2014 preview

By Darryl Grumling

dgrumling@pottsmerc.com

PAC-10

For the past two seasons, Pottsgrove has been the class of the Pioneer Athletic Conference.

And this fall, anyone with designs on the league championship will no doubt have to go through veteran coach Rick Pennypacker’s crew.

The Falcons boast a record 23-game league winning streak and a couple of the area’s top returning talents in senior CB/WR Mike Fowler and two-way line anchor Patrick Finn.

Pottsgrove, which has gone 51-3 in PAC-10 play over the last six seasons, is seeking to become the first team to win three straight league crowns since Lansdale Catholic, which won the 1996 title outright and shared the crown in 1997 and 1998.

Spring-Ford, the last PAC-10 foe to knock off the Falcons (49-35 in 2011), appears to have the best shot of toppling Pottsgrove from the top spot.

Quarterback Brandon Leacraft can throw to a deep corps of receivers headed up by Danny Matthews and Brandon Barone, while Zach Dorsey is a leader on the line.

The Rams have gone 24-3 in PAC-10 play and 32-8 overall over the past three years under coach Chad Brubaker.

Perkiomen Valley must replace graduated two-time All-Area Player of the Year Rasaan Stewart, but the Vikings could have a diamond in the rough behind center in big-armed sophomore Stephen Sturm. Lineman Seth Jonassen and receivers Taiyir Wilson and Liam Grande are all key returners for coach Scott Reed.

Methacton has a couple of top-tier playmakers in senior slotback Akeem Walcott and senior quarterback Conner Derrickson.

The Warriors are trying to accomplish their fourth straight winning season for coach Paul Lepre.

First-year coaches are abundant in the league, with Boyertown, Phoenixville, Pope John Paul II and Upper Perkiomen each having someone new in charge.

George Parkinson, who previously was head coach at St. Pius X for four years, takes over for the Bears, succeeding Mark Scisly. Senior safety Justin Siejk and junior linebacker/running back Mike Murphy are expected to be key contributors.

Evan Breisblatt, the coach at Pequea Valley the past three seasons, succeeds Bill Furlong as the Phantoms’ head man. He inherits a wealth of returners, including junior wide receiver Matt Palubinsky, senior lineman Dave Rosati and linebacker/running back Zach Gallow.

Rory Graver, a former Pope John Paul II assistant, takes the reins at PJP, following Mike Santillo. The Golden Panthers will likely rely heavily on senior quarterback/wide receiver/safety Matt Mesaros, junior wide receiver/defensive back Jared Lupold and junior quarterback/defensive back Matt Duff.

And Tom Hontz takes over for Steve Moyer at Upper Perkiomen, where he is also a highly successful wrestling coach. Junior running back Mike Felix and junior lineman Mahlon Schaffer lead the way for the Tribe.

Owen J. Roberts hopes to bounce back from three straight subpar seasons. The Wildcats won two of their final three games last year and hope to carry that momentum over behind junior quarterback Mitch Bradford and senior lineman Kolton Hainsey.

Pottstown is also seeking to rebound from a one-win campaign, with senior quarterback Gary Wise and junior safety/running back Brandon Tinson leading the way for the Trojans.