By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com
 |
| Mark Dukes and Pottsgrove take on perennial power Strath Haven in a District 1-AAA tourney opener tonight. |
So when it was mentioned all the
way down in Delaware
County
“Are you kidding me?” Pennypacker
said prior to a midweek practice for tonight’s (7:00) opener with the visiting
Panthers. “They are the same old Strath Haven. We have a lot of respect
for them and (head coach) Kevin Clancy. We know them and they know us.”
The respect comes from being long
aware of the fact Strath Haven owns 11 district titles – beating 94 straight
district opponents en route to eight of those titles (1996 through 2003). The
Panthers also own a pair of state titles (1999-2000).
The familiarity comes from
watching Strath Haven beat up four very good Pottsgrove teams in 2000 (35-7),
in 2001 (35-19), in 2003 (35-19 again), and in 2010 (42-28) – a disheartening
streak that didn’t end until the Falcons pulled out a 29-28 overtime thriller
over the Panthers in last year’s semifinals.
So, while No. 8seed Strath
Haven’s shocking one-point loss to lowly Harriton last week and a very
uncharacteristic 5-5 record isn’t all that impressive, neither Pennypacker nor
his unbeaten No. 1 Falcons are buying into the heavily-favored role that’s been
heaped on them for this evening.
“I don’t want to hear about any
of that,” he said. “Strath Haven is fundamentally sound in all they do, and we
feel we have a tremendous challenge in the first round.
“When I think of all the years
we’ve been in the playoffs, this may be the toughest first-round opponent we’ve
faced. (Strath Haven) has played some very good teams, like Ridley and
Haverford, who are in the AAAA playoffs, and Springfield-Delco, who is in the
playoffs with us in AAA. I also know they’ll be out for revenge after (losing
to us) last year.”
The Panthers, whose last three
losses were by a total of nine points, pretty much mirror the Falcons on
offense. Tevon Howie, who piled up some yardage in their district final win
over the Falcons two years ago, has run for 1,249 yards and 18 touchdowns out
of the Wing-T. Anthony Myers (574) and quarterback Kevin Mohollen (398) – who
has only thrown for 411 yards – take care of the remaining shots into or around
a very good offensive line.
That will require another solid
outing from Pottsgrove’s defense, namely Zach Birch, Patrick Finn, Anthony Pond
(four sacks) and Max Wickward up front, linebackers Jeff Adams, Nick Brennan
and Sene Polamalu (five sacks) behind them, and Michael Fowler (five
interceptions), Jalen Mayes and Qwhadir Miller. Together, it’s a defense that
has limited opponents to just 126 rushing and 52 passing yards a game, not to
mention created 17 turnovers.
“Howie is a tremendous player for
them, and Mohollen is a good passer, but has hurt people running the ball,
too,” Pennypacker said. “But we’ve gotten some big games from Wickward and
Polamalu, and everyone else is playing better right now.”
Pottsgrove’s offense, averaging
326 yards on the ground and 43.4 points a game, is unquestionably the concern
of Clancy and his Strath Haven staff.
The Falcons are both big and
proficient up front with Zach Birch, Finn, Madison O’Connor, Pond, Tommy Sephakis
and Adams . They are both fast and proficient
behind that line with tailback Mark Dukes, fullback Nick Brennan and
quarterback Tory Hudgins.
“I think our offensive line has
carried us all year,” said Pennypacker, who has also gotten an offensive boost
from placekicker John Klinger, whose converted 35 point-afters and a boomed a 37-yard
field goal last week at Phoenixville. “We know (Strath Haven) has a game plan
for (our run game), and probably will load up the box. But our coaches have
full confidence in throwing the ball, and they know we’ll have to throw it more
now in the playoffs.”
Throwing hasn’t been too much of
a requirement thus far. Dukes has run up 1,166 yards and 21 touchdowns; Hudgins
has skirted his way to 1,077 and 19 scores; and Brennan has quietly added 526
yards and four touchdowns. Hudgins is 25 of 48 for 528 yards – nearly identical
to Mohollen’s 25 of 55 for 411 yards – and Fowler has accounted for 333 of
those yards on 11 receptions.
“We tell our kids it isn’t how
you start but how you finish,” Pennypacker said. “We still work the same
fundamentals every week that we worked on the first week of the season. I think
that has helped us improve week to week. And that’s our goal, because if you
get better every week you’ll be ready to compete in the playoffs.”
Even against a .500 opponent.
“Our kids know the history of
Strath Haven, and many of them lined up against Strath Haven last year and know
now we can beat them. That game was huge for our kids’ confidence.
“But we have to control the clock
and play great defense. Strath Haven’s offense has been very explosive
this year, so we have to keep them off the field. We also have to be able
to throw the ball when the opportunity comes. We have worked very hard on
this aspect of our game, and feel we can have success when we throw. We
must be very solid on our keys and assignments.”
NOTES
Strath Haven leads the series,
4-1. … Pottsgrove needs 66 points to become the first Mercury-area team to
score 500 in a season. … The swift Marquis Barefield, who was injured during
the win over Methacton back on Week Six, may be cleared to play tonight. … The
Falcons have shut out two opponents and held four others to one touchdown each.
