week ago, after its win over Souderton, Methacton coach Jeff Derstine stressed how important it’s going to be for his team to play all four quarters moving forward.

Never was that more evident than Tuesday night.

The first three quarters went well for the Warriors. Despite an officiating crew that was generous with the whistle, Methacton was able to establish and maintain an offensive rhythm. Its zone defense also kept Coatesville at bay, forcing the Raiders to take uncomfortable shots, and keeping them from penetrating in the lane. Methacton went into the fourth with a seemingly safe 42-36 lead.

From that point forward, the wheels came off.

Coatesville broke through Methacton’s defense in the fourth en route to outscoring the Warriors, 27-4, and coming away with a 63-46 blowout.

(For the complete story, click here...)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Mount stifles Eisenhard, routs Boyertown

Kaitlin Eisenhard became the program's all-time leading scorer in Saturday's loss to The Mount.

 
By Steven Moore
smoore@pottsmerc.com

FLOURTOWN — About 90 seconds after watching his team completely shut down Boyertown during a 62-24 rout in Saturday’s District 1-AAAA girls basketball quarterfinal, Mount Saint Joseph Academy head coach John Miller was standing at midcourt, looking for someone to find a game ball for Kaitlyn Eisenhard’s mother.

It was a classy gesture from the Magic head coach, and a memorable moment for Kaitlyn Eisenhard and her family.

But with more work to do this season, the Bears are hoping to forget everything else about Saturday.

“This wasn’t just a loss, it was a embarrassing for us,” said Eisenhard, who scored just six points, but became the all-time leading scorer in school history with 1,374 points, one more than Wanda Moyer. “But if we can rebound and have a great game on Wednesday, that could really get us going for states. If we get a good seed in states we can make a deep run I think.”

Eisenhard was the main focus of the Magic defense, as the Mount’s top task was not only to double-team the Boyertown star, but deny her the ball on each and every possession.

(For the complete story, click here...)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Pottstown’s season comes to an end in loss to Upper Moreland

Pottstown's Steve Steinmetz battles Upper Moreland's Mark Williams for a rebound during Saturday's District 1-AAA boys basketball playoff game. (Bob Raines/JRC)

By Jeff Stover
jstover@pottsmerc.com

WILLOW GROVE — Was it a microcosm of a troubled season?

It could be argued Pottstown’s loss to Upper Moreland in the opening round of the District 1 Class AAA playoffs was very much so. But head coach James “Cal” Benfield offered a differing viewpoint Saturday, at the conclusion of a 66-46 setback that brought the Trojans’ first campaign under his leadership to an end.

“It can’t be lost that we didn’t have the same starters today that we did at the beginning of the season,” Benfield said. “We played most of the year with people who didn’t have varsity experience.”

As was the case with its 2012-13 season, Pottstown (10-12) recovered from a slow early start in its first on-court action in three weeks.

(For the complete story, click here...) 

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Top-seeded Rams lead four area teams into AAAA districts

Sarah Payonk (54), Brittany Moore (10) and the Spring-Ford girls basketball team earned the top seed for the District 1-AAAA playoffs. The defending district champions host No. 32 William Tennent Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Methacton and Jenna Carroll (13) are the No. 5 seed for the tournament and host No. 28 Council Rock North, also at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. (Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury)

By Darryl Grumling
dgrumling@pottsmerc.com

Pioneer Athletic Conference champion Spring-Ford highlights a list of six area girls basketball squads that have qualified for the District 1 playoffs, which begin today.

The defending champion Rams are the top seed in the 1-AAAA tournament, with PAC-10 runner up Methacton, Boyertown and Perkiomen Valley also qualifying for the 32-team draw.

Frontier Division champion Pope John Paul II and Frontier runner-up Upper Perkiomen, meanwhile, will represent the league in the 12-team District 1-AAA tourney.

Seventh seed Boyertown (16-7) will get things started tonight, playing host to 26th seed Wissahickon (13-8) in a 7 p.m. opening round contest.

(For the complete story, click here...)

BOYS BASKETBALL: No. 6 Methacton leads three into AAAA districts

Brendan Casper, left, and the Methacton boys basketball team earned the No. 6 seed for the District 1-AAAA playoffs, beginning Friday. The Warriors host No. 27 Bensalem Friday. (Adrianna Hoff / JRC)

By Jeff Stover
jstover@pottsmerc.com

The league and conference championships have most likely been decided by now.

The next step for area teams in the post-season mix will be taken today, when the District 1 playoffs open in force around the southeastern Pennsylvania region. And three Pioneer Athletic Conference schools are in the Class AAAA field vying for district medals and/or berths in the PIAA tournament several weeks from now.

Methacton fared best in Tuesday’s district seeding meeting among the three PAC-10 schools (Perkiomen Valley, Spring-Ford) in the Class AAAA bracket. The Warriors earned a sixth seed and will open at home against 27th seed Bensalem, looking to get back on track after suffering a 44-41 loss to PV in the PAC-10’s Final Four title game Tuesday.

“It’s tough, coming off an emotional game like this and playing in districts,” Methacton head coach Jeff Derstine said afterward. “But we’ll play it one game at a time.”

(For the complete story, click here...)

FOOTBALL: Coatesville cruises by Spring-Ford for District 1 title

Coatesville running back Daquan Worley avoids a group of Spring-Ford
tacklers on a carry Friday. (Tom Kelly IV/JRC)

Spring-Ford's Tate Carter breaks away from a
Coatesville defender. (Tom Kelly IV/JRC)

By Don Seeley

dseeley@pottsmerc.com

DOWNINGTOWN — Most football teams see opportunity arise from big hits, big stops and, of course, turnovers. Coatesville sees opportunity the moment it touches the football.

Coatesville doesn’t waste opportunities ... nor time, either.

In Friday night’s District 1-Class AAAA final, the Red Raiders scored the first six times they took possession — seven overall when including a fumble return for another touchdown — to continually thwart early Spring-Ford comebacks and run away with a 59-28 romp at Downingtown West High School’s Kottmeyer Field.

(For complete story, click here ... )

For video from the Spring-Ford-Coatesville,
click here....

The Spring-Ford and Coatesville lines prepare for a
snap on a chilly night Friday.



FOOTBALL: Coyne, Spring-Ford seniors leave legacy

Spring-Ford quarterback Hank Coyne
throws a pass Friday. (Tom Kelly IV/JRC)

By Darryl Grumling
dgrumling@pottsmerc.com

DOWNINGTOWN — Friday’s District 1-Class AAAA championship may have been hopelessly out of reach, with Spring-Ford trailing juggernaut Coatesville by 38 points in the fourth quarter.
The clock may have been running out on the Rams’ superb season.
Yet there was Spring-Ford quarterback Hank Coyne, still guiding his squad with guts and guile one last time at Downingtown West’s Kottmeyer Stadium.
A four-yard toss to Zameer McDowell to start it off. And later, back-to-back runs of 7 and 15 yards to set up a three-yard Yousef Lundi TD run with 3:48 left.
No, that final drive and resulting score didn’t have a whole lot of impact in what wound up a 59-28 victory by a dynamite Red Raiders squad.
But it did provide perhaps an appropriate final chapter in what will go down as one of the top signal-calling careers in Spring-Ford — and Pioneer Athletic Conference — history.
Though he was thoroughly outgunned by Coatesville counterpart Emmett Hunt, Coyne battled the entire time he was on the field. To the bitter end.
Rams coach Chad Brubaker wouldn’t expect anything less from Coyne, or for that matter his entire contingent of seniors.

(For complete story, click here ... )

FOOTBALL: Coatesville offense on a rampage

Dre Boggs, top, and Coatesville celebrate after defeating
Spring-Ford in the District 1-AAAA championship.
(Photo by Tom Kelly IV)


By Barry Sankey
bsankey@journalregister.com

DOWNINGTOWN — Coatesville’s path to a District 1-AAAA football championship focused predominantly on an offense that has been nearly impossible to stop.
The Red Raiders displayed that explosiveness again Friday night as they rolled over Pioneer Athletic Conference representative Spring-Ford, 59-28, in the district championship game at Kottmeyer Stadium.
The Red Raiders (12-2) continue to pile up the points and yardage with an offense that features a potent amount of speed and quickness from an array of backs and receivers.

(For complete story, click here ... )

FOOTBALL: Underdogs, just the way Spring-Ford likes it

Photo by Barry Taglieber Travis Daywalt (35) and Spring-Ford will once again be the underdogs in Friday’s District 1-AAAA final against Coatesville.

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

DOWNINGTOWN — There may not be a soul alive, at least anyone still breathing outside the Royersford, Spring City, Limerick and Upper Providence communities, who isn’t expecting to read Spring-Ford football’s obituary first thing Saturday morning.
No one outside the immediate Spring-Ford football family has given the Rams any hope at all in surviving tonight’s District 1-Class AAAA final against Coatesville at Downingtown West High School.
It isn’t exactly anything head coach Chad Brubaker, his staff or the Rams haven’t heard before, though.
Spring-Ford wasn’t exactly everyone’s choice when the postseason kicked off against Garnet Valley, hardly anyone’s choice the following week at Ridley, and few fans’ choice last Saturday at Pennridge.

(For entire story, click here ... )

FOOTBALL: Spring-Ford believes it belongs this time against Coatesville

Mercury file photo Yousef Lundi and Spring-Ford take on Coatesville in Friday’s District 1-AAAA championship.

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

DOWNINGTOWN — One glance at Coatesville, be it on paper or on the football field, certainly reveals just how good a team it is.
Seeing the Red Raiders, live or on film, can be downright terrifying.
Just ask Spring-Ford head coach Chad Brubaker, who has played and replayed every available reel as well as viewed and reviewed just about every move the Red Raiders have made this season in preparation for tonight’s District 1-Class AAAA championship showdown at Downingtown West High School.
“This team is better than last year’s team,” Brubaker said without hesitation during a practice earlier this week. “They are able to run the ball, and they are able to take home run shots down the field. They also play great defense and swarm to the ball.”
Last year, Coatesville spoiled Spring-Ford’s postseason debut with a 60-28 win.
But there may be a difference, at least from where Brubaker will be standing this evening.

(For complete story, click here ... )

FOOTBALL: Rams need a quick, productive start

JRC file photo Linebacker Kyle Hoffner (23) and the Spring-Ford Rams recognize they need to get off to a quick start in Friday’s District 1-AAAA championship against Coatesville.

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

DOWNINGTOWN — Getting off the ball on offense and getting to the ball on defense, or getting off to a good start, is very important for any team in any game.
It will be imperative for Spring-Ford tonight when it lines up against Coatesville in the District 1-Class AAAA final at Downingtown High School.
The Rams (12-2) used a little bit of both to get by Garnet Valley and Ridley, and just the right mix of both to pummel Pennridge in what has become an unprecedented three-game ride through the postseason thus far.
There’s no question they’ll need a whole lot of both, as well as equally stable special-team play, to slow down or even stall a very fast and very aggressive Coatesville … if they intend on winning their first district title and extending their extraordinary playoff journey into next week’s state semifinals.

(For entire story, click here ... )

FOOTBALL: Spring-Ford’s O-line a big reason for success

Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury Spring-Ford quarterback Hank Coyne, here throwing against Pennridge last weekend, has had plenty of time in the pocket his season, thanks to a tight-knit offensive line in front of him.

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

When Spring-Ford opened camp back in August, head coach Chad Brubaker had, or at least thought he had, an offense that could present quite a puzzle for opposing defenses this season.
Few could argue, because quarterback Hank Coyne, fullback Yousef Lundi and tailback Jarred Jones — who accounted for just under 3,700 yards and had a hand in a combined 42 touchdowns a year ago — were all back. So was tight end R.J. Sheldon. So were linemen Justin Meals and Mike Gilmore.
After two days of practices, though, a couple of potential starting linemen opted to leave the team.
Suddenly, Brubaker had a puzzle of his own to resolve.
“I think we knew Meals and Gilmore would be our tackles, but we weren’t too sure who our interior three would be,” Brubaker recalled Tuesday afternoon.
Finding a center and two guards — the guts of an offensive line — isn’t quite as easy as it may sound. But Brubaker not only found three, but three who were just the right fit … or more than good enough to help lead the Rams to where they are now.
And that’s in Friday night’s District 1-Class AAAA final against Coatesville at Downingtown West High School.

(For complete story, click here ... )

FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: PAC-10 earning some respect

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

The Pioneer Athletic Conference has been trashed by a lot of football fans and by more than a few media types in recent years for its postseason futility.
But the league — split right smack down the middle with five AAAA and five AAA schools — hasn’t been quite as bad as some may think. Yes, only four schools — Lansdale Catholic, Methacton (prior to joining the league), Pottsgrove and St. Pius X — have won district or sub-regional titles. Lansdale Catholic’s were in Class AAA and AA, while all of Methacton’s and Pottsgrove’s were in the AAA bracket, and Pius’ were in AA and A. And yes, until Spring-Ford’s three-game run this month, no one in the league had even won a game in the AAAA bracket.
However, if Spring-Ford pulls off what many think would be an upset Friday night against Coatesville, believe it or not, the PAC-10 — including past as well as current members — would be all even (45-45) in district and state playoff games.

(For complete story, click here ... )

FOOTBALL: Studious Spring-Ford keeps making the grade

A collective effort by the Spring-Ford defense, including Robby Varner (56), Travis Daywalt (35), Ian Hare (57), R.J. Sheldon (81) and Mason Romano (52) is one reason the Rams have reached the District 1-AAAA championship.

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

Coatesville took Spring-Ford to school last year in the first round of the District 1-Class AAAA playoffs. There was certainly a lot to digest mentally after that forgettable 60-28 loss in front of the homefolk.
And in what has become an unprecedented as well as unforgettable postseason run this fall, the Rams took their own head coach — of all people — to school two weeks ago in a when-will-it-ever-end, 28-26 upset of Ridley.
“I (learned) my play-calling was tight,” Chad Brubaker admitted.
The Rams jumped in front 28-0, then gave up 26 unanswered second-half points to Ridley before it was over and they barely graduated, if you will, into last Saturday afternoon’s semifinal at Pennridge.
“There are times when it’s appropriate to take a shot, like throwing in an obvious running situation or running play-action in a second-and-short situation,” Brubaker explained. “I didn’t do that against Ridley. I needed to trust our players, but I didn’t. That’s on me. They deserved better than that and I realized it after the game.
“Our skill players converted third-down situations over and over against Pennridge. That’s because we trusted them to make good decisions … our offensive line in pass protection and in their blocking schemes, our backs hitting the right holes, our receivers running quality routes, and everyone competing for the ball.”
The end result, of course, was a very impressive 35-24 win over Pennridge.
Not exactly a straight-A performance, mind you, but oh so darn close to it.

(For complete story, click here ... )

Spring-Ford 35, Pennridge 24

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

PERKASIE — Big plays in the playoffs are well, just that ... big, as in very, very big. As in what often extends a team’s postseason run into late November and early December.
Spring-Ford’s frigid fans didn’t have enough fingers and toes to count’m all up Saturday afternoon, as the Rams came up with a slew of them offensively and defensively in a thrilling 35-24 win over host Pennridge in a District 1 Class AAAA semifinal showdown at Poppy Yoder Field.
And while all big plays can’t be measured by the yards or points they produce, Spring-Ford certainly had its share of them, too. None as key as in the final drive, which started with 7:38 left and — thanks to quarterback Hank Coyne converting a pair of third-down passes covering 26 and 15 yards, and Yousef Lundi running for 14 yards to convert another — ended with Coyne taking a knee as the clock wound down to all zeroes.

(For complete story, click here ... )

Photo by Kevin Hoffman/The Mecury Spring-Ford's Zameer McDowell hauls in a 25-yard TD reception Saturday.

FOOTBALL: Defense carries Spring-Ford to District 1 final

Photo by Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury Spring-Ford's Kyle Hoffner intercepts a pass Saturday.

By Barry Sankey
bsankey@journalregister.com

PERKASIE — Spring-Ford extended its history-making football season at least one more week Saturday afternoon, and the Rams’ defense had a lot to do with it.
Spring-Ford may have defeated Pennridge, 35-24, in a District 1-Class AAAA semifinal to advance to the district championship game gainst Coatesville, but somewhat camouflaged by that high score was some solid play by the defense. That effort included three turnovers against Pennridge that included a fumble recovery on the hosts’ first play from scrimmage and two big second-half interceptions.

(For more information, click here ... )